A Unique Insight Into Playing Bagpipes
The unique sound of the Great Highland Bagpipe makes it one of the most recognisable instruments in the world.
However it is a complex instrument to play and only the pipers with natural ability reach a high level of performance.
The Bagpipe Manual sets out key areas of performance that will allow pipers of all levels to play at a high standard.
Key elements included in the book:
- Setting good hand positions and training fingers to move freely is essential. Having control of the opening and especially the closing of each finger is very important.
- Developing quality gracenotes to build balance embellishments and maintain rhythm in tunes is also essential.
- Being able to read music and have a good knowledge of theory.
- Understanding that rhythm in a tune is developed between the down and upbeats and how the rhythms of various time signatures differ from one to another.
- Identifying the three different lengths of short notes and how they are used to develop musical phrasings within tunes.
- Methods of learning and memorizing tunes accurately and quickly.
- The principles of tuning bagpipes and blowing tone.
