Why the Bagpipes?

Why do I play the bagpipes? Well, for a myriad of reasons. For one, I consider myself a musician. While not a full time professional musician, I have played music of some form for most of the last 3+ decades starting with recorders at the tender age of 5. Throughout my schooling, I played cello, recorders, and English handbells, and participated in everything from local church services to the pit orchestra in a children’s musical theater.

Sure, that explains the music side, but why the Scottish bagpipes? Well, like many Americans, I like to lean hard into my heritage and ancestral roots. I grew up attending local Scottish Highland games as I had ties back to Scottish ancestry through some shepherding ancestors. With the bagpipes a staple of those trips to the Highland Games, I always thought it would be really cool to learn……. some day. Unfortunately I did not have the time in my youth due to all the other musical outlets, school, sports, and being young to add on yet another musical instrument.

When I did finally get my bagpipes, thanks to my non-Scottish grandfather, I had no excuses. I hadn’t played music in some time, and was getting the itch. Looked up a local band, and started my journey.

My concentration has been on the Great Highland Bagpipes for most of my time since starting this adventure, though I’ve recently branched out into Scottish Smallpipes, a quieter and lower-pitched cousin of the GHBs. At the time of this blog post, I am the Pipe Sergeant of the Washington Scottish Pipe Band in the Washington, DC area, and a playing member of the MacMillan-Dunn grade 4 competition pipe band. As part of the Washington Scottish, I participate in 8+ parades each year, in addition to various formal events and a couple Scottish Games as well.

Let the soulful sound of the bagpipe drones ensar