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For Subscriptions
The best new product of the decade
The Blair Digital Chanter
Welcome to the lessons of 2023.
In 2011, we studied everything from the bag, to the reeds, to blowing and the use of the tuning meter. Your pipe should now be in tip top shape. As most pipers play in bands, 2012 we concentrated on band music - sets of tunes - tunes common to all bands, from the parade band to the concert and competitive band. In 2013, we took a close look at technique and rhythm with the hopes of improving the skill level of every band player. If we are successful, your bands will improve as well. So often, in a band you are expected to understand how and what to learn. Music is handed out and you are left to randomly fend for yourself. In 2014 we studied methods of memorizing our music. These sessions hopefully took the guess work out of the process and established a firm method for all band players.... In 2015 we became more knowledgeable on setting up and tuning the instrument. In 2016 you learned music as a language and in 2017 you applied that knowledge to new tunes....I hope you enjoy the next few months.... Our focus will be on the band player and the music for 2018.. 2019, we are back renew the basics!...for this year, we are re-visiting Memorization skills in more depth. It has been 10 years since the original CD.... time for an upgrade!.... the lessons of last year are continuing all the best for 2022.. Pulsing
2023 - Let's Get Back to the Pulsing Concept
The Captain
The Piobaireachd Classroom is open for registered users. The Room is designed for those players who would like to begin a study of piobaireachd - technique and structure. If you feel that you would like to enter this room for further study, please contact the Captain if you have difficulty entering with your password.
The Student Forum is now open for business. This blog styled room is for the interchange of ideas, discussion of technique, pulsing, phrasing, problems you might be having with your piping, answers to music searches - questions that are not covered in the lessons - arguments - just about anything you wish to discuss openly with fellow subscribers or the piping public. It also serves as a quick access to the Captain. So use it often and enjoy...
Attention to All Subscribers
What the Pipe Band Judge Looks For An Interview with the MWPBA - October, 2020
Throw The Music Away! When memorizing, get away from the written score asap... brain activity for memorizing is almost nil while reading because the optical nerve is doing all the work... brain scans show that the activity is almost zero when reading...but when playing music from memory, watch out! See Dr. Simon McKerrell's article in the Reading Room or click on this link
A video from a while back on the use of the Blair Chanter
Play along with your favorite piper or recording!
Troy - Senyk & Eller - PD Interview - Part 1
Troy - Senyk & Eller - PD Interview - Part 2
Troy - Eller & Senyk - PD Interview - Part 3 (Scroll up for Parts 1 and 2)
Scroll Up For Videos December 27,2023 Lesson 42 Christmas Gifts 
or Boxing Day
December 13,2023 Lesson 41 Last Tune for 2023
Annother Easy Jig
December 6,2023 Lesson 40 Audio Learnig Important
An Easy Jig
November 29, 2023 Lesson 39 What's a Fritty Boatman?
An Easy Jig
November 22, 2023 Lesson 38 Finishing the Jig!
Pulsing
November 15, 2023 Lesson 37 Jigs are UP!
More Compound Time
November 8, 2023 Lesson 36 9/8 and 12/8 Marches!
More Compound Time
November 1, 2023 Lesson 35 Meet Meg MacRae!
Audio Lesson
October 25, 2023 Lesson 34 Back to the 6/8!
Consistent Compound Rhythms
October 18, 2023 Lesson 33 Piping Percussion!
Think Like a Drummer
October 11, 2023 Lesson 32 Counting in Threes!
Understanding Compound Rhythms
October 4, 2023 Lesson 31 Getting There!
Increasing the Tempo
September 27, 2023 Lesson 30 The Hornpipe!
A Caution on Tempo
September 20, 2023 Lesson 29 Something Special!
Let's Not Forget 9/11
September 13, 2023 Lesson 28 Reel Confusion!
Hornpipe vs. Reel
September 6, 2023 Lesson 27 Welcome Back
Hornpipe vs. Reel 2/4 or 2/2
June 28, 2023 Lesson 26 Summer Vacation Starts
Cronan's Reel to Pass the Time See You in September Play Lots and Enjoy
June 21, 2023 Lesson 25 Part 2
Working on Top Hand Technique
June 14, 2023 Lesson 24 The Wedding Reel
Applying the Technique
June 7, 2023 Lesson 23 Real Reel Rhythms
Make the Technique Intuitive
May 31, 2023 Lesson 22 Two Parts at a Time
Now Let's Finish!
May24, 2023 Lesson 21 The Competitive Strathspey
Time to Up the Level - not much different!
