From: owner-bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com (bagpipe-digest) To: bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: bagpipe-digest V1 #57 Reply-To: bagpipe-digest Sender: owner-bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-bagpipe-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk bagpipe-digest Thursday, September 9 1999 Volume 01 : Number 057 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 11:07:01 -0500 From: Mike Talcott Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Chanter reed strength? Zudupiper wrote: > The two are not mutually exclusive. If you're struggling, you're working too > hard. And there's no reason for that unless you're trying to build endurance > or you're in a serious upper-level band. > > Play any top-level (Open/ Professional) player's solo pipes and see how easy > they are. And see what great tone they produce with such a minimal effort. > > As Scot Walker says, "It's all about BALANCE, not VOLUME". > > Loud pipes are just...loud. Sweet, comfortable pipes are quieter, but you get > to hear those great harmonics that really make piping enjoyable. More than > makes up for any volume loss. > At the Balmoral School I finished playing a piobairachead ground for Jimmy MacIntosh and he said, "You're reed is too hard." I always considered myself a medium to medium easy sort, so I said, "Show me what you mean." I gave him a brand new McGarrity-Ross. He got a sharp knife and started hacking. Really, it looks like he took a blinkin' hatchet to it. He peeled off cane below the "heel" both on the outside edges and some on the centerline. He said he was trying to get "response" or to "free the reed". Indeed he did. I would put this reed as an "easy" but it drives my chanter, all notes, as well as any hard reed I've put in, it just doesn't have that glass-shattering volume. Balances nicely. It's about 30% easier than those "medium easy" Warnocks I've been delicately shaving out of the box, though I haven't put it on a manometer. I've tried to duplicate JM's hacking, first using some lesser reeds. It works, but I don't have the technique nailed yet. I have made some serviceable reeds out of shit-can reeds, though. BTW, with a chanter cap and water trap, JM says the reed should last several years. His do. Mine's doing fine after a month and a half of continuous play. Mike Talcott - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 13:10:52 -0400 From: Chris Hamilton Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Champion of champions On Thu, 9 Sep 1999 18:35:21 +0200, "Michael Ambech" wrote: >Who won the champion of Champions award this year? Bucksburn won the Grade 2 (http://www.bucksburnpipeband.com). Grade 1 could be interesting ... Shotts won the British and European early on, but were 2nd at the Worlds, 3rd at Cowal, and 4th at the Scottish. Don't know about the other grades. I suspect Bleary & District won Grade 3A, though. Chris ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chris Hamilton -- ToneCzar@erols.com City of Washington Pipe Band http://www.serve.com/cowpb/chamilton.html - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 16:12:12 -0300 From: "dnimmo" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Reed Maker Flees Workshop! Mark Wygent wrote in message <00a1bc3d.0e90c5bd@usw-ex0102-012.remarq.com>... >Some pipers seem to be confused about some of the fine >points of tuning and adjusting our Synthe-Drone (TM) reeds. Well Mark, I do not doubt the sincerity of all of your statements, however you have not addressed the well publicized characteristic of having to "blow them in"............we live in an "instantaneous society" which is very impatient to many................ Your reeds were NOT "plug n' play" .....I just found that, with the bridles pulled back enought that the reeds did not stop when used with a medium to easy chanter reed, I just didn't have the capacity to keep the pipes going AND think about chanter fingering at the same time. I installed all three reeds about 3 weeks apart as I understood that air volume required would decrease after about 20 hours playing, but by the time I installed the third I just couldn't produce enough air My pipes were NOT leaking, etc. and with nothing else done other than installing cane, my pipes again became a pleasure to play. Albeit, damp, very cold, or very hot long parades are not the venues for cane reeds. My comments on the E-Zs are in a previous recent post to the NG(& may have initiated your post)........I am not super happy with them either, tone wise, but they have been "plug 'n play" and very easily adjustable.......very user friendly. I have no axe to grind.........I have no vested interest, other than to enjoy piping as a hobby, and if I were not attached to a band thus requiring dependable drones, I would be quite happy to fiddle with and baby the cane in order to enjoy their, in my opinion, superior tone. Sorry if our observations rub anyone the wrong way, any strong statements made are initiated by NG contributors who state that any one item or product is "the answer to a maidens prayer"..................there is no one answer, and it is hoped that readers, by reading all contributions, will get both the pros and cons of products. David - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 09 Sep 1999 19:06:12 GMT From: mwinh@aol.com (MwinH) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Capital District Logo Change I went to pick up my jacket that had been draped over a chair all day as it was way too hot to wear it and it looked fuzzy from a distance - turns out it was just covered in flies. Don't know why they liked it so much - I get it cleaned often to get the food stains out. >>It is rumored that the Altamont Games is going to change their logo from >a >>hand >>grasping a mace to a hand grasping a fly swatter. >> Martin Hatcher Albany NY USA ..................................................... "Nine Notes? How hard can it be?" - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 13:19:03 -0400 From: Chris Hamilton Subject: (bagpipe) Re: NRP on Capital District On Tue, 07 Sep 1999 16:21:20 GMT, Brian Counihan wrote: >Get the score sheets for the III, two 1st's piping!, 2nd drumming!, >what 's this 6th ensemble? How the f*ck do you lose a contest due to >ensemble??? Ask the LA Scots ... tied for 1st with Hydro-Electric Buchan in 1995, tie broken on Ensemble Preference ... World Championship goes to Buchan. Bummer! Chris ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chris Hamilton -- ToneCzar@erols.com City of Washington Pipe Band http://www.serve.com/cowpb/chamilton.html - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 08:59:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Duell Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Henderson Drone Reeds: Help! Perhaps part of the problem is that when one reed shuts down, you open the bridle more. Although intuitive, this solution is often wrong. Often I find that by closing another bridle a little, the pressure to the reeds balances, and they play together nicely. Take each drone out, blow on the reed (while in the drone). Gradually increase pressure until it cuts off. If one takes more pressure to cut off than the others, close its bridle a little until it comes in line with the others. When you have the pressure balanced between the drone reeds, you will find that they take a lot less air, and don't cut out on you. Hope this helps, Mike - ---neharris wrote: > > Message from the Deja.com forum: > rec.music.makers.bagpipe > Your subscription is set to individual email delivery > oO---------------------------------------------------------Oo > SPONSOR > Buying a car? Taking a vacation? Looking for stock tips? > Find people rating and discussing thousands of products & > services. Share what you know. Learn what you don't. > http://www.deja.com/%5bst_cam=x.deja.x.list%5d/ > oO---------------------------------------------------------Oo > > Okay, the year+ I've been at this has been most rewarding, especially my > trip this past July to the North American Academy of Piping in North > Carolina. But one thing just seems to be unanswerable by those I find myself > conversing with regarding Henderson reeds. > I am having one heck of a time determining at exactly what point to set the > bridles. I seem to go either from one extreme (inevitable shut off) to using > far too much air. I bought the Hendersons based on a number of > recommendations, but I can spend hours getting nowhere working with these > reeds to obtain a comfortable level of air flow while maintaining good tone. > The bass drone sounds dreadful 90% of the time. I have been playing a medium > chanter reed for about 4 months now, and have no problems here. Any > suggestions? > -neh > > > > > > _____________________________________________________________ > Deja.com: Share what you know. Learn what you don't. > http://www.deja.com/ > * To modify or remove your subscription, go to > http://www.deja.com/edit_sub.xp?group=rec.music.makers.bagpipe > * Read this thread at > http://www.deja.com/thread/%3CjLlB3.485%24Ym5.11947%40iad-read.news.verio.net%3E > > _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Share what you know. Learn what you don't. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 15:08:21 -0500 From: Richard Mao Subject: (bagpipe) Re: kid pipes Hi Ed... I forgot to include blowpipes in my first response. Thanks for reminding me that a kid should have a short blowpipe. Both the short blowpipe and customization of where it is tied into the bag is important... The blowpipe should penetrate the bag such that the blowpipe mouthpiece goes straight into the center of the pipers mouth (as opposed to flipping/pointing away from the pipers mouth). Peter Crisler makes very nice telescoping mouthpieces. Two models: 7-12 inches and for the kids... 5-8 inches... you can check them out at http://home.att.net/~peter.crisler/blowpipe.htm Cheers When I die, I know I’m going to heaven… I’ve already been through Hell as a member of a pipe band… Richard Mao, The Peking Piper ( PekingPiper@mao.org ) Ed Via wrote: > My son started at age 7-8 on a set of Gibson fireside pipes. He loved > playing them and it taught him the mechanics of blowing and squeezing. > He moved onto the GHB at age 9. Knowing what I know now about how to set > up a GHB for a kid, he probably could have started on GHB at age 8, if > not sooner. For a kid/child, you'll need a small bag, short blowpipe, > easy chanter reed, and a knowledge of how to get it all set-up and put > together (bag must be "custom" fitted, etc.). It can be done :*) > - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 16:11:46 -0700 From: "Iain Sherwood" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Comments on Pettigrew or kilberry pipes? and the problems magnify with full sized pipes... IS Matt Buckley wrote in message news:01befac6$9c2e4820$3d025bd1@default... > > A couple of weeks ago I encountered an individual with a new > set of Kilberry smallpipes. Tone was very poor, workmanship > was very poor, and they were extremely difficult to play. Yet > the cost was $1,200.00! That individual ordered a new set at > North Hero from a well-known maker of fine smallpipes. If > the Kilberry smallpipes were any indication of the quality of > Kilberry GHB, I would suggest avoiding them. > > > > - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 15:29:15 -0400 From: Chris Hamilton Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Capital District Results On Thu, 09 Sep 1999 17:21:37 GMT, bobofet@my-deja.com wrote: > toneczar@erols.com wrote: >> On Tue, 07 Sep 1999 20:05:35 GMT, bobofet@my-deja.com wrote: >> >> I wasn't there ... I didn't hear the contest ... but ... as a EUSPBA >> judge and a Grade 2 (Grade 1?) band player, I'll jump in with some >> thoughts here ... >> >> >Anyone else as confused about the Grade II results at Capital >District? >> >For all those who don't know - Niagara Regional Police - 1st, >Worcester >> >Kilties - 2nd, Tulach Ard 3rd, Schenectady - 4th, Oran Mor - 5th, and >> >Saffron Kilts - 6th. Niagara, even being short staffed a bit was >> >definitely the better band. That being said - the other placings are >> >way off. Not just one judge making a mistake, but blatantly wrong. >> >> I don't think that accusations should be leveled against judges unless >> you're prepared to name names, including your own. > >What - the judges are suddenly never wrong? I don't know the names of >the judges who were there. My name is not important. I wrote this >posting to see if anyone WHO WAS THERE agreed with me. I admire you for >defending fellow judges but you weren't there to hear the contest. Yes, judges can be wrong ... but we accept that when we enter. It is subjective stuff. I'm sure the bands that WERE in the list felt they were right ;-) True enough - I wasn't there ... I just cringe when someone goes on the 'net saying judges are crazy though. And I'm familiar with the bands involved, certainly. Anything can happen on the day, of course. > ... >> > While Worcester has one of the best drum corps in the world, tone >> >has never been strong. >> >> Oh, I don't know, back in the 1960s it was quite good ;-) ... but >> seriously the band is improving steadily. > >Not touching this one - OUCH!!! ; ) Actually, I meant that as a tribute to the old band which was one of the top bands on the continent for a good while. The current band is rebuilding after years on the downswing. > ... >Bottom line I thought it was wrong and apologize if I pissed anyone >off. But I would like to hear from someone who did hear the contest. Nah, I'm not pissed, just a little ruffled is all. (actually the UK definition of "pissed" would be a good thing here, eh?). I shudder to think if the internet became a "blast the judges" forum it could really get out of hand. Don't get me wrong - I've certainly done my share of head-shaking and bitching, but I try to do it in my little circle of conspirators ;-) And having done a little judging, I know it's not easy and someone is always going to be annoyed at you. Chris ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chris Hamilton -- ToneCzar@erols.com City of Washington Pipe Band http://www.serve.com/cowpb/chamilton.html - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 20:56:13 +0100 From: "lsrapm" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Warming up before funerals (or not). One stategy I often use on occasions