Still being a novice player 30 years on, I would also add this bit of advice. Remember that the CDs and recordings are made by those who have played and practised for a number of years and are a standard to aim for. Do NOT be put off if your first attempts make you think that: (a) You don't have the required number of arms/hands/fingers etc (b) The maker has substituted something that only LOOKS like a set for a laugh as it doesn't sound like the one on the CD. (c) You have bought the wrong instrument and want to put it back in the case and hide it in the loft. (d) It's a joke. nobody could possibly play one of these (usually said after poking the eye with a drone stopper in an effort to get them to lie right). The first sounds can be very interesting if you are in isolation and getting everything going can be hard at first (and at second and third). Try as hard as you can to find other players within reach and try and see a live performance (or get to a monthly meeting of the society - arrange a short holiday if necessary if in the UK). Amazing how much you would learn in just a short time talking to another piper. Colin Hill (another isolated piper ) ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]>; "Neil Hutchinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 8:46 AM Subject: [NSP] Re: HELP! Where to begin?
> On 1 Nov 2007, Neil Hutchinson wrote: > > > I was wondering if theres anyone out there who could give some > > advice to someone who wants to learn to play the Northumbrian > > pipes. > > > > I have no experience and no access to other players and I also tend > > to travel from country to country a fair bit as part of my job. > > Neil: > > Insofar as you have a base, which continent / country / area (if UK) > are you starting from? > > Use search engines initially - trawl all the sites you can find, > gather all the information you can. You' ll probably be surprised how > widespread nsp players are. > > Get a few CDs: there's a wide range of styles, and and an even wider > range of people prepared to discuss / argue about them, some of them > eminent players, and many on / reading this list. > > Wearing one of my hats I'm sec. of the Northumbrian Pipers Society, > if I can be of any specific assistance in that respect feel free to > get in touch. > > Hope this helps > Julia > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > >
