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~ Universe of Bagpipes ~  |
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& Tutorials Review & Purchasing Information  If you haven't read the detailed commentary on the page "What's Needed & Why" you should do so. Here's a brief review, together with further details about the practice chanter and tutorials we offer: If you simply pick up a Great Highland Bagpipe and try to learn to play it directly you will get nowhere. You must start with a practice chanter, a quiet, low pitched reed instrument that follows the dimensions and finger placements of the bagpipe melody pipe (called the "chanter"). You will continue to need a practice chanter for as long as you are piping. You will also need a "tutor" - a book or series of books of lessons, accompanied (these days) by one or more audio CDs. Together, the practice chanter and the tutor are commonly referred to as a "practice chanter outfit." We offer two ways to assemble an outfit. Each uses the same chanter, but different tutors. The best all-around practice chanter we've found is the extra-long "Millennium 2000" by the highly regarded Canadian bagpipe-making firm J. Dunbar, Ltd. (pictured above). The Millennium 2000 practice chanter is turned on a lathe (not molded) from a dense structural synthetic, Delrin (also known as polypenco). It is accurate, very, very tough, feels and looks great, and because of its extra length and belled end, as well as its excellent reed, it sounds much better than the average practice chanter. It uses maintenance-free, clean, airtight O-rings at the joint between the two halves instead of messy hemp (which tends to get pretty nasty on a practice chanter). Like Dunbar's bagpipes, its excellent performance and fine craftsmanship is in pleasant contrast to its modest price. It's a lifetime instrument, and it's guaranteed for life. We sell only Dunbar practice chanters - quite a lot of them - and see no reason to offer any others (not that there aren't other good ones). They do the job most admirably. (Please enquire if you have need of another Dunbar practice chanter model.) US $84.00 |
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The practice chanter is provided with a very high-quality synthetic reed. These reeds, which are individually tested, will last for an indefinite time - usually until a physical mishap occurs. You can get replacement practice chanter reeds that should work just fine from any bagpipe supply house and even from many large general music stores, on or off line (though some cheaper reeds may be troublesome). So, having a spare reed is not normally really a necessity, though we will be happy to sell you one. On the other hand, if the chanter is going to be used by children, or if you're planning on distant travels or live in a remote place, then having a spare reed is probably a good idea. The J. Dunbar Ltd. Millennium 2000 practice chanter accepts a water-trap, also made by Dunbar. This keeps condensation and spit from collecting around the reed, which eventually might have you sounding like a trumpet-player in a fish tank. Whether or not you will benefit from a water trap is hard to predict, but you can always add it later - installation is simple. Further details are on our Water Trap Page. |
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No. 1 ~ The Classic "Green Book" This standard, universally recognized classic work is commonly called the "Green Book" (pictured below) and, together with its CD, is published by The College of Piping in Scotland. It has been used as a primary tutor for over 50 years, and most of the world's pipers, great and humble, started on it. It presumes no prior knowledge or musical experience. It consists of 26 lessons. When you have completed it, which can take anywhere from a few months on up to a year or so, you will be ready to start on the bagpipe itself. At some point you will need help, preferably in the form of regular instruction from an instructor, or at the very least occasional sessions with a competent piper. |
The College of Piping Tutor I
Glasgow, 72 pages, 10 X 7.5 inches, softcover
Note: This is the new edition, with minor revisions and a new cover
The College of Piping Audio CD
Seumus MacNeill & Thomas Pearston
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The Green Book is intended to accompany and supplement lessons by a teacher, but many, many pipers have started in on it alone. How far a student is able to go alone with the Green Book varies, but at the least it will be far enough to get a good feel for what's involved, and to build a solid foundation upon which to continue. The Green Book is familiar to all instructors and to most established pipers, which will be an advantage when you do approach someone for help.
US $30.00 |
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Purchased separately these items and shipping total US $128.00 Special Outfit Price: $108.00 $9.00 shipping via U.S.Priority Mail |
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It should be mentioned that there are many other tutors that have been published over the years that are essentially similar to the above College of Piping Green Book. Some are not bad, some are awful, some might even be a bit better. But a problem with all of them is that when you ask a teacher or a piper for help, they likely won't be on the same page, as it were, as you are. At this point the Green Book has become standard. You can't go wrong with it, even if, as is very likely, you will need some help along the way. But perhaps getting any outside help is going to be hard for you because of your location, schedule or other circumstances. Or maybe you just like doing things yourself. Read on - |
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No. 2 ~ The "Bagpipe Solutions" Series by John Cairns There is now another option that alters the picture radically : Master piper and teacher John Cairns of Canada has created a superb multi-volume tutorial called "Bagpipe Solutions" that can carry a student all the way to becoming a competent piper, without the necessity of outside instruction. This is the only such system that exists. For a detailed look, see our page "What's Needed & Why." Update: January, 2012: We have been providing these tutorials in significant numbers to students all over the world for nearly ten years. The results have been remarkable! The popularity of the series has now resulted in lower production costs, which means lower prices, by about 15%. |
John Cairns' "Bagpipe Solutions"
Volumes 1, 2 & 3, with audio CDs
306 pages, 200+ photos, drawings, diagrams & music
(Note: CDs are now in sleeves on the inside back covers rather than in useless, heavy , fragile jewel cases.)