May17, 2023 Lesson 20 Another Fred Tune
Calum Campbell - Bebecula!
May10, 2023 Lesson 19 Fred's Tune
A small strathspey Lots of music!
May 3, 2023 Lesson 18 Feeling the Music
Sense the difference in strong vs weak pulses!
April 26, 2023 Lesson 17 The Strathspey
Some dance music... different pulsing!
April 19, 2023 Lesson 16 Complete the Tune
Pipe Major John D. Burgess, MBE!
April 12, 2023 Lesson 15 Pulsing vs Phrasing
Know the Difference!
April 5, 2023 Lesson 14 Sandy Spence to the End
Let's Complete the Tune!
March 29, 2023 Lesson 13 Upping the Level of the Tune
The method never changes!
March 22, 2023 Lesson 12 Let's Complete the March
Never leave a tune unfinished if you like it!
March 15, 2023 Lesson 11 The Competition March
The simplest of entry level tunes!
March 8, 2023 Lesson 10 The 2/4 Challenges
More Complicated Pulses!
March 1, 2023 Lesson 9 Pulsing Challenges
The Complexities of the 2/4 March!
February 22, 2023 Lesson 8 Additional March Pulses
A continution of simple timed marches!
February 15, 2023 Lesson 7 Pulsing & Band Playing
Of Course, You Want Everyone the Same!
February 8, 2023 Lesson 6 Time to Complete the Tune
Practice the Skill on all Your Tunes
February 1, 2023 Lesson 5 Putting This Method to the Test
Surprise, Surprise Pulsing Works
January 25, 2023 Lesson 4 Finding the Downbeat
The Sole Purpose of the G grace Note! The Mainstay of Playing in Time
January 18, 2023 Lesson 3 Simple Time Pulses
Know the Words of a Simple Timed Tune
January 11, 2023 Lesson 2 Get Ready to Pulse
Upgrade Your Reading Skills
January 4, 2023 Lesson 1 Let's Get Back to the Basics.....Upgrade Your Reading Skills
December 21, 2022 Lesson 42 Let's Look at a Reel!
uIntuitive to Mental - Muscular Memory
December 14, 2022 Lesson 41 Let's Look at a Reel!
uIntuitive to Mental - Muscular Memory
December 7, 2022 Lesson 40 Let's Look at a Strathspey!
uIntuitive to Mental - Muscular Memory
November 30, 2022 Lesson 39 Let's Look at a Strathspey!
uIntuitive to Mental - Muscular Memory
November 23, 2022 Lesson 38 Let's Look at a 2/4 March!
uIntuitive to Mental - Muscular Memory
November 16, 2022 Lesson 37 Let's Look at a 2/4 March!
uIntuitive to Mental - Muscular Memory
November 9, 2022 Lesson 36 The Glendaruel Highlanders!
Finish the tune off, now that you have got it!
November 2, 2022 Lesson 35 The Glendaruel Highlanders!
An Intuitive Experience - 6/8 Marches!
October 26, 2022 Lesson 34 The Battle of Waterloo!
Intuitive Note Groups Applied!
October 19, 2022 Lesson 33 Time to Upgrade Your Drilling!
Intuitive Note Groups Explored!
October 12, 2022 Lesson 32 Slow it Down!
Correct Input = Correct Output
October 5, 2022 Lesson 31 Increase the Difficulty!
Duncan Johnstone
September 28, 2022 Lesson 30 The Ship in the Bottle!
The Complete Tune
September 21, 2022 Lesson 29 The Ship in the Bottle!
A Lesson in Key Changes Know Your Arpeggios
September 14, 2022 Lesson 28 Another Hornpipe!
Increasing the Level A Ship in the Bottle by Donald MacLeod
September 7, 2022 Lesson 27 Welcome Back!
New Tunes - New Theory Get Ready to Dance the Hornpipe!
ipe Summer Recess
Waltz into Summer You will Love Kate Martin's
June 22, 2022 Lesson 25 A Jig for the Ages
The Easiest to Memorize!
June 15, 2022 Lesson 24 A Band Jig
A Tune for Everyone
June 8, 2022 Lesson 23 Jigs
A Jig is Just a Jig!
June 1, 2022 Lesson 22 Ready for a Change?
Do You Understand Compound Rhythms?
May 25, 2022 Lesson 21 Completing a Tune
Is it two or four parts for you?
May 18, 2022 Lesson 20 Some Classic Tunes
If You Enjoy a Tune, You Can Play it!
May 11, 2022 Lesson 19 Finishing the Tune
Lachlan MacPhail to the end!
