Introduction
by Jgendoa
On one of the more popular email groups at yahoo.com, Piper 'Drew, my Sifu, my Healer, my best friend, had become known as the "Paki-Pipe Guru" He was never so much "Pro-Paki-Pipes" as he was anti- myths, fallacies, lies, urban legends, etc. He has always acknowledged that Scottish Bagpipes are of superior quality. But he was continually frustrated by other Pipers, whose experience was far greater than his own at the time, making stupid statements...
How can an experienced Bagpiper state repeatedly that, "Paki-Pipes cannot be tuned" when I have an in-tune stand of Paki-Pipes sitting right here? How can an experienced Bagpiper state repeatedly that, "Paki-Pipes cannot be played" when I just finished playing mine for an hour?... And I got rave reviews yesterday for playing them at a gig? How can an experienced Bagpiper make a comment like, "They sound like crap" when Andrew would do A-B comparisons between Paki-Pipes and Scottish pipes, and nine times out of ten, John Que Public would prefer the sound of the Paki-Pipes?
I do not play the Bagpipes myself, due to physical limitations. But I do Love to listen to my 'Drew play for me. I have observed a couple of things over the past couple of years, that involve Bagpipers shutting themselves into seclusion in their own little world with a snooty little attitude. On the occasions that I have tried to approach Pipers, especially Pipe bands, to ask questions, I have nearly always gotten the attitude of, "Who do you think you are to approach us, you mere mortal?"... I grew up in and around the entertainment industry. This attitude is just not normal.
Competition ruins everything!!!
Over the years, the pitch of Bagpipes has been slowly raising. Pipers discovered that if their Pipes were tuned just a hair higher than everyone else's Pipes, this would give them an edge in competition... And so the pitch has been creeping higher and higher... Pipers get used to the new pitch as is slowly goes up... Meanwhile John Que Public likes the "Old World" sound of the original pitch.
I have also watched as competitors place higher and higher importance on technical perfection, and less importance on the expression of their Soul while playing. Sure, this makes good for winning competition. But, as someone who must sit on the sidelines and listen, I also hear comments from the audience... One of the comments I often hear is, "I like that guy's playing much better than the other guy." More often than not, the one they like better is the one who has never competed... Even if he has been playing for a much shorter time.
Jgendoa
The Urban Legends:
1. "Those things are junk" OK. The quality
will be somewhat less with $200 Bagpipes, than with $1,200 Bagpipes.
This can be expected. But 1/6 of the quality? No. In reality,
there is the law of diminishing returns. That is, the higher
you go in price, the less you get per dollar spent. Pakistani
made Bagpipes do play. We will be including sound samples on
this website in the future.
2. "Cannot be set-up" As a rule, Pakistani
Bagpipes will arrive at your door, not set-up. This is due in
large part to the fact that most dealers of Pakistani Bagpipes
are merchants/brokers. Not Bagpipers. Scottish Bagpipes will
usually arrive at your door set-up. As a result of this arithmetic,
many experienced Bagpipers don't know how to set-up Bagpipes.
So when you hear someone say, "Those things cannot be set-up",
what they're really saying is, "I don't know how to set-up
Bagpipes, so don't ask me."
3. "Everything will have to be replaced"
This concept comes from a couple of sources. A- Pakistani Bagpipes
are tuned slightly lower than Scottish Bagpipes. So if you want
to play in a band, or with other Pipers, you will need to replace
the Chanter with a Scottish-standard Chanter. B- The cheaper
Pakistani Bagpipes. The ones you find for under $150. As a rule,
these are made very cheaply. One lives in fear of popping the
bag, until it is replaced. The Chanter is cheaply made and poorly
tuned. The drone bores are often crooked. etc... So, if one
buys the cheapie Bagpipes from Pakistan, one can expect to be
replacing parts as time goes on.
A New Way of Thinking
The traditional method of learning the Bagpipes, is to
first purchase a practice chanter, an instruction book, and
find a Teacher... OK. There is nothing wrong with this method
so far. It continues... Wait until you have learned at least
3 tunes, preferably 5 or 6, before you purchase Bagpipes. Then
buy the best you can afford.
Here we start to part ways...
In the new way of thinking, it is suggested that
you purchase an inexpensive stand of Bagpipes at or near the
beginning. While you are working on learning your first 5 or
6 tunes on the practice chanter, you can be simultaneously working
on blowing-in your new reeds one by one, developing strength,
developing arm/breath coordination, learning how to tune your
drones, etc. This way, when the time comes to step up to the
"Big Pipes", you're ready to play them...
Another benefit to the new way of thinking: You
really won't know for at least a year or two, where your ultimate
goal in Piping will lead you. There are many opportunities for
Bagpipers: Bands, Band Competition, Solo Competition, Street-Corner
Play, Weddings, Funerals, Parties, etc. etc. etc. All Bagpipes
are made a wee different. Some are a little better suited for
some types of playing... If you continue playing your inexpensive
Bagpipes until you recognize your goal, you will have the strength,
coordination and experience to walk into any Bagpipe dealer
and test-drive the merchandise... If you buy the best you can
afford, at the time learn your first 5 or 6 tunes, the best
you can do is to allow a salesman play the Pipes for you, and
make a decision based on your untrained ears, and lack of knowledge
where your future goal will lie.
Piper 'Drew
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