Uilleann Trouble

Heya’s, ive only just recently started the pipes (saturday last) so far ive had only one major setback… pumping the bellows,

Every time I use the bellows i attemp to do it to beats of the music and i end up getting my self tied up in thinking about pumping the bellows and not on the notes im supposed to be playing.

Will this come with time? or am i safer not learning any tunes until i can do this without having to think about it and do excersises to improve my bellow work if there is any?

thanks

Darran-
don’t try to pump on time. you should start out with a full bag, the chanter on your knee. and all holes covered. you only should pump the bellows if a full pump of air can fit. if the bag can’t hold a full pump, then don’t do it. When your pumping, it shouldn’t look like your having a seizure, it should be smooth and compleat. to practise this, you should play only one note, and hold it for as long as possible. eventually you’ll get the hang of it. however, don’t attempt to learn any tunes until you master this. i’d advise you to get a teacher, and/or purchase a dvd tutor. good luck!
cheers-
rob

Darran, don’t want to worry you, but do you know that the received wisdom is that it takes 21 years to learn the uilleann pipes?

Never ever squeze the bellows to the beat of the music. The bellows should be aoutonomic, that is, just like breathing in and out. Control the air with the bag- as someone else said, Tht’s why there’re called bag..pipes.."

Can’t tell where you are from your bio, BUT get thee to a pipers club or a real human teacher. Otherwise, go get the Heather Clarke tutor, the NPU DVDs, the Sean Og Potts CD ROM tutor, and then go to a tionol. It’s not an instrument you can learn in a vacuum.

Nuff said

received