Come and try the Northumbrian Smallpipes in this special taster session for absolute beginners. If you’ve ever wanted to learn to play the Northumbrian pipes, it’s a great introduction to this slightly mysterious instrument!
Led by Francis Wood, we’ll have simple sets of teaching pipes available, designed for beginners. This is an excellent opportunity for those who enjoy the gentle sound of small pipes and would like to learn a little about their technique, repertoire and history.
The morning will aim to cover :
The use of bellows in the most relaxed and efficient way
Principles of ‘closed fingering’
Coordinating bag and bellows arms to sustain a steady pressure
Drone tuning
with some discussion of the instrument’s history and development (time permitting)
Timings:
Arrival is from 9.30am, with the workshops begin at 10am and finish at 1pm. The course includes lunch after your two workshops, and you are welcome to stay with us in the afternoon to observe the more advanced classes working with the other smallpipes tutors, if you wish. The Halsway Cream Tea can be added to your booking for £5 (in advance only).
Who is it for?
You don’t need to own, or bring, a set of pipes, sets of teaching pipes are available. Designed for beginners, these are simple sets in ‘G’ without keys, and are a modern interpretation of the original form of Northumbrian smallpipes on which the earliest traditional repertoire is based. This is an excellent opportunity for those who enjoy the gentle sound of smallpipes and would like to learn a little about their technique, repertoire and history. The group is limited to 6 students.
The Tutor
The course is led by experienced tutor Francis Wood. Francis has been playing and teaching for more years than he cares to remember. He has a particular passion for introducing newcomers to the Northumbrian Smallpipes, as well as endless patience