like this is to keep breathing into the bag for five/ten minutes before I'm due to play. This is usually enough to get the reeds moist and warm and very close to where they were when I tuned up. Chris Eyre - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 16:10:40 -0700 From: "Iain Sherwood" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Chanterrach Canntairreachd is traditionally used only in Piobaireachd, but it can be adapted for use in modern tunes with a little work. An outline of the notation can be found in each of the Piob.Society books, or in the Kilberry Book. IS Jeff Ramsden (MacLeòid) wrote in message news:37d81fb7$0$207@nntp1.ba.best.com... > Can anyone tell me a site or book (or even if you happen to know, yourself) > the chanterrach expressions for the notes and more common movements > of tunes? I'd really like to be able to use chanterrach as well as modern > notation - I'm kind of weird like that. > > Thanks in advance- > > -- > ---------------------- > Goraidh (Jeff) Ramsden > Pacific Region Vice President Clan MacLeod Society USA, Inc. > Clann MhicLeòid Leódhais (MacThorchadail) > "I Birn Quhil I Se" - "Vivat Rex" > > - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 13:53:43 -0700 From: "Jeff Ramsden (MacLeòid)" Subject: (bagpipe) Chanterrach Can anyone tell me a site or book (or even if you happen to know, yourself) the chanterrach expressions for the notes and more common movements of tunes? I'd really like to be able to use chanterrach as well as modern notation - I'm kind of weird like that. Thanks in advance- - -- - ---------------------- Goraidh (Jeff) Ramsden Pacific Region Vice President Clan MacLeod Society USA, Inc. Clann MhicLeòid Leódhais (MacThorchadail) "I Birn Quhil I Se" - "Vivat Rex" - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 09 Sep 1999 21:31:16 GMT From: bagpiip@aol.com (SENDMORESPAM) Subject: (bagpipe) Re: kid pipes >I forgot to include blowpipes in my first response. Thanks for reminding me >that a kid should have a short blowpipe. Both the short blowpipe and >customization of where it is tied into the bag is important... > Ed, Add these two things to the list I sent you of things we did to help my daughter adjust to the pipes. Bill Mar a bha, mar a tha, mar a bhitheas gu brath, ri tra'ghadh's ri lionadh. (back by popular demand) - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 16:27:12 -0500 From: Richard Mao Subject: (bagpipe) Re: re Capital District Results Oops... I wanted to stay out of this one.... because I wasn't there... But, as a matter of general principle.... you hire a judge for that judge's best effort, best opinion coming from the weight, depth, and breadth of that persons past (hopefully vast) integrity, experience, knowledge, and ability to apply all of that to judge on the day of the contest... If two judges like and advocate two different styles of ...whatever.... they will "put up" what they like... They are honestly....repeat .... honestly..... trying to influence the direction of the art along the lines of what they are advocating ... teaching... as being the best for the art. So I do not agree with your statement: "....one persons opinion of a performance that may be totally different than anothers. But I feel that they shouldn't be too different. There should be some continuity in the results which I haven't seen this season...." If you want continuity... hire ONE judge for every competition to judge the same class every time....(wouldn't that throw a large stone in the boiling cauldron...) Most if not all of these judges have come from the ranks of competition... they have been judged... they have, I'm sure, felt that they have been scr...d by judges... they have criticized judges... they have heard criticism of judges... yet... now they've become one... and are being subject to being savaged...just now....Why? because they are wanting to "give back" to the art... This thread has been repeated in EVERY competitive field that requires judges versus measuring tape or stopwatches... gymnastics, dog show, horse show, figure skating, drum and bugle corp... you name it....I can only speak for myself.... I have been involved judging in several hobby and competitive fields... on the field I turn into a "judging machine" ... my main objective is to judge every competitor under the same conditions of contest and by consistent criteria...comparing their performance to my mental standard of excellence/perfection (or to published standards)... often at the end of the day when I'm reviewing results... I am surprised at who did well and who didn't ... I never had the time to think politics in the heat of the fray. Think of it this way... if, for example, politics played a big role... who would have the guts to put "the world champions" down in a subsequent contest.... would you put