I took the Friday and Saturday off for the holiday.  And boy are my cheeks tired today, after only 20 minutes of steady practice!

I went to my first band practice today, which was actually my first lesson, given to me by my new Pipe Major.  What was cool is that he has the noob (I’m the only one actually) show up early and get a little lesson in, and then all the pipers and drummers come in and play in a circle.  So it’s awesome to sit and watch those guys play.  I think I got a lot out of just watching them.  (Plus it was like a free concert!) 

Of course I was nervous as all hell, given that I haven’t played any music in front of anyone since I was in the 7th grade.  My wife only overhears me playing, really–I even have to shut the windows and even the blinds to my room before I can have the self-confidence to play properly.  But I overblew and underblew my PC for my Pipe Major.  Even after my horrible performances, he does think that I did pretty well on my own and once I get all my classical training out of my damn head, I’ll progress through the CoP book pretty quickly.

He told me what I expected (feared) to hear.  I’m staying on “SWH” for at least the next week and possibly longer.  Until I can get my (dagblammed) throw on D’s down.  BUT!!!!  He let me record him playing ”SWH” properly so that I could take it home and listen until my ears bleed.  WOW!  Already, what a huge difference it makes to be able to hear exactly how I’m supposed to play it, stopping it at the parts I’m having difficulty with…maybe soon, even playing along with the recording!!!  It’s worth its weight in gold, lemme tell you.  I am going to have this tune down in no time.  Hopefully by my next lesson, I’ll have the tune down and can move on into other things. 

Things I learned in my first lesson:

  1. You can only play a tune as fast as your slowest embellishment.
  2. I was doing my throw on D’s properly, just not fast enough.  They will make a little “brrrr-IPPP” sound when I have them down right.
  3. Air practicing is good.  When your cheeks are too tired to blow, take the reed out of the PC and just blow into it while fingering the notes.
  4. To prevent fly away left pinky syndrome, tuck the pinky under the chanter. 
  5. Come down on the holes head on.  No shifting fingers onto holes.  It makes a goose-y sound.
  6. Don’t blow harder for higher notes.  (This is a hard one for me, coming from a wind instrument background.)  You blow with even pressure, and it’s the fingerings that make the notes.

Up til now, I haven’t included any real tips on playing, because I was learning on my own.  Now that I have a teacher, I will try to include what I’ve gotten out of my lessons for future reference.  I will also try to record myself playing “SWH” tomorrow evening.  I think I’ll have it pretty well down by then…even if it is a little slow.