Instruction

Bagpipes:
Lessons are available for someone wishing to learn to play the bagpipes.

For beginning students, who hope to join the band, the cost is $50/semester, and the lessons are available on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evening.

All instructional materials are provided by the band, but students will be expected to purchase a practice chanter and reed at a cost of about $100
In the first few months, students will be able to read the treble score for note names and timing value of each note and translate that information to playing on the chanter.

Lessons are normally individual instruction, at least at the start, but then the student may be grouped with others of similar progress.
Once the student plays 6 to 10 tunes on the chanter by memory, they will move on to playing a full set of bagpipes. At some point, students will want to purchase their own set of pipes, but at the start, they often rent a set of pipes from the band, when available.

Practice Chanters:
A child and an adult practice chanter. These are the instruments pipers use to learn the correct fingering, notes, movements and tunes. Even after learning to play the pipes, pipers will continue to practice on the practice chanter because it has the same fingering as the full bagpipe with much less volume and can readily be played inside the house.

Drumming:
The band provides instruction in snare drumming and /or bass and tenor drumming. Students will be expected to purchase a practice pad and drumsticks for approximately $100. Instructional material will be provided by the band and once the student has learned the settings, the band will provide a drum for them to play in the band.

For information on lessons, please contact Clark Smith at bonnecherelamb@sympatico.ca