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The first three volumes of Bagpipe Solutions, each with an accompanying audio CD, cover the same ground - that is, the practice chanter - as the Green Book/CD, but in much greater detail and, most significantly, in a way so well organized and presented that it minimizes or even eliminates the need for outside instruction. Most students should be able to move through the first volume of Cairns, titled "Preliminary Level," quite rapidly. This volume and the next two, "Beginner Level" and "Advanced Beginner Level" together carry the student through the practice-chanter-only phase of his or her piping education. We feel that it will be beneficial for the beginner to have all three volumes on hand from the start, and so we consider them to be a set and offer them together at a reduced price. This also saves on shipping costs. The Set, US $95.00 (This is a savings of $13.00 over individual purchases & shipping) $35.00 each volume (book and CD) Shipping via U.S.Priority Mail, $6.00 for a single volume |
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Purchased separately these items and shipping total US $224.00 Special Outfit Price: $179.00 $12.00 shipping via U.S.Priority Mail |
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Once these first three volumes are completed the fledgling piper will be ready to approach the mysteries of the bagpipe itself, and thus be ready to begin on Volume 4, 5, and 6. On completing Volume 6, the student will be playing the Great Highland Bagpipe. |
John Cairns' "Bagpipe Solutions"
Volumes 4, 5 & 6, with audio CDs
432 pages, 200+ photos, drawing, diagrams and music
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The Set, US $95.00 (This again is a savings of $13.00 over individual purchases & shipping) $35.00 each (Book and CD) Shipping via U.S.Priority Mail, $6.00 for a single volume. Volumes 4, 5, and 6, the second part of John Cairns' brilliant series, carry the student who has mastered the practice chanter on to the bagpipe. Again, these books and CDs are designed to teach in a way that is otherwise only available by face-to-face instruction. They provide the only path we know of for just about anyone, regardless of geographic location, scheduling demands or financial considertions to become a competent piper on their own. Purchase all six volumes for US $190.00 and get FREE SHIPPING (domestic US & APO)! (International customers, please contact us for shipping costs.) |
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To help you decide which of the two tutorials is best for you - the College of Piping Green Book or John Cairns' Bagpipe Solutions, we've listed some considerations under the heading "Decisions" near the bottom of our "What's Needed & Why" page. (We keep asking you to read that page ... it's lengthy but it will save you a lot of time, trouble & probably money.) Whether or not you purchase anything we hope that you have found the information presented here useful and we wish you the best of success if you indeed take up the Great Highland Bagpipe. If you have any questions, please don't be shy. Even though we know absolutely everything (having marched out of the womb playing the pipes) and you know less than a stump, we won't burst into laughter until you're off the phone. Seriously, as you can perhaps tell from what you've read, we very much enjoy getting people started in piping and helping established pipers with their needs. That's what we're about. Always feel free to contact us and remember, there are no dumb questions. Thanks for your interest! |
The items on this page are in stock.
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You can also choose to pay by numerous other methods, for example by mailing a check, using PayPal, and so on. For details, including shipping policies, warranties, privacy, return policy, etc., please contact us and/or see the General Ordering Information Page. International customers: Contact us first! We routinely ship all over the world. But if you are ordering from outside the U.S. (other than from an overseas US military address), you must contact us for shipping options and costs before orderimg. IMPORTANT: Please pay attention to the shipping cost options! If you are ordering multiple items, we do not want you to pay additional shipping for each item. You should only pay shipping for the item with the highest shipping cost. To allow you to do this, each item has two "Add To Cart" buttons, one with shipping cost added and one without. If you are purchasing only one item, select the button WITH shipping. If you are purchasing multiple items, use the WITH shipping button only on the item with the highest shipping cost, and use the WITHOUT shipping buttons for the rest. For example, if you are purchasing a No. 2 Practice Chanter Outfit and two spare reeds and a water trap, you would add the outfit to the cart using the button WITH shipping and add the other items using the buttons WITHOUT shipping. When you look at your shopping cart, you should see one, and only one, item in the list that has "plus shipping" after the item name. This little dance may be a bit awkward, but the idea is to keep you from overpaying for shipping. NOTE: You may not see the following format on other product's pages; we are switching to this one page at a time. NO. 1 PRACTICE CHANTER OUTFIT (Dunbar M-2000 practice chanter, reed, Green Book with CD) NO.2 PRACTICE CHANTER OUTFIT (Dunbar M-2000 practice chanter, reed, Cairns Bagpipe Soultions tutorial series Vols. 1, 2 & 3) PRACTICE CHANTER, J. Dunbar Ltd. "Millenium 2000," with John Walsh synthetic reed SPARE REED, practice chanter, synthetic, by John Walsh WATER TRAP, for Dunbar M-2000 practice chanter "GREEN BOOK" (College of Piping tutor, Book One, with CD) VOLUMES 1, 2 & 3, John Cairns' Bagpipe Soultions tutorial series, the practice chanter volumes set (books & CDs) VOLUMES 4, 5 & 6, John Cairns' Bagpipe Soultions tutorial series, the bagpipe volumes set (books & CDs) SINGLE VOLUME (Vols. 1- 7 w. CD, Cairns Bagpipe Soultions series, contact us to specify which one |
Introduction to the Practice Chanter: What's Needed & Why
Practice Chanter Maintenance: Some Tips And Comments For The Beginner
Catalog Index Page
Universe of Bagpipes Main Page
Email The Universe of Bagpipes: bagpipes@hotpipes.com