Teaching Information

"THE best investment an aspiring bagpipe player can make is getting himself some good instruction! Don't go spending money on a set of pipes until you got someone to show you how to PLAY a set of pipes!"

"A good set of pipes is fairly easy to come by... a good set of HANDS is  quite a bit harder to obtain..."

I teach at the Black Watch Armoury in downtown Montreal on Monday Nights, from 6pm, but special hours can be arranged. The armoury is at 2067 Bleury Street, across from the Place Des Arts Metro station (Bleury exit). It is on the NE corner of President Kennedy and Bleury Streets.

I am currently willing to teach up to 5-6 students total, but I teach all students individually for a one hour block, weekly. The reason I prefer to do this is to ensure that all players advance at their own personal rate without any distractions, or pressure that they have to "compete" with the other student(s).

 

Black Watch Armoury

MAP 1

MAP 2

MAP 3

...your taskmaster is none other than ME!

Which applies to you?

  • Never played an instrument

  • I have no musical talent

  • I have a chanter and want lessons

  • I have bagpipes and want lessons

  • I know how to play but want to get a second opinion... 

No matter what the case, I am willing to help develop your playing skills. For many playing the pipes is a dream... let me help you make those dreams a reality. The average learning time is between 1-2 years. 

I do work with a group on Monday evenings, players that know the ABCs of piping but are making the transition from practice chanter to bagpipes. This group (pictured below) is playing a variety of tunes from the Black Watch band repertoire. The goal is to get them playing well enough to be "parade worthy". When they are able to play and march in simple parades then we introduce more difficult show tunes.

To get to a level where you are goo enough tp play on pipes, you will spend many hours honing your skills on the practice chanter, or PC. This group spends an hour running through tunes before going to play them on pipes!

Practice Chanter sessions in full flight, Summer 2000. 

(4 out of 7 of these aspiring pipers are now playing in a pipe band!)

We practice hard to learn "the tunes of glory"

Practice Chanter sessions Monday Night at Black Watch Armoury, April 2004

(yes, there are TEN chanters going here, minus myself)

Costs and materials needed:

  • a practice chanter (click here for ordering information in French and English. This is a PDF) 

  • an exercise book (click here for ordering information)

  • a pen or pencil                                                                       

 

FOR INFO ON LESSON COSTS PLEASE CONTACT ME!

 

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