May 4, 2022 Lesson 18 Bigger Reels
All Reels are the Same!
April 27, 2022 Lesson 17 Small Reels
A Repertoire for Your Band (and you)!
April 20, 2022 Lesson 16 Do You Feel Like Dancing ?
Jimmy Shand - great accordionist!
April 13, 2022 Lesson 15 Easy Start to Playing Reels
Understand Downbeat& Upbeat!
April 6, 2022 Lesson 14 Let's Relax Heavy Pulsing
An Intro to the Round Dance!
March 30, 2022 Lesson 13 3 Great Strathspeys!
Dornie Ferry Mamore Olivia's Fancy
March 23, 2022 Lesson 12 Moving On!
The Competitive Strathspey Composed by Pipers for Pipers But Nothing Has Changed!
March 16, 2022 Lesson 11 You Are On Your Own!
Finish this strathspey & How about a dance tune?
March 9, 2022 Lesson 10 Let's Up the Game
A Strathspey is Just a Strathspey Size Doesn't Matter
March 2, 2022 Lesson 9 Scansion & The Fiddle
Two Small Strathspeys Get the Feel of the Idiom!
February 23, 2022 Lesson 8 Louden's Bonnie Woods
Let's Follow Part 1 into Part 2! Pulse Lines, Triples, Technique
One of the first LP recordings by Beltona in the '40's, 50's
February 16, 2022 Lesson 7 That First Strathspey
Applying what you have learned! Pulse Lines, Triples, Technique
February 9, 2022 Lesson 6 Doubling Triples
Groups of Three Grace Noting Always Important
February 2, 2022 Lesson 5 The Triplet Rhythm
Groups of Three Preparing for the Strathspey
January 26, 2022 Lesson 4 Rebuilding the Birl
Treating the Birl as a "Duple Rhythm"
January 19, 2022 Lesson 3 Control of GDE's
Whether Dotted or not, Effective Pulsing is Necessary !
January 12, 2022 Lesson 2 The "3 Rhythm"
Triples Using Grace Notes Mastering Effective Accenting
January 5, 2022 Lesson 1 The Start of a New Year
We are note finished with Memorization Many More Skills to Explore
Read Down for other complete years
December 29, 2021 Lesson 44 Low G Rhythms
Bottom Hand Strength Slow Down, Note by Note Development Happy New Year!
December 22, 2021 Lesson 43 The Duple Rhythm
Building a Foundation It starts now!
December 15, 2021 Lesson 42 The Foundation Blocks
NO Technique - NO Rhythm Creating a Solid Platform for Good Playing!
December 8, 2021 Lesson 41 Sometimes the Story Helps?
Often the Song Helps Understanding the Music!
December 1, 2021 Lesson 40 Let's Finish the Tune?
It has taken time! Rome wasn't built in a day!
November 24, 2021 Lesson 39 Are you ready?
Have you memorized the first part? Then the second part is waiting for you!!
November 17, 2021 Lesson 38 The Pulses (Words) 2nd!
Don't rush to read and play a new tune Stick on the First Part Until Understood!
November 10, 2021 Lesson 37 The Rhythms First!
Don't rush to read and play a new tune Study first!
November 3, 2021 Lesson 36 The Big Jump!
A Study of the Beat Styles of the 2/4 March!
October 27, 2021 Lesson 35 Now to a Novice 2/4
2 parts of a 4-parted Competitive March!
October 20, 2021 Lesson 34 The Memorial Bells of Inveraray
And a Bunch of Other Small Marches!
October 13, 2021 Lesson 33 The Complete Tune
Easy to finish what we start!
October 6, 2021 Lesson 32 A Great March!
All 6/8's Created Equal!
September 29, 2021 Lesson 31 Get Used to the Rhythm!
A Small 6/8 for Bands and Individuals!
September 22, 2021 Lesson 30 Is it a 2 Count or 3?
You must increase the complexity! Compound Time Signatures
September 15, 2021 Lesson 29 What Comes Next
The Second Half of the Tune Now, apply these techniques to tunes you are learning!
September 8, 2021 Lesson 28 What Comes Next
Only After the First Part
September 1, 2021 Lesson 27 Welcome Back
Let's Review Your Summer! with The New Tune to Apply the Strategies
Something for the summer as you get to enjoy outside band rehearsals once again Get your drones set up correctly!
June 30, 2021 Lesson 26 Summer Recess
A Time to Reflect on the Process! A New Tune to Apply the Strategies
June 23, 2021 Lesson 25 The Road Map?
