Playing in cold weather…

[Pip01]

Hmm... My most usual pipes... my Main Set... is my 1916 Lawries...
and before I got them... they had been played through two world
wars... and Korea... and damned near... around the world.

Harsh conditions?? Heat... Cold... yes!!... and quite so!!

And so for me... the question seems to be... not... if the pipes can
take it... but... and whether... and if... the piper... can take it.

To my mind... no one should feel constrained... or obliged... to
play in any... weather conditions... in which they are not both
comfortable... and confident.

(Rather than going to any engagement... grudgingly... best not
to go.)

Wishing for everyone... All the Best!!

[johnsog]

There is also the useful idea of purchasing, if possible, a set of pipes dedicated to cold weather. A couple of pipers in our group have done that. They are two of the relatively few who are willing o do solo work and thus they get several contacts a year, sometimes for poor-weather gigs. I, too, don't want to subject my pipes, fingers or knees to cold weather and am glad there are those who handle it better and are willing to increase their instrument population with plastic pipes. For those who don't have others to call upon, it's up to individuals what works for them. The above ideas work well for many individuals. Best of luck!!

[Tucker Fleming]

The plastic pipes sound pretty good. They're awesome in super cold/hot situations. And did I say they sound good?

[BillW]

Greetings to All,

Well... when we are called... holding the office that we
do... we go... and especially... for funerals.

And many are the God Awful cold!!... graveside services...
for which I have played.

The first thing... for me... at the very least... is to have a
very warm pair of fingerless gloves on... and Wristies fits
that bill to a T... but you can certainly... make your own. :-)

The second thing... is to have very thick wool around
my wrists and forearms... as the perfusion of heat from
the radial artery... and into the fingers...is of fundamental...
importance!!

The third matter of great importance... as we all stand
there in the freezing cold... and seemingly forever...is
to keep the bulb of the chanter... and its reed... well
guarded... in my surrounding warm left hand... while
gently... very gently... blowing into the blowpipe... and
thereby keeping both the drone reeds and the chanter
reed... permeated... with warm moist air. (You do not
want the service interrupted... with sounds from your
drones.)

Now... and as we all know... in The Piping Game...
there just ain't no... Guarantees... but I have found
these... Avenues of Approach... to work well for me.

Regards... and wishing... Good Fortune... to All,

Pip01

Just reading this quote and thinking about your third item...

Sliding a sock or the like over the chanter to keep the wind/cold at bay while waiting around may not be a bad idea.
I'm thinking I'll do that myself.
A few years back someone gave me a drawstring 'bag' to hold chanters. I always carry a spare, ready-to-go chanter and blowpipe, just in case.
This would work well in the cold to help insulate the chanter a bit.

[Jens Olsen]

If it is a short performance, I try to make a "hit and run" approach. Especially If I have to keep waiting, and must not be heard, until I am supposed to.

I wait as long as I can, before I asemble my pipe.
Tune the drones right away
Cover chanter whit jacket
Check drones if possible
Play only easy tunes

I you are more in control of exactly when to play. I would try to make the warm-up proces of the instrument longer.

Generally I think it is very hard to get a great sound, in outdoor winter conditions. But it can be controlled, at least for a short while.

[johnsog]

Our group was discussing plans for playing in the St Pat's parade this coming Saturday. Temperatures are anticipated to be in the low teens with 70% chance of snow; we are aware that the parade may be called off but, in case it still marches on, those who are going plan to use hand warmers on their wrists, around the chanter stock to warm the reed and also in the bag to warm those reeds. There has never been a consensus on the best hand wear. Being this particular parade, almost anything goes so some sport skin-toned long johns under their kilts and boots are permissible. Best of luck to all you intrepid souls willing to play in inclement weather!!

[Pip01]

A Very Partial Quote

Being this particular parade, almost anything goes so some sport skin-toned long johns under their kilts and boots are permissible.

Best of luck to all you intrepid souls willing to play in inclement weather!!

Ah... Yes!!...

It being... Saint Patrick's Day... perhaps... yet other rounds of
Tullamore Dew!!... followed by... some Guinness chasers!!

We may still be cold... but... we shan't care!!

(And please... do remember... to keep the little finger down!!...
when playing "C."