Free bagpiping and drumming lessons
OUR MISSION
Getting more people interested in piping and drumming
We're on a mission to inspire and welcome new talent into the vibrant world of piping and drumming! We believe in the transformative power of our shared love of making Celtic music, and the sense of community it brings.
Our free piping and drumming lessons provide a platform for individuals of all backgrounds and levels of experience to learn and grow together. We're not just teaching music; we're fostering a community where passion, diversity, and the joy of making music unites us.
Come be a part of our musical journey – your unique talent is exactly what we're looking for!
What does it take to get started?
Whether you're a seasoned musical pro or just starting out, everyone is welcome to join our group, and we believe anyone can be successful on this journey.
That being said -- learning a new instrument is not easy. You will get from this process what you put into it: perseverance and dedication to your craft leads to great results.
Our instruction program provides the fundamentals and foundations in piping and drumming, and a supportive community to help you along the way. Your dedication and practice will be the key to unlocking your success, so we ask that all students plan to dedicate a minimum of 30 minutes per day to practicing and reviewing lesson materials each week.
While we require no previous experience reading music or understanding musical theory, we may recommend that some students seek out private instruction in these areas.
THE PROCESS
What you can expect
When beginning your bagpiping journey, you'll start with a practice chanter to master the scale and unique movements and embellishments.
This initial investment is all you need until you're ready for the bagpipes -- usually within a year, depending on how dedicated you are to practicing, and your previous musical experience.
We offer practice chanters at cost ($73) to purchase for your convenience, but feel free to use your own or buy elsewhere. We highly recommend that you speak with us first to help you pick out an appropriate practice chanter and/or set of bagpipes as they are not all created equal.
We're here to make your learning experience simple and flexible, so let us know how we can help.
BAGPIPES
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Is there an ideal age range for students?Anyone can learn bagpiping and drumming! We welcome students of all ages and backgrounds. That said, we have found that it is best for younger students to wait until they are at least 9 years old to get started. Older adults can learn to play at any age, but please note: this can be a somewhat physical activity! All that we require is a good attitude, and a determination and willingness to learn!
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Do I need to know how to read music to get started?Experience reading music is definitely a plus, but not required. You may find it slower or more difficult to learn if you do not already know how to read music, but we have taught many people who did not have this experience coming in.
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How much does it cost to get started?Our lessons are free! There are a few supplies that are needed to get started. Drumming students will need to purchase sticks and a practice pad ($20 - 80). Piping students will need to purchase a practice chanter (a small instrument much like a recorder), which typically costs around $60-80. IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not recommend that piping students purchase a set of bagpipes or a practice chanter before getting started. Please let us help you learn more about purchasing bagpipe equipment prior to making this big investment!
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What is the time commitment to join?We ask that students attend our 1-hour weekly lessons and practice for 30+ minutes per day to keep up with our lesson plans. We ask that band members attend weekly rehearsals and join us for as many gigs and performances as their personal schedules allow.
LEARN MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
We ❤️ when students have prior percussion experience, but we can teach anyone with any level of experience. In our program, snare students learn drum rudiments in the style of traditional Scottish drumming. You will learn proper stick grip and how to read Scottish drum scores, which typically look different from other percussion scores you may have seen.
Tenor drummers will learn the iconic art of flourishing: spinning their mallets while playing. Tenor drummers add a unique flair and depth of sound that makes pipebands so entrancing. Candidates for bass drum must have an excellent sense of rhythm. Bass drum students learn how to become the heartbeat of the band. We usually only have one bass drummer, so we recommend that anyone who is interested in the bass drum also learns to play tenor drum so you can switch.
DRUMMING
