I am beginning to learn the Uilleann Pipes.  They are BY FAR the most difficult instrument I've ever tried to learn.  I went through college to be a music educator.  I have training on all "classical" instruments.  I am able to play most at a high school level.  I tend to pick up instrument pretty quickly.  However, I've never come across an instrument with so many techniques as pipes.  Having to pump my right arm while squeezing with my left is bad enough.  Having to remember fingerings and ornimentations in addition to all that is quite difficult.  WOW, I have a new found respect and awe for people who play Uilleann Pipes and HIghland Pipes (and all others for that matter).  Right now my biggest challenge is fighting the death grip.  I am only able to practice for about 30 min at a time before my hand starts cramping so bad I can't move fingers.

 I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions about getting started and what I should do/not do during this most crucial time of discovery.  Also, does anyone know of any good players I should get recordings of?

 In addition, what is the most difficult instrument anyone else has learned to play?  I'm always curious to find new instruments and hear about other people's experiences with them.

CHEERS!

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I'd rather live an honest lifetime with those with nothing to lose, than waste a night knee deep in shite that's polished slick to look just right I'd rather live a lifetime in the
Company of

What do you mean? An African or European swallow?

Carlos Nunez is a fantastic piper from Portugal I think . You can find some pretty amazing footage of him on You Tube. I agree with the difficulty on the pipes. I tried for a summer and gave up. I just didn't have it.

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Try uilleannobsession.com

http://www.uilleannobsession.com/

 

Also, maybe listen to Willie Clancy or check out the Willie Week Music School:

 

http://www.setdancingnews.net/wcss/wcsst.htm

http://www.iol.ie/~ronolan/clancy.w.html

 

Donnchadh Gough of Danu is also a fantastic player and bodhran player.

 

http://homepage.eircom.net/~mooneyspub/Danu/Gaeilge/donnchadhbiog.htm

 

BioPhreak - How is the piping going? I recently got a practice set of uilleann pipes & have had a similar experience. I play fiddle, bouzouki, whistle, bodhran, and a (very) little mandolin & accordion. I also played piano growing up. Without a doubt, the pipes are by far the hardest instrument I've tried. The fiddle was (and is) a lot of work, too, but I never felt like throwing it out the window. I have the same challenges as you, though I've been told the death grip problem will ease up as you get more comfortable. I'm already noticing that. Are you using the piper grip on the chanter (using the pads of your fingers, not the tips)? I also have trouble with the second register, though I've been told that's probably due to the quality of the chanter. They say that if you can play the upper part of the first register, the same pressure should play the bottom of the second. This doesn't work for me. One of these days I'll have to spring for a better quality set if I want to keep it up. I'm using the dvd The Art of Uilleann Piping. It's a pretty good beginners guide, walking you through most everything.

Ryan MacNeil of the Barra MacNeils  is good. If you get to see the Barras He very approachable too.

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Sorry, haven't been on in a while.  The pipes aren't too bad.  They're VERY VERY hard to learn!  I'm a music teacher and tend to pick up instruments pretty quickly, the pipes are quite frustrating though.  That and the tin whistle :)  I live in South Western Iowa now and am looking for some people to get together and play with.  I'd like to get a concertina and bodrahn to play.

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I'd rather live an honest lifetime with those with nothing to lose, than waste a night knee deep in shite that's polished slick to look just right I'd rather live a lifetime in the
Company of

What do you mean? An African or European swallow?

OT: Biophreak, Do you  mind if I ask for a piece of advice? I am studying violin and having a real problem with rhythm. How do you teach rhythm to folks for whom the clapping method and the counting method ( "One and a Two and a") don't work ? I've tried metronomes too, with little success. Any help would be appreciated.

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Andi - Do you play other instrument(s)? Sometimes it's easier to translate rhythm that way. Are you learning to play instrumental tunes, trad songs, or what? The first step is to be able to pick up the timing while listening. I often play the bodhran or just tap my hand along with a tune to get the feel for the rhythm. Once you get to playing it, I think that the key is the bowing. It gives the tune its accents & feel, making a jig sound like a jig. It helps to have the bowing written out when you're first learning. The more you play, the more instinctive it gets. What tunes are you trying to learn?

Thanks, Jefe.  Violin is my first instrument  and I am learning a bit of everything from Trad to Beethoven. And I have a problem even with clapping along with a band on stage. It's weird. My ability to clap along has improved somewhat since I have been taking lessons but it's still not translating to being able catch the rhythm of say, Bluebonnets over the Border or the Brandenburg Symphonies. That's where the problems come in.

 

 Thanks again! 

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Keep working on it! Like anything else, it takes practice. I try to find something to key on to find the beat. Playing with a full band is usually easier - I just listen to the kick drum. Of course, listening for specific sounds takes practice, too. Whatever you're listening to, try listening for certain instruments, and figure which one is keeping time best. Does that make sense?

Perfect sense, thanks so much!

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.