Comments on: Precious Practice Pads

By: mike

mike — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:32:41 +0000

o Iain – a “practice box”! Almost surprised someone hasn’t tried to market something like that: the PipersJoy Brand ‘Piper’s Box2000′ … neat stories

o Kenny – sounds like your dog has a natural affinity with a few judges we know

o Andrew – John Wilson did have a marching ditch in his basement – I’ve played in it. “Uncle Iain’s Jigs” sounds like a tune name.
M.

By: aberthoff

aberthoff — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:56:57 +0000

Didn’t John Wilson (Edinburgh/Toronto) dig a trench in his basement in Willowdale that was just big enough so that his bass drone didn’t hit the ceiling? When we lived in a basement appartment (Bruce and Bev’s before us) I practiced at the school across the street. In return I played for the kiddies a few times a year. In warm weather I used to go to a nearby cemetery, find a stone with a Scottish surname and practice there. I was only stopped once, but I told them that I was playing for my dear, late uncle, so they figured it was okay. Why dead “uncle Iain” was enjoying twice-over sets of jigs must have confused them . . .

By: Captain

Captain — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:11:32 +0000

The perfect piping room, Iain in the house?…hmmmmm…couldn’t do it where I lived so almost 30 years I bought the perfect house! … on 15 rural acres 15 minutes from town… no neighbors within earshot… a natural outdoor amphitheatre for good weather playing, pets that don’t mind the volume of the pipes (helps to have a dog with a hearing disability) and voila…instant piping heaven… but now I have no excuse

Ken

By: iainmacd

iainmacd — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:38:00 +0000

Not only is it a challenge for one piper, but try a house with 5 people and three pipers. I’m sure Jack Lee’s family could tell stories…

I love the story that Donald MacPherson has told in interviews about building a “practice box” in the attic of a rental house in England…sneaking sheets of plywood and insulation into the loft and building something just large enough to stand in and blow the pipes, so he could get ready for Oban and Inverness.

When we lived in Vancouver, we were in an apartment block that had mostly recent immigrants from Chile, and I played in the graveyard across the street, in all weather. [East 43rd] This was a change from my days in Paisley, when I used to practice in the St. James Churchyard on Underwood Road, until I was evicted. Then, I joined the local YMCA, and practiced in a room there in the basement during the day, when no one was about. I also used to go to the RSPBA, or the SPBA as it was then, on Washington Street, and used their practice rooms.

Currently, I am blessed, or cursed [you decide] to live in a detached house with neighbours on one side only, and two other pipers. I also have access to practice rooms where I teach, and there the sound of bagpipe mixes it up with cello and violin lessons, and the percussion instructor on the same floor.

Don’t we all dream of that perfect “piping room” in the house? I wonder how many attain it?