Chiff and Fipple Forums

There's not much in it, I think, as long as it is in reasonable condition.

The challenge is that you may want to turn as much as 22 inches between centres for a Bb chanter, but a metal lathe with that kind of capacity will have a huge swing and hence be a big beast.

Bagpipes Galore of Edinburgh.

They work, after a fashion. Well enough to teach you the value of a decent instrument.

"Foll music"

Like a red rag to a comedian.

I believe Matt Kiernan did that originally. I seem to remember Tommy Keane playing a Matt Kiernan half set during the early eighties that was set up to play in both D and C. A standard Northumbrian trick (as I'm sure you know). The 17 key (count 'em!) set I had in my possession briefly before I rea...

It's true sets of second hand drones are not that easy to come by. You would certainly find it easiest/quickest to get a good half set and sell the practice set. The advantage of commissioning a new set of drones is you can ask a maker to match the aesthetics, which is exactly what I did when I aske...

Fred's a perfectly competent reedmaker - he has made his own reeds for all his instruments in the past but I think prefers to spend more time playing than mucking about with gouges. His ability to set up instrument is available for anyone to hear on his albums or live performances. I can see why it ...

On moving ivory, I wouldn't move it across a border without a lawyer on both sides signing off on it. It is also very often illegal to sell within the state unless certain conditions are met which they almost never are. As for ageing, one GHB maker at least simply puts the turned pieces in an oven f...

Mikie said that Padraig could stretch his right thumb over almost ALL reg keys without losing grip on the chanter due to his very special finger physics. So this certainly helps... The other thing is that Padraig has a very relaxed right hand, and is comfortable sliding his fingers around on the ch...

My general approach to teaching is to start with the assumption that everybody can learn quickly and play well, and if they're not, it's my fault as a teacher, and I have to work out what I'm doing wrong. One important thing is to teach all the aspects of being a musician - not just how to finger an...

Sam, I always meant to ask what the "busking stick" designated (and in comparison to what?)

Pipes are going grand, by the way. Had a wee run out in my local session last week.

I've recently been working my way through a book called "Basics", about the fundamentals of violin playing. It's obviously not directly applicable but I recommend a peruse to any teacher; it's really fascinating levels of detail on making muscles and so on work for you and not against you....

Nanohedron wrote:And what of the end product, would you say?

Well, these things are what they are. He did a very good job for where he started from. You wouldn't pay for it, perhaps, but his colleagues certainly appreciated it.

I've taught someone with no prior experience to play Amazing Grace on GHB in six weeks. The guy in question threw himself into it and worked like a dog to achieve it, and had the budget to throw as many lessons at it as were needed.

Two weeks in the circumstances described? Hah.

Lawrence's details pop up if you google 'Lawrence Thomson Crook of Devon'. Lawrence doesn't seem to be much of a one for the self-promotion, I think!

Sam Lawrence at Hunter Pipes can get them, I'm not sure if only for his own instruments or if he can supply them.

http://www.returntocamden.org/ Saturday 24th October - Uilleann Pipes Workshop with Pádraig McGovern - London Irish Centre - £10 I was the sole Uilleann workshopper, so it turned into the cheapest two-hour lesson I've ever had. And Padraig is a damned fine teacher. I went to the whistle workshop th...