Instruction

If you’d like to participate in the Kutztown Pipe Band but don’t have any experience in piping or drumming, we want to help!

If learning to play the bagpipes is something you’d like to explore, you should expect the following:

The first several months will be spent on a practice chanter. Group lessons through the Kutztown Pipe Band are free, but you will be expected to purchase your own practice chanter (generally around $100). Contact us for suggestions on a good quality choice.

You should practice daily on your practice chanter – twice daily for 10-15 minutes is preferable in the initial stages of learning. It typically takes 6 months to a year to be ready for the transition to the bagpipes.

To transition from the practice chanter to bagpipes, you should have a base of five substantial tunes memorized and played accurately on your practice chanter. You can expect to spend around $1500 or more on a good set of bagpipes.

The next phase of the journey is often the most challenging – building up the endurance to play the tunes that you know on the practice chanter on the Great Highland Bagpipes. It typically takes a year or more to become comfortable playing the tunes you learned on the bagpipes.

If you’re interested in playing the Scottish drums:

You’re invited to join our Kutztown Pipe Band Drum Corps! We have numerous drums, both snare and tenor, available to be played by experienced percussionists. Contact us at Laura@kutztownpipeband.com for scheduling.