A Need for Understanding? The Theory First - then Audio Memory Before Motor Memory!
June 16, 2021 Lesson 24 Are Your Ears Open?
Are You Processing What You See? Audio Memory Before Motor Memory!
June 9, 2021 Lesson 23 Are Your Eyes Open?
Are You Processing What You See? Visual Memory Before Motor Memory!
June 2, 2021 Lesson 22 Buy into the Process!
Theory First - Visual and Auditory Next! All Before Motor Memory!
May 26, 2021 Lesson 21 Do You Understand the Process ?
Plan on how to memorize and stick to it!
May 19, 2021 Lesson 20 Let's Set the Bar Higher
Nothing like increasing your repertoire even more!
The Difficult E Doubling from the Top Hand
May 12, 2021 Lesson 19 Exercise Your Memory Skills
Nothing like increasing your repertoire! Audio > Visual!
May 5, 2021 Lesson 18 Can you handle the audio?
Torosay Castle to the end!
April 28, 2021 Lesson 17 Finish What You Started
Torosay Castle to the end!
April 21, 2021 Lesson 16 Resolution
All Tunes Start and End the Same! A tune in D for example
April 14, 2021 Lesson 15 Your Band Sets
All Tunes Start the Same!
April 7, 2021 Lesson 14 You are on Your Own
Let's Finish the Tune Off Do you have a plan!
March 31, 2021 Lesson 13 Like a Computer
Memorization is a Sequential Process Have a Plan!
March 24, 2021 Lesson 12 Memorization - a Start
Know the Language - Know the Theory! Perfect the Technique!
March 17, 2021 Lesson 11 From the Oral to the Visual
Music is a Language! See it - Play it!
March 10, 2021 Lesson 10 Are You Bi-Lingual?
Music is a Language! Know the Language, Understand the Music!
March 3, 2021 Lesson 9 Common Note Groupings
Recognizing Groups of Notes in Tunes Essential for Automating Finger Movement!
February 24, 2021 Lesson 8 Can't Play What You Can't See
Recognizing Scales in Tunes Implementing the Theory in our Music!
February 17, 2021 Lesson 7 Natural Finger Placement
A Start to the Process! Removing a Memorization Impediment!
February 10, 2021 Lesson 6 The D Arpeggio
All tunes ending in D! A little work to do on your own!
February 3, 2021 Lesson 5 The G Arpeggio
Happy tunes are composed mostly in A! Thinking in G, one note lower, is a challenge!
January 27, 2021 Lesson 4 The Use of Grace Notes
And you thought they were added randomly! Everything for a purpose!
January 20, 2021 Lesson 3 Let's Start with Scales
Not "The Scale" What is Overlooked! Classical Instruments Have an Edge
January 13, 2021 Lesson 2 A Structured Approach
Essentials of Memorization Strategies of Memorization Understanding the Types of Memory
January 6, 2021 Lesson 1 Happy New Year
Let's Start 2021 Memorization Revisted!
2020 Lessons December 30, 2020 Lesson 44 A Bunch of Drills!
Happy New Year ! Get Ready for 2021 Memorization Revisted!
December 23, 2020 Lesson 43 The Bottom Hand!
Perfect practice makes perfect performance!
December 16, 2020 Lesson 42 No Single Style Fits All!
The Birl! The mistake some teachers make!
December 9, 2020 Lesson 41 Have you been playing for 7 years!
The Birl! The making of a piper!
December 2, 2020 Lesson 40 Strike it! Hear the Echo!
Sometimes called Shakes Proper technique little understood!
November 25, 2020 Lesson 39 Can't Beat the Logan's!
Reel Drill! An exercise that has lasted me since the beginning
November 18, 2020 Lesson 38 As it Sounds!
The Tachum - So important!
November 11, 2020 Lesson 37 As Old as the Hills
A Logan's Tutor Drill for the Ages
November 4, 2020 Lesson 36 The Unforgotten E Grace Note
Basic C and B Doubling Rhythms
October 28, 2020 Lesson 35 The Taorluath
Low G Fundamentals Continued
October 21, 2020 Lesson 34 Get a Grip!
Low G Fundamentals
October 14, 2020 Lesson 33 So you want to play heavy!
The Other D Throw
October 7, 2020 Lesson 32 Are You Ready to Throw?
Pick your style!
September 30, 2020 Lesson 31 Triples on the Scales
Can't Avoid Arpeggios in A, G, and D!
September 23, 2020 Lesson 30 Automating Those Triples
Drill and More Drill, Still!
