Dealing with frustration can be…frustrating. Some tunes and some tempos are simply beyond our abilities.

Let’s take Scotland the Brave. Despite being perhaps the most widely recognized melody worldwide associated with Scotland and the GHB, played as written and up-to-tempo, it’s anything but easy. Many people “bake in” sloppy technique and timing as they thrash their way through.

You have options.

#1. You can slow the tempo to something more manageable. Just as an example, slow the tempo from 90 BPM to perhaps 80 BPM. This may allow you to put in all or most of the ‘work”. In so doing, do not distort the melody with an uneven tempo, e.g. one that slows down and speeds up.

#2. You may remove some or all of the complex embellishments in order to preserve correct timing and tempo.

#3. You can bypass the tune altogether. Select tunes and tempos that are appropriate. Wherever I have taught, I always select tunes that are within the abilities of the individual or group. Use easy tunes as building blocks for more challenging tunes to come later. Fitting the tune to the abilities of the student or group should always be a primary consideration.

When I hear tune selections like “The Black Bear” or “The Drunken Piper” I wonder “What the hell are you thinking?” Just speaking for myself, I’d rather hear “The Bonnie Lass of Fyvie” played together on well-tuned instruments than the noise of difficult tunes played too fast for fingers.

So here’s the challenge. Whether you’re picking tunes for yourself or for others, select tunes that are “level appropriate”. “The Drunken Piper” is an excellent tune with an excellent name, however it’s probably not the right tune for the “average” piper.