Beginner's Practice

The beginner's practices are scheduled for:
Saturday, June 12 at 0830 hours at the Academy
Saturday, July 10 at 0830 hours at the Academy
Saturday, July 24 at 0830 hours at the Academy
Saturday, September 4 at 0830 hours at the Academy
Saturday, September 18 at 0830 hours at the Academy
Saturday, September 25 at 0830 hours at the Academy
Saturday, October 10 at 0830 hours at the Academy

If you have any questions please contact Scott or Cliff.

News Coverage of Memorial Ceremony

In so far as motivation and incentive to start playing the pipes with the band. What could be more motivation than this?

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=116709@kcbs.dayport.com
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=7065622

Why Play the Pipes?

That’s a good question. Why play the pipes? We are not professional musicians. We are coppers that enforce the law and do the right thing when no one is looking or no one cares. Why pick up the bagpipes and play them? Let me try and answer that question this way:

1. Playing the bagpipes is unique. Not everyone plays them. It truly is a special instrument that is not commonly played. It feels good to be able to do something that not everyone else can do.

2. The bagpipes are steeped in tradition. The bagpipes date as far back as the Egyptians and the Romans. The bagpipes stretch from yesterday and to today. Throughout many wars, the bagpipes gave courage to warriors in the heat of battle. When the bagpipes are played, you are connecting to a long history of tradition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MOUcIp5W34&feature=PlayList&p=59101C7274988DD5&index=0

3. The bagpipes are a beautiful instrument whose sound can make men cry. Take a minute and listen to Amazing Grace.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwb5Ai7LN3c&feature=related

4. Perhaps the greatest reason is what better way can we honor those that have gone before us. By playing at funerals, memorials, and tributes we honor those brave warriors who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Once you pick up the bagpipes and play them you realize it is so much more then just playing a musical instrument.

Bagpipes Cryin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzjiCJrY-F4&feature=related

FREE E-BOOK: The Ultimate Piping Guide

The Ultimate Piping Guide—Starting Off: Tips and Advice for the Beginning Piper Enjoy this first installment of free online bagpiping guides. Feel free to download and distribute. This guide includes helpful tips for those starting off on the Highland bagpipe, setting up your instrument, and improving your playing experience. This short guide is written with the learner piper in mind, but there is useful information for pipers at all levels and experience.
Included in this guide:
• Starting Off Right: Eliminating the more frustrating aspects of the instrument.
• The Comfortable Bagpipe: The ideal bagpipe setup for comfort & steady playing.
• Synthetic Drone Reeds: Set-up tips for optimal performance of synthetic drone reeds.
• The Strike-In: Yes, You Can: No more blown attacks—learn the skills for the perfect, professional start. by Chris Hamilton
Download.

2010 Summer School of Piping

The Summer School of Piping is now set up to accept registrations for 2010.

The school is still in Carlsbad from June 18th to 25th, 2010.


If you have any questions, please contact John Keys at the3keys@cox.net

You can find additional information and registration forms at www.bagpipesummerschool.com

Bagpipe Instructors

At some point in time in your piping career you will need private instructions. I can not over emphasize the importance of one-on-one instruction versus that of a group setting. It will take longer to re-learn or re-train yourself from those bad habits then it will be if you learn correctly the first time.

Aaron Shaw is an outstanding instructor that I would recommend. He gives private instruction and is also available via the Internet for instruction. Below is the link to his web site.

http://piperaaronshaw.com/index.html

If you have have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. Take care and happy piping.

Catalogue From The College of Piping, Scotland

Contained is the new digital catalogue from the College of Piping Shop. It contains hundreds of competitively priced piping, drumming and Highland dress products all available now at the click of a mouse. You will notice that each section heading is a link directly to the Shop where you can buy online. Many other items have their own individual links making ordering even easier. The new catalogue is the latest innovation from the College of Piping and I hope you will enjoy perusing its pages and consider buying some of the items to enhance your enjoyment of piping. To find a particular item simply type it into the search box on the top right of the screen and click Go.Every purchase helps us in the CoP's work for the national music: subsidised lessons, free Museum, free CoP Radio, free CoP TV, affordable tutor books and CDs, free practice space, free lessons for disadvantaged kids -- and the world's best piping mag, the Piping Times. Click on the link below to download the catalogue to your computer and you may like to keep it on your desktop of ease of reference: http://content.yudu.com/A1e8xu/CoPShop/

TO RECEIVE BLOG UPDATES

I think I have it figured out now, on the right you will see where it says subscribe now, under that click on "subscribe in a reader" and pick the appropriate format, that should do it. I don't know whats wrong with the followers link, can't seem to be able to fix it, but it didn't do much anyway.

Los Angeles Emerald Society Hermosa Bch 2008

WORK IN PROGRESS

Bear with me as I am just getting this thing off the ground. I have some details to work out but the intent when this is all up and running, is for this to be a launch pad for any potential band member to get educated and motivated to get going with playing the pipes or drums.