September 16, 2020 Lesson 29 It's All About Control
Advancing Technique Correctly Drill and More Drill!
September 9, 2020 Lesson 28 The GDE Rhythm
Advancing Technique Correctly Drill and More Drill!
September 2, 2020 Lesson 27 Welcome Back
Advancing Technique Correctly Lessons from the Pro's!
June 24, 2020 Lesson 26 Good Times at Galliard!
A Tune for the Summer! Recess until September - Practice well!
June 17, 2020 Lesson 25 The Complete Tune!
Important to Listen! Music improvement is part audio and part visual
June 10, 2020 Lesson 24 Progress Report!
A Beauty of a tune by John MacLellan, Dunoon! Are your pulses and phrases fully understood?
June 3, 2020 Lesson 23 Memorization!
Back to Music as a Language! Are You Bilingual?
May 27, 2020 Lesson 22 High A - High G!
Aren't These Really Throws! But we include them anyway!
May 20, 2020 Lesson 21 Half Doublings !
Thumb grace note issues! More Drills!
A Method of Playing and Learning from the Best
May 13, 2020 Lesson 20 Doublings from D,etc.!
Time to write music out! A lesson in understanding what you are playing!
Do you Sing your Tunes?
May 6, 2020 Lesson 19 Doublings from B and C!
Drills to Improve Rhythm? Watch the False Fingering!
April 29, 2020 Lesson 18 Perfecting Doublings!
Drills to Improve Rhythm? The Full Story - Often Missed!
April 22, 2020 Lesson 17 The Addition of Rhythm!
Where does the beat lie? A must session for playing in time!
April 15, 2020 Lesson 16 Knowing the Purpose!
Placement of Grace Notes For Accent! What function do embellishments serve?
April 8, 2020 Lesson 15 A Rule of Thumb!
Placement of Grace Notes! Essential Intuition for Auto-Playing!
April 1, 2020 Lesson 14 Not an April Fools!
It is what you read! Putting the lid on memorization!
March 25, 2020 Lesson 13 Progress Report!
A great way to pass time! Covid-19 Hibernation Tune
March 18, 2020 Lesson 12 A Tune on Your Own!
A Tune by Bruce Gandy! My Favorite 3/4 March
March 11, 2020 Lesson 11 A Complete Overview!
Let's Complete the Tune! and Put the tune in your head!
March 4, 2020 Lesson 10 From the Visual to the Oral!
Understanding the wording first! Apply your own syllables! Put the tune in your head!
February 26, 2020 Lesson 9 Take a Breath!
Learning to Rest in a Tune! Those Spots Where You Can Think!
February 19, 2020 Lesson 8 The Musical Alphabet!
You Must Recognize the Words! Correct Reading Skill is Not an Option!
February 12, 2020 Lesson 7 Music is a Language!
A language has an alphabet, words and sentence structure! Time to become bi-lingual!
February 5, 2020 Lesson 6 Automating Finger Movement!
A Final Set of Drills - but the quest is never over!
January 29, 2020 Lesson 5 Know Your Scales!
Note Combinations Make Memorization Automatic!
January 22, 2020 Lesson 4 The Third Scale!
What Happens in D? Even Amazing Grace Knows This!!
January 15, 2020 Lesson 3 A Fun Use of Scales!
STB a semitone lower? Played in G!
January 8, 2020 Lesson 2 The Second Scale!
Thinking one note lower!
January 1, 2020 Lesson 1 Happy New Year!
Something old, something new!
December 25, 2019 Lesson 43 Merry Christmas!
Some Music!
December 18, 2019 Lesson 42 OK - You Want to Improve!
The Blair Digital Chanter!
December 11, 2019 Lesson 41 Strike Improvement!
The Use of Tune Specific Drills!
December 4, 2019 Lesson 40 A Strike is but a Single Grace Note!
Strikes have everything to do with the first melody note!
November 27, 2019 Lesson 39 A Tune Specific Drill
Using "Crossing the Minch" to improve!
November 20, 2019 Lesson 38 Birls from all Notes
Never Forget the Prior Low A!
November 13, 2019 Lesson 37 Birl Development
What to do when your Birl goes south! Every piper experiences this from time to time!
November 6, 2019 Lesson 36 The Birl
Seven Years to Make a Piper! The most often used rhythm!
October 30, 2019 Lesson 35 Logan's Best
A must rhythmic drill! Never to be forgotten or used!
October 23, 2019 Lesson 34 Triplets in Dot-Cut Reels
A must rhythm ! The Keel Row
October 16, 2019 Lesson 33 Trad Jig from Donald MacPherson
Do you know what a Curlew is? Google it!
