If anyone is interested in learning to play the bagpipes, the NCSU Bagpipe Band offers an introductory course.

There website is http://www.ncsu.edu/pipesanddrums/

The beginning class meets on Tuesdays from 7-9 pm.

10/26/2006 3:43:52 PM

fucking awesome...

is it byob?

10/26/2006 4:05:41 PM

byohaggis

10/26/2006 4:52:21 PM

Ok, I completely do not have time for this - or need the credit, but it is sooo tempting. I have two questions:

1) do you need a lot of breath for bagpiping?
2) how much traditional music knowledge is necessary, such as pitch & reading music?

I don't know whether I'd rather your answers were positive or negative.

10/26/2006 8:17:49 PM

Sorry, I'm only in the beginner's class so I haven't played a real set of bagpipe's yet. You start on a practice chanter which doesn't require a lot of breath to play. When you run out of breath, you stop, take a breath and then start again. You have to build up your length of playing.

NO musical experience is required. I had never played an instrument or anything before I started this class. I don't think pitch is important--we haven't ever discussed it. I still don't know exactly what everything means when I look at the sheet of music.

The great thing is you get an A in the class no matter what your playing ability is (as long as you come to all of the meetings).

If Tuesdays aren't a good time with you they might be willing to meet some other time because the band is in trouble and needs student pipers.

10/26/2006 10:13:50 PM

Just looked up the course. Looks like in the Spring it meets Wednesday and Thursday 7-9.

10/26/2006 10:47:11 PM

Yeah, that is what it says, but I don't think that is the case because the flyers they gave me to post around campus say Tuesdays from 7-9 in PMC 101.

The way it was explained to me is the Beginner band meets on Tuesdays from 7-9 pm and then the other 2 bands-the intermediate and advanced meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays, but they only have one class for everyone no matter what level player you are.

10/26/2006 10:57:25 PM

I have confirmed that the beginning class will be on Tuesdays from 7-9 pm. Registration and Records has it listed on Wed. and Thurs. but that is not correct. They are going to change it so if you want to take the class but it is conflicting with your schedule it will be changed.

11/1/2006 2:21:53 PM

I took this my freshman year. I liked the bagpipes, hated the class because it was all really old people.

11/1/2006 3:31:18 PM

Maybe they have changed it since then because I take the class with another student. They have a separate beginning class for community members now. And yes, the beginning band does have a majority of adults-in their 40's or so-but that is what they are trying to change. They need student pipers.

Also if anyone is just interested in drums they are looking for drummers too.

11/1/2006 7:36:09 PM