the evaluation of that judge down to pique... or ... courage of conviction... (don't I remember some rule that says the judges can't compare notes or talk to each other before they turn their judging sheets in... exactly and precisely to avoid judgement by collusion?) ============= Finally, a minor observation: I've seen contests both where a band, say, missed an attack ... and still won... I've heard what I consider only a minor or occasional booboo and seen that band end up in flames... Someone mentioned... they heard a bad attack or other minor problem and saw the bands involved end up at the bottom... please consider there is a difference between "cause and effect" and "coincidence"... Chris mentioned that not only he but other judges were thinking of the overall rather than counting errors... it might be true! === I feel that the only avenues available to competitors is not to submit themselves for evaluation under a judge they did not respect...and to express their desires to the games committee or other judge selecting/certifying group... otherwise... as most do... just play...play...play... I feel that the only legitimate venue for a spectator that felt judging was not correct (notice I didn't say fair)...that would have some hope of correcting a bad situation in the future... is to recommend in writing to the games committee... either or both.... asking them not to rehire a certain person as a judge... and/or to recommend judges who you have seen render good results....otherwise... you will weight your soul down with less choler by just remembering/cherishing what was enjoyable... anything else...regardless of avowed purpose... will amount to tempest in a teapot...rabble rousing in a public forum...and come to no effect. My hat is off to both the games people who run/sponsor the events for your enjoyment that make your complaints even possible and to the judges who, in effect, expose themselves to your complaints.... In search of perspective.. When I die, I know I’m going to heaven… I’ve already been through Hell as a member of a pipe band… Richard Mao, The Peking Piper ( PekingPiper@mao.org ) bobofet@my-deja.com wrote: > Chris, > > Believe it or not - we're different! Different bands and everything - > but I know who you are Fetternutter! > > I guess you are right about the subjectiveness of judging - after all > it's one persons opinion of a performance that may be totally different > than anothers. But I feel that they shouldn't be too different. There > should be some continuity in the results which I haven't seen this > season. Thanks for your input though - I appreciate it. Its good to > have another judges input on things - I just wish you were there to > hear it so you won't think of me as whacked or who the heck is he or > some other chioce words. > bobofet > > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ > Share what you know. Learn what you don't. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 14:58:39 -0400 From: Chris Hamilton Subject: (bagpipe) Re: re Capital District Results On Thu, 09 Sep 1999 17:34:09 GMT, bobofet@my-deja.com wrote: Hi Bob-o-fet ... >Chris, > >Believe it or not - we're different! Different bands and everything - >but I know who you are Fetternutter! > >I guess you are right about the subjectiveness of judging - after all >it's one persons opinion of a performance that may be totally different >than anothers. But I feel that they shouldn't be too different. There >should be some continuity in the results which I haven't seen this >season. Thanks for your input though - I appreciate it. Its good to >have another judges input on things - I just wish you were there to >hear it so you won't think of me as whacked or who the heck is he or >some other chioce words. Naw, I'm cool. And hell you may be right, after all. But I figure most judges are sane -- and I know someone is going to curse my results someday! I only once went up to a judge and complained about the result I was given, and she stood her ground, then I got upset and a little testy. The next day I apologized and vowed never to do such a thing again. (She claimed my B strikes were inaudible and I took offense!) I figured nobody would touch Niagara and 2nd place was up for grabs. After seeing the Beers 'n' Cheers photos, I am NOT missing this games next year! Chris ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chris Hamilton -- ToneCzar@erols.com City of Washington Pipe Band http://www.serve.com/cowpb/chamilton.html - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 15:35:04 -0500 From: "matheson" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Newbie with a Question on Buying a Chanter Yes, that's why I wrote as I did. My first school was as a beginner, 6 months on chanter, and only attendee without pipes. It only convinced me that I wanted to