October 9, 2019 Lesson 32 Triplet Rhtyhms in Jigs
Rhythmic competency = Memorization is a snap! A lesson in fundamentals not stressed!
October 2, 2019 Lesson 31 Triplet Rhtyhms
Band vs. Private Instruction A lesson in accountability!
September 25, 2019 Lesson 30 Father John MacMillan of Barra
One good tune deserves another Always learn the history as well!
September 18, 2019 Lesson 29 Always Finish What's Started!
A lesson in "short, short, long" Parts 3 and 4!
September 11, 2019 Lesson 28 Glenfinnan!
A Big Tune Second part - a lesson in phrasing!
September 4, 2019 Lesson 27 Welcome Back!
A Big Tune A Harry Potter Connection!
June 26, 2019 Lesson 26 Recess for the Summer!
Tachums i n Tunes See you in September! Practice and enjoy the break!
June 19, 2019 Lesson 25 The Tachum!
Names reflect the rhythmic sounds!
June 12, 2019 Lesson 24 Triples in Jigs!
Another Look at the Triplet!
June 5, 2019 Lesson 23 Pulses of a Triplet - Continued!
Not all triples are played the same!
May 29, 2019 Lesson 22 Pulses of a Triplet!
Tune type determines how you play a group of 3!
May22, 2019 Lesson 21 Variations in the Tachum Tune!
This one simple "tune" can be used for multiple rhythms!
May 15, 2019 Lesson 20 Get Your Fingers Moving!
Back to the Logan's Tutor for Strathspeys! Preparing for the "Snap"
May 8, 2019 Lesson 19 Never Far From the Basics!
Back to the Logan's Tutor for Strathspeys! or what appears to be strathspeys
May 1, 2019 Lesson 18 The Taorluath Rhythm!
A Triplet that is often Abused!
April 24, 2019 Lesson 17 Are You Improving Technically?
A Time to Move Forward!
April 17, 2019 Lesson 16 Let the Bells Ring!
A Tune from Argyll!
April 10, 2019 Lesson 15 Time for Some Tunes!
The acid test is in the music!
April 3, 2019 Lesson 14 From Grip to Taorluath!
All about Low G and Drill, Drill and More Drill!
March 27, 2019 Lesson 13 Let's Strengthen Those Grips!
All about Low G and Drill, Drill and More Drill!
March 20, 2019 Lesson 12 Get Your Bottom Hand in Shape!
All about Low G and the Grip!
March 13, 2019 Lesson 11 Get Your Doublings in Shape!
All about the G grace note to the downbeat
March 6, 2019 Lesson 10 What is a Throw?
We have lots of throws...not just the D throw! A fresh look and new definition!
February 27,2019 Lesson 9 Effective Practice!
Making a Positive Impact on Your Playing
February 20,2019 Lesson 8 Doubling Up!
Three Components of Music Melody - Accent - Rhythm!
February 13,2019 Lesson 7 Rhythms - Not Notes!
Let's add another grace note & see what happens!
February 6,2019 Lesson 6 Every Grace Note has a Purpose!
You never think about the grace note and why we use them! They are fundamentally important!
January 30,2019 Lesson 5 Now, the Logan's Tutor Makes Sense!
The First Three Exercises The Importance of Understanding the Basics!
January 23,2019 Lesson 4 G for GREAT!
The G Grace Note and its Importance! So often overlooked! The Components of Music
January 16,2019 Lesson 3 Understanding the Tutor!
Playing in Time and Accent! Meant to be thought of every day!
January 9,2019 Lesson 2 Surprise... Surprise!
What you consider the least important!
January 2,2019 Lesson 1 Its the Start of a New Year
A time for renewal! Whether a novice or advanced, its time to reflect!
2018 Year Break
December 26,2018 Lesson 43 Keep Your Dance Shoes On!
A Set of Reels Happy New Year All the Best for 2019!
December 26,2018 Lesson 43 Keep Your Dance Shoes On!
A Set of Reels Happy New Year All the Best for 2019!
December 19,2018 Lesson 42 Keep Your Dance Shoes On!
The Round Dances REELS!
December 12,2018 Lesson 41 A Few Strathspeys!
All small tunes Good for a Band!
December 5,2018 Lesson 40 Come to the Dance!
Time to Up the Tempo Time to Change the Rhythm!
November 28,2018 Lesson 39 Let's Up the Beats / Bar!
The 12/8 March
November 21,2018 Lesson 38 A Set of 9/8 Marches!
