JoeSpareBedroom wrote:


Maybe the skill is handy for big funerals. Analogy: Hidden among the
population like terrorist cells are legions of bagpipe players. They come
out of the woodwork for police funerals in some cities. I have no idea why.
My best theory is that having to listen to bagpipe music should make other
cops do a better job of looking out for their partners.

Shame on ya, McBedroom.

I've been taking bagpipe lessons for a couple of years, and I'm just
now about to graduate from the practice chanter to something with an
actual bag. I can extract house-rockin' music from anything with a
keyboard, blow a wicked blues harp, and while I sold my last guitar
about 30 years ago I could get my chops back with a few months of
practice. Learning the pipes is like learning a foreign language after
speaking English for 50 years.
The western scale? Forget it. Staff notation? Yeah, but don't pay
strict attention to the note values because one of the things a piper
has to know is what the notation actually means, inspite of how it
reads. It usually takes me 3-6 months to get adequately proficient on a
musical instrument. The pipes will humble ya, that's for sure.

A lot of people who dislike bagpipe music have never heard it played
well. That's pretty understandable, as even with only a 9-note scale
this is certainly the most difficult, tempermental, frustrating, and
rewarding instrument I have ever attempted- and I'm only just about to
begin dealing with the mechanics of the bag and drones.

No wonder it's popular in Scotland, that's where they invented that
other nearly impossible and demanding pastime that only a few can do
well, golf.

The police and fire departments are paramilitary organizations, and the
bagpipe has a long history of association with military manuevers.
Often said to be the loudest of all instruments, the pipes were often
used to signal tactical changes on the battlefield. The pipes would be
used to play a lament when the dead were buried following a battle.

Did the ancient armies actually like bagpipe music? Hard to say. All I
know is that when you see drawings of some of the units marching into
battle they often have the piper on point. :-)

Did you like Ravi Shankar back in the 60's? If so, you would learn to
like bagpipes pretty quickly. If not, you will probably be among that
group who just "don't get it". (Members of that group are often
described as "sane")...

Here's a look at the audio torture device enroute to me via UPS Ground.
A "shuttle pipe" is not quite as loud as a Great Highland, but sounds
about the same. Biggest difference is that you can practice the shuttle
pipes indoors or play in a small room without being inappropriately
loud. http://www.hendersongroupltd.com/buy/3df.html