When did you know that you loved the pipes?

[Klondike Waldo]

When I was in High School Band, we did a parade in Haverhill, MA and there was a pipe band. About the same time, I became interested in my family history and Scottish/Irish culture. Then I attended a Scots Guards concert at Boston Garden, and was smitten., and my father brought home a practice chanter form a trip to Scotland. Later I was "drafted" to be a steward at Loon Mtn, where In took up Scottish country dancing, met an amazing PipeMajor who was giving lessons and signed up for Adult Ed Gaelic Classes. That was in 1979, and I've been [piping ever since.

[Pablopicasso420]

I was a St. Thomas Episcopal brat. While attending chapel in the big church in 1st grade, the rear doors of the church open. There's a faint cry of Quick...March - Rolls (what the heck is that?) The pipes start (what the HECK is THAT!)- The Band marches in and forms up at the front. (HOLY MOLY) That's all I remember. Been doing it ever since.

I'm just glad there is drumming to go with the piping! I also love Blue grass but they discriminate against most percussionists for some reason. Probably good taste on their behalf!

[Pablopicasso420]

Also Billy, I will hope for your swift recovery. Meanwhile, spend some time with the drummers. Worse comes to worse, you would be welcome on the dark side...

[Billy Boy]

Thank you, Pablo!

I've pressed on to a near full recovery, noticing no impairment in playing due to my accident. In fact, daily practice on PC and pipes has, I believe, greatly helped in the rehab of my E finger to the point that I'm no longer conscious of it.

[pancelticpiper]

I'm not sure if the word is "love" or "obsession" but when I got my first practice chanter, by RG Lawrie (who were still in business) I could hardly put it down.

I went two or three years without missing a day playing that thing.

I had been pestering my father for a couple years for a chanter. It was all his fault, really, because he had a couple bagpipe records that I listened to over and over.

One was called "Scarlet and Tartan" and I believe it was the album sold to accompany the USA tour of the Royal Scots Greys and the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

The other was the John MacLellan Folkways solo album, which was far more intriguing and compelling to me than the pipes & drums.

I'd only seen pipes in person once; a kid in my High School played on campus one day. I had no idea there was a piper around. He was a year ahead of me, and had graduated and gone off to the military by the time I had got my chanter.

[Hagar]

I first fell in love with the pipes when I was a young soldier in The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s). I used to love marching behind the band when we were on parade, it was such a feeling of pride when we were in public. Many years later I connected with Jamie Troy Jr. and have been fortunate to have him as my instructor, it’s been a great experience.