More Retreats
November 14,2018 Lesson 37 The Retreat!
In Compound Time - the 9/8 Lest We Forget
November 7,2018 Lesson 36 The Beat Structure!
Another Tune!
October 31,2018 Lesson 35 The Braemar Gathering!
The Complete Tune!
October 24,2018 Lesson 34 The Braemar Gathering!
Where the Royals Attend! A Great 6/8 Tune
October 17,2018 Lesson 33 On to Bigger Things!
Video of the World Pipe Band March Past! A Classic 4 - Parted Tune
October 10,2018 Lesson 32 A Small Set of 6/8 Marches!
Designed for any band at any level! Classic 2 - parted Tunes
October 3,2018 Lesson 31 Monoline for The Steamboat!
A Look at the Rhythmic Pattern of the 6/8 What the drummer should be focused on!
September 26,2018 Lesson 30 Steaming Up the Clyde!
A Grass Roots 6/8 March Played by Most Bands
September 19,2018 Lesson 29 NOW THINGS GET COMPLEX!
AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPOUND TIME SIGNATURES A look at 6/8. 9/8 and 12/8
September 12,2018 Lesson 28 The Completion!
Let's See What You Did Over The Summer! Parts 3 and 4 - Mrs. MacDonald of Dunach
September 5,2018 Lesson 27 Welcome Back!
Let's See What You Did Over The Summer! Parts 1 and 2 - Mrs. MacDonald of Dunach
June 27,2018 Lesson 26 Mrs. MacDonald - No Relation!
A clever tune with no birls Have a great summer.... see you in September!
June 20,2018 Lesson 25 Tommy MacDonald Complete!
Those challenging pulses...
June 13, 2018
Lesson 24 Tommy MacDonald!
Who was he and what does he sound like?
June 6, 2018 Lesson 23 The Men of Argyll!
An Audio Lesson to Finish the Last 3 Parts!
May 30, 2018 Lesson 22 An Argyll March!
Using a Rhythmic Method!
May 23, 2018 Lesson 21 Increase the Complexity!
Examine the different 2/4 march beats!
May 16, 2018 Lesson 20 Prince Charles!
Is welcomed in Lochaber!
May 9, 2018 Lesson 19 The Competition March
No different than the smaller tunes! Just 4 Parts - Twice the fun!
May 2, 2018 Lesson 18 Another Set of Small 2/4 Marches
Advancing beat groupings!
April 25, 2018 Lesson 17 A Small Set of 2/4 Marches
A start on all bands might play!
April 18, 2018 Lesson 16 A Reason to Play the 2/4 March
A Look at the RSPBA Case for Improved March Playing! What has gone on in Scotland!
April 11, 2018 Lesson 15 The 2/4 March
The Top Level of Marches!
April 4, 2018 Lesson 14 Band Sets
Retreat Marches for Parades! A Second Set - Great Tunes
March 28, 2018 Lesson 13 The Retreat March
A Little History & Some Tunes
March 21, 2018 Lesson 12 Lord Lovat's Lament - 8th Argyll's
The First Day of Spring!
March 14, 2018 Lesson 11 Another Band Set
The Murdo's Wedding Set
March 7, 2018 Lesson 10 Band Sets
The Scotland the Brave Set
February 28, 2018 Lesson 9 Technique, Pulsing, Phrasing!
The Finishing Touches Using Scotland the Brave as a Backdrop! Correct practice and understanding necessary!
February 21, 2018 Lesson 8 Developing Strong Technique!
Good Rhythmic Technique is So Important Using the Technique of Scotland the Brave as a Backdrop! Correct practice and understanding necessary!
February 14, 2018 Lesson 7 4/4 Marches!
A Start to a Theoretical Base for Band Music Happy Valentine's Day!
February 7, 2018 Lesson 6 Time to Get a March On!
The Mainstay of all Bands!
January31, 2018 Lesson 5 Slow Marches for your Repertoire
More essential tunes !
January24, 2018 Lesson 4 Slow Marches for your Repertoire
These are essential tunes for all pipers!
January17, 2018 Lesson 3 How to Strike Up
The Drum Intro and Your Response for the Slow March
January10, 2018 Lesson 2 6/8 Rhythm of the Slow March
Our Starting Spot - Slow Marches
January 3, 2018 Lesson 1 Happy New Year
Introducing a New Season!
December 27, 2017 Lesson 43 Big Jig
Big or Small - all the same! Happy New Year!
December 20, 2017 Lesson 42 Two Jigs
Two Parters are Fun!
December 13, 2017 Lesson 41 Jig Suff
Continued Compound Rhythms!