succeed all the more. I learned/was exposed to so much from Ken Eller and Sandy Keith that I still go over my notes even 4 years later. Besides, by summer, he will have more that 6 months and if he gets an instructor first, all the better. Les Richard Mao wrote in message <37D743B0.16EE795A@prodigy.net>... >With respect... > >It is my experience with fellow attendees of summer schools...that a raw >beginner would seem to be paying an awful lot for a one or two week summer >school for marginal gains. > >The raw beginner is faced with needing to achieve physical skills in blowing >strength, and coordination of many new finger movements, and learning to read >the music... all of which take time...to overcome the uncertainties and gain >familiarity and self confidence and the ability to absorb the instruction (and >this is just on the practice chanter...it might be even worse if the raw >beginner brings a set of pipes and expects to be up and rumbling by the end of a >week or two). This is regardless of how good the instructor is either as an >instructor or as a piper... It seems a mismatch to think that an "Alasdair >Gillies" class instructor could achieve any more than a more run-of-the-mill >instructor who is experienced at working with beginners...both at an adult or >adolescent level. > >My opinion is that a piper who has about a half dozen or so tunes up on the >pipes is perhaps the minimum level student who can really benefit from summer >schools...with their grand, world class instructors. > >On the other hand... if a piper were to take the, say $300, of room and board >and tuition, plus any travel expense, and could find a reasonably good >instructor...at, say $15 the half-hour, or $25 per hour (all amounts are plus >or minus)....that piper would be a lot further ahead for the money at the end of >a dozen weekly sessions...even if that piper would have to drive a hundred or so >miles to get to that instructor. > >Are there any pipers in the ng who attended summer schools as raw beginners who >would offer their experience? either in agreement or disagreement? > >Thanks > >When I die, I know I’m going to heaven… > I’ve already been through Hell as a member of a pipe band… > >Richard Mao, The Peking Piper ( PekingPiper@mao.org ) > > > > >matheson wrote: > >> I would echo what everybody else has said about instruction, but you might >> want to start planning t attend a piping school in the summer, also. The >> instructors at any of them are first rate and the level of knowledge you >> will gain is unbelievable. I'm still working on things I picked up at >> Oberlin in June/July. >> >> Les >> >> dbled wrote in message <7r3j1m$mt2$1@ash.prod.itd.earthlink.net>... >> >I know practically nothing about bagpipes, but I'm curious about them and >> >I'm thinking of getting a chanter and some instructional material as a way >> >to begin to learn. >> >I have a catalog that lists a "Chanter Kit" produced by Bagpipes of >> >Caledonia. It sells for $45 (US) and contains a 19" chanter made of >> >hardwood with aluminum mounts, a reed, playing chart, an instructional >> audio >> >cassette and a music book. Are any of you familiar with this product or >> the >> >"Bagpipes of Caledonia"? What are your opinions on buying this as an entry >> >level kit? >> >If any one has other ideas, or can suggest other instruments or material >> >that would be suitable for a beginner. I would greatly appreciate your >> >comments/suggestions. >> >I know it would be best if I could talk to a player, but unfortunately I'm >> >located in a somewhat isolated area - at least as far as this subject is >> >concerned; so I'm hoping some of you will help. >> >Thanks >> > >> > >> > > - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: 9 Sep 1999 20:44:25 -0500 From: "Maeve" Subject: (bagpipe) More on badge progress I finished the initial sculpt of the badge today and it will be going in for a mold (to my shop) tomorrow. If all goes well, I will be able to dry the mold in the oven tomorrow night (isn't that what ovens are made for?) and start the refining by Monday. I am planning on leaving for England on the 5th of October and hope to have this wrapped up before I leave. Zu, I'll probably be sending you an oversized prototype by the end of the week. JIM! Where was my Font Geek when I needed him the most??? Dan, don't expect much in the mail for about two weeks. And, yes, on the trip to England, my Sinclairs will be with me as a carry-on and the husband will stay at home. See the priorities here? This has been fun and I really LIKE what I am seeing here! Remember, the badge is still at: http://people.delphi.com/terralyn/pin5x.jpg It looks good so far! - -- Love and Light be with you, Maeve http://people.delphi.com/terralyn terride@sanctum.com - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 22:22:01 GMT