Pak - A - Way Practice Chanter

[Roger Huth]

As a Bagpipe Teacher in one or two of my local schools and with the new Term just starting, I found myself needing some practice chanters for my new pupils.

For Students having to fit bagpipe lessons in between their other subjects, carting around a practice chanter can be a nuisance because they cannot simply be folded up and put into one's pocket.

They can be disconnected of course but this risks breaking the reed. What a nuisance.

Enter the plastic portable Pak-A-Way Practice Chanter.

One of my Students had one of these Pak-A-Ways as a Christmas Present and as I was impressed by it I ordered some for my new pupils to use.

They arrived by post in individual very concise neat plastic wallets, each containing four sections of a practice chanter.

One was for me, so I opened it and quickly assembled the Practice Chanter and blew down the mouth piece.

The hidden reed operated immediately and, hey presto, I was playing a tune.

Can I get to the reed? Yes. The top comes off as normal in order to adjust or change the reed. Excellent.

After playing my tune and enjoying the tone, I very quickly broke the chanter back down into it's four sections and then back into it's plastic zipped wallet.

These can easily slip into a Blazer pocket among toy frogs, coins and pens until wanted again.

The perfect answer to a portable chanter request.

I ordered mine from Chantersdirect@aol.com

[classicbagpipes]

Roger, I have had one for a few years now and love it for traveling. I bought a small mesh zipper bag to carry it in. When in Rome I visited with the Rome PB and took it with me to play along with some of their chanter practice, they were quite taken with it.

[Adam Sanderson]

Yes, I have a Pak-A-Way Practice Chanter also, (but no toy frogs).
It's very handy, and has been road tested on the beach, in the pub and in park. Not a toy or gimmick by any means, but a serious practice instrument. It's a brilliant piece of design, IMHO.

[WileyBagpipes]

Where do you find them? I have never heard of this before!

[Pop]

Wulls, I believe, makes them. Ask him.

[Ajamie]

Chris Apps has them, they look pretty sweet. This may be the fourth practice chanter to add to the fold.

www.appsreeds.com/PakAWayChanters.htm (http://www.appsreeds.com/PakAWayChanters.htm)

[Iain Sherwood]

I've been carrying them for some time.

[CalumII]

Yes, I had one for a while until it succumbed to being 'lent'; one of the best chanters I've ever seen.

Cheers,
Calum

[Iain Hamilton McLean]

I have a toy frog but no pak-away-chanter.
If i buy a fold down chanter can i use it as a light-sabre during french lesson?

[Itchyknee]

Originally posted by Iain Hamilton McLean:

If i buy a fold down chanter can i use it as a light-sabre during french lesson? Of course you can. Feel the Force.......

[galbayman]

Is it a long chanter with GHB hole spacing? I travel often, and this would be more convenient than carrying the PC case - and probably generate fewer questions from airport security.

[Itchyknee]

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/wulls/myhomepage/tipsandtricks.html

[Wulls]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. The Pak-A-Way's continue to sell fairly well and the long version, to be called the Pak-A-Max (catchy eh) will be available soon. It will have pipe chanter hole spacing and "break" into three sections of less than 8" It is expected to retail for around £55/$105.

Thanks again,
Wulls.