BY CHRIS APPS. If the high A is little thin, there are some adjustments to be made to improve the sound. First, blow through the reed, without the pipe, for 30 seconds. Moisture will change the sound, hopefully for the better. Play it in the pipe to see if that […]
Hints & Tips
Chris Apps’ reed advice: getting rid of a crow on high A
BY CHRIS APPS. Some players produce a beautiful vibrato, played in the pressure window just above the croak and just below the clear high A. It takes some very steady blowing and at the exact pressure to get these sounds. Sometimes the high A is just too rough, and the […]
Chris Apps’ reed advice: reed strength V pitch and longevity
By CHRIS APPS Easier reeds are more likely to move pitch with pressure changes. It is also true that if your reed is much too hard, attaining a steady pitch will be problematic. Steady blowing will ensure a steady pitch no matter the strength of the reed. Recent innovations like […]
Chris Apps’ reed advice: stop blowing hard, you’ll hurt yourself!
BY CHRIS APPS. If you are struggling to blow a strong reed, how are you to play with any finesse or musicality? You need to be able to relax into playing. You will never play musically if you are struggling with your instrument. After all, this is an instrument not […]
Theory Top-Up: simple matters
By TIM CUMMINGS. Piping Today #96, 2019 In the last episode of Theoretically Speaking, we took an initial look at some of the theory behind rhythm and metre – specifically, decoding time signatures (or metre signatures). In case you missed it or would like a quick refresher: time signatures are […]
Theory Top-Up: time signatures
By TIM CUMMINGS. Piping Today #95, 2019 I have been teaching private lessons on the pipes and other instruments for close to 30 years now. Those of you who have done any teaching for a decade or more can understand my experience that every student is unique, and brings a […]
What’s in a Tune: Pipe Major Angus MacDonald
Finlay MacDonald presents the lovely 3/4 march, Pipe Major Angus MacDonald, and shares his experience of being taught by Pipe Major Angus back when The National Piping Centre was just about to open it’s doors for the first time. The videos of the tunes presented so far are all below, […]
Theory Top-Up: learning tunes by ear
By TIM CUMMINGS. Piping Today #93/94, 2018/19 Part 1 Since starting piano lessons at the age of six (now 38 years ago), I have enjoyed and been challenged by a decades-long stretch of both learning and teaching music in one-on-one, small-group workshop and classroom settings. Most of this music has […]
What’s in a tune: strathspey technique and Lady MacKenzie of Gairloch
What’s in a Tune is a series of YouTube videos presented by tutors and guest pipers from The National Piping Centre. The presenters share background stories on what the tunes mean to them, and technique on how the tune should be played. In the most recent video, Margaret Houlihan gives […]
Theory Top-Up: harmonies derived from hymns
Harmony Writing Part Eight. By TIM CUMMINGS. Piping Today #92, 2018. We have arrived at the eighth and last article on writing harmonies for pipe bands and other pipe ensembles — for the time being, at least. In the previous seven articles, we explored a progression of approaches to crafting […]