From: "Lorne MacDougall" Subject: (bagpipe) The Piping Net Howdy all, Just a quick note to say you can now access the piping net through www.piping-net.co.uk All the old addresses (listen.to/bagpipes and home.clara.net/lorne417) still work and will do for as long as I can help it. Thanks, Lorne (DUT). - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 15:34:08 -0500 From: Richard Mao Subject: (bagpipe) Re: memorizing tunes Hi C's!!! Thanks for this analysis. This describes almost the exact way I approach piobaireachd...both from a memorization point of view and recall during the performance point of view. Regarding memorization of light music... I am also a multi-sensory discipline person... not only Kinesthetic (dancing with fingers)... but singing onomatopoeia (sp?) in my head (my band will tell you I use this at the beginning of our sets)...and visual...road map style of thinking to remember when and how to navigate between first and second endings... I certainly agree... use ALL your tools....but most of the chunes go by too fast for me to think through/use your structural analysis when I'm performing in the field....only when I'm first memorizing. I tend to memorize sequences (like others do phone numbers and social security numbers)... during memorization I memorize the sequence and when I call on the sequence...(remember the "recall handles" from a prior post)... like others who tell me their phone number in a rush... as opposed to thinking of what number comes after the first number, then the second number, etc. as soon as I start the sequence ... the rest of the sequence comes automatically like dominoes falling...One of my music teachers always stressed during our actual performance ... THINK THE MUSIC!!!! You need to focus and concentrate just on that (not the next hand motion...not just the next note...not avoiding an error, not what we're going to have for dinner, etc.) My take on your question at the end of your post on semantics vs substance... I tend to think that we are looking at different facets of the same jewel... Cheers When I die, I know I’m going to heaven… I’ve already been through Hell as a member of a pipe band… Richard Mao, The Peking Piper ( PekingPiper@mao.org ) Ccc31807 wrote: > This is a delayed response to this thread. I have not had time to do this, and > I wanted to do it right, so now I have a little time. I wanted to go through > the four types of memory as I understand them, briefly consider the first > three, and spend a little time on the last one. This will not be a long post, > but I hope it will be helpful. > > I have no background in psychology, or other science, and have undertaken no > systematic study of memory. My only qualification is that I have memorized a > large quantity of music, and I regularly commit music to memory. I have been > doing this for about 30 years, and I know what works for me. > > The four types of memory are kinesthetic memory, aural memory, visual memory, > and cognitive memory. > > > > I am not sure whether I differ from Richard Mao and Mike Talcott on just > semantics, or on the substance. I am sure they are both fine musicians, and > can play from memory perfectly. I am also sure that there are many ways to > accomplish any one end, and that I am ignorant of most of them. However, I > would submit that, our physical and mental resources being as frail as they > are, we would be remiss in our obligation to the music if we failed to use > every facility at our disposal to perform it. - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 9 Sep 1999 13:08:21 -0700 From: "Jeff Ramsden (MacLeòid)" Subject: (bagpipe) Re: Recording Practice Sessions > Bill Carr wrote: > > > Today I started recording my daily solo practice with a dictaphone (Sony > > TCM Ciear Voice) The sound quality is not to good so a Sony Mini Disk > > Recorder would be much better. > > > > Does anyone else do this? > Absolutely! I use a Sony MiniDisk with the stereo condenser microphone. Fantastic tool! I also record my lessons with my instructor, label the tracks, and store them away for reference. I find that my mind is so stuffed sometimes after the lesson that I can't remember some timings - all I have to do is go to the appropriate track on the MiniDisk and play it back. That MiniDisk is one of the best piping equipment purchases I've made. :) (Well, 'cept for my pipes, of course.....) - -- - ---------------------- Goraidh (Jeff) Ramsden Pacific Region Vice President Clan MacLeod Society USA, Inc. Clann MhicLeòid Leódhais (MacThorchadail) "I Birn Quhil I Se" - "Vivat Rex" - - To unsubscribe to bagpipe, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe bagpipe" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of bagpipe-digest V1 #57 **************************** - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.