December 6, 2017 Lesson 40 Other Time Signatures
9/8 - one more beat per bar!
November 29, 2017 Lesson 39 Meg MacRae
A Tune by Duncan Johnstone
November 22, 2017 Lesson 38 The First 6/8 March
The Midlothian Pipe Band - 2017
November 15, 2017 Lesson 37 Compound Time Signatures
A Primer on 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8!
November 8, 2017 Lesson 36
Reel or Hornpipe?
Two Examples of the Difference!
November 1, 2017 Lesson 35
Reel or Hornpipe?
Always Some Confusion!
October 25, 2017 Lesson 34
Two Dance Reels!
Right from the Scots Guards Collection! In Brazil teaching for the month, so lessons are up early!
October 18, 2017 Lesson 33
Another Reel!
Starting a set of reels! In Brazil teaching for the month, so lessons are up early!
October 11, 2017 Lesson 32
The Words of a Reel!
A first attempt! In Brazil teaching for the month, so lessons are up early!
October 4, 2017 Lesson 31
Reel Rhythm Drills!
Get the feel first!
September 27, 2017 Lesson 30
Reel Beats & Rhythms!
Understanding the Reel
September 20, 2017 Lesson 29
The Reel Feel!
Understanding the Reel
September 13, 2017 Lesson 28
Up the ante !
The Competitive Strathspey More of the Same!
September 6, 2017 Lesson 27
Welcome Back !
How has your strathspey playing improved?
June 28, 2017 Lesson 26
Break for Summer !
Leaving you with Donald Ross of Vancouver!
June 21, 2017 Lesson 25
Pulsing and Phrasing the Strathspey!
Essential Understanding Prior to Learning
June 14, 2017 Lesson 24
Strathspey Triplets!
Unique Pulsing !
June 7, 2017 Lesson 23
Finger Dexterity and Drills!
More Essential Rhythms!
May 31, 2017 Lesson 22
The Strathspey!
Essential Rhythms!
May 24, 2017 Lesson 21
Drills for Opening & Closing!
Relax! Relax! Relax!
May 17, 2017 Lesson 20
Freeing up Your Fingers !
Relax! Relax! Relax!
May 10, 2017 Lesson 19
Do Your Fingers Tighten Up?
Strengthening Through Stretching!
May 3, 2017 Lesson 18
A Taorluath Tune
Welcome Jim McBay!
April 26, 2017 Lesson 17
Taor = Three!
The Taorluath Rhythm!
April 19, 2017 Lesson 16
Grips in Practice!
The Bonawe Highlanders!
April 12, 2017 Lesson 15
Get a Grip!
A Fundamental Low G Rhythm!
April 5 2017 Lesson 14
"A Tune for the
D Throw!"
Introducing the slur!
March 29, 2017 Lesson 13
"Low G
is the most important note!"
All those Rhythms Beginning with Fingers Closed!
March 22, 2017 Lesson 12
"Do You Know Where Eriskay is?"
Time to Articulate Our Doublings!
March 15, 2017 Lesson 11
"Understanding the Doubling"
All Rhythms are Intended to Enhance the Music
March 8, 2017 Lesson 10
"Time to Double Up"
Melody-Accent-Rhythm!
March 1, 2017 Lesson 9
"Strike it Rich"
What to do Between Notes of the Same Pitch!
February 22, 2017 Lesson 8
"Upbeats and Downbeats"
Playing in Time is a Must!
February 15, 2017 Lesson 7
"Strike it Rich"
Accent Between Notes of the Same Pitch!
February 8, 2017 Lesson 6
Grace Noting Primer
A Refresher of Sorts! or " I never knew that!"
February 1, 2017 Lesson 5
Fingers a Flying
Let's get the tunes up to tempo!
January 25, 2017 Lesson 4
Reading Effectively
Again, basic, but so important! Understanding the beat and pulse structure!
January 18, 2017 Lesson 3
Finger Position
Basic, but so important! Check Yours Out!
January 11, 2017 Lesson 2
The Bagpipe Manual!
January 4, 2017 Lesson 1
Welcome to the Lessons of 2017!
Need a new practice chanter - try the Dunbar African Blackwood Long. Ask for the same ferrule as the Captain!
The new Willie McCallum designed Solo Pipe Chanter - a Sound Experience !
For all your piping needs - reeds, pipes, chanters, uniforms - Iain Donaldson's Experience Cannot be Topped !
For all your music downloads - bookmark and use often !
All notes and scores for a lesson
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Of course you will need a metronome
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