Where do I fit in?

[Q]

Hi ken,

I am a 23 year old new piper. I started when I was 21. I am really enjoying the instrument and the band atmosphere. I love to compete solo but the problem lies with where I should play. I tried the adult class last year but felt completely out of place. I have begun grade 3 this year and did not feel so out of place but now I am being told that I am probably to old to place no matter how well I play. I am just wondering if any one has any advice.

Q

[ December 18, 2001: Message edited by: Q ]

[GreenPiper]

>>....I am probably to old to place no matter how well I play. <<

Is there really that kind of age bias in piping? I've run into it while trying to join a band..but this??
A piper should place according to his/her ability. Of course, I may live in lah-lah land.
This would really bite if it is true.

[Curt]

Too old at 23? Ouch.

<snip>

"...but now I am being told that I am probably to old to place no matter how well I play."

I have been told about the "cute kid factor", but in the states I know there are older pipers moving up from grade 3 to 2 and grade 2 to 1 on a regular basis, so I am hoping that I will get a fair shake at the age of 36.

I think in the states if you play well, you will get rewarded. I don't know about Canada. I have heard it is more bias up there when it comes to the little kids, but that is only hearsay. I played up there once and I didn't get a fair shake, but the judge and I didn't exactly have a good relationship at the start. :eek:

23 is pretty young to be worried about the kid factor. You are young where I play.

Enjoy,
Curt

[Ken MacKenzie]

Well Quinn, since I'm one of the adults you competed against last year I was right there most of the time and you seemed to fit in fine. I will agree that most of the rest of us were older than your old man...

I don't know why anyone feels you can't place in Gr3. I thought you played well enough to do fine there. What does Graham Say?

That Tully guy from WA got in the prizes a few times in Gr3 last year and he started a lot later than you did. If you want to progress just keep at it and it'll come. If you want to associate with the old guys, leave "The Horseman" at home and we'll show you how to swing. :wink:

Gently...

Ken

[Kenton Adler]

Hey Q, whoever told you that 23 is too old to place in Grade III was WAY off base. I played in 15 Highland games when I was in Grade III and placed in at least one event in 13 of those. I was 44 at the time and had been playing about five years.

I've been in Grade II since last spring and haven't had a chance to compete much yet, but have placed the last two times I went out in the fall and plan to get back on the pony this coming spring and wreak havoc.

Okay, but maybe I'll place once in a while.

That "cuteness" thing only goes so far. After that it's strictly technique, expression, and it's not raining and colder than all get out.

[Q]

Thanks Ken,

Graham thinks I will do fine. I guess he wouldn't have put me in if he didn't think I could do it. I will just have to play well and see what happens. I do generally compete for myself and not for the placings... But they sure are nice.

[mattpiper]

Originally posted by Q:
Hi ken,

I am a 23 year old new piper. I started when I was 21. I am really enjoying the instrument and the band atmosphere. I love to compete solo but the problem lies with where I should play. I tried the adult class last year but felt completely out of place. I have begun grade 3 this year and did not feel so out of place but now I am being told that I am probably to old to place no matter how well I play. I am just wondering if any one has any advice.

Q

[ December 18, 2001: Message edited by: Q ]

Wow--you and me are in pretty much the same boat. I'm 23, and started when I was 21. I'm not sure quite where I belong! I'm not a kid, and it shows occasionally in my fingers (gotta watch how much time I spend on the 'net for fear of repetitive stress injury), though I've learned at a far more rapid pace then most of the "adult" learners (30+ years old) in my band.

There seems to be two groups of pipers at all the asolo competitions I've seen: teens (17 and under normally) and adults (generally 35 and up). Not many soloist out their between those ages, at least in the lower grades (4 & 3). Seem this way to anyone else? Band playing is different, literally all ages, but solos....

Any other young adult learners out there?

[Spunky]

I was over in Scotland working with the army back in 1992 so I decided to play solos at the European Championships. Because I was over 18 they put me in the professional contest and I had to play right after Gordon Walker. What kind of chance did I have?

[Eric M]

Q, I compete in WUSPBA and age doesn't seem to have much to do with placing here. A few examples:
I turned 40 last month, but this year (my second year of competition) I finished first in the aggregate standings in grade 4. I'll be competing in G3 next season. At Monterey last summer another piper from my band, John McDonald, took first place in the Slow Air. It was his first year competing and he is older than I am. At bigger G4 contests like Pleasanton, they have preliminary rounds for different age groups, so that each age group has pipers in the finals.


Eric

[Sean A. McCartney]

Hey Spunk.... Yikes!! right behind Gordon Walker!?!? Thats hilarious. Kind of like picking up a guitar after Jimmy Page has just played. :wink:

Sean

[GreenPiper]

Whew guys, thanks for posting. It's good to hear that maybe there is not so much age bias out there. I just turned 40 and I anticipate my piping will only get better. I look forward to competing.

[Illustrated Piper]

Hey Spunk,
I took a trip to Estes Park Colorado a few years back and watched Gordon Walker walk around the bar playing and then lay down on his back (still playing) and never missed a gracenote. If I had of been in your place,I would have fled,screaming.


Derek Kennedy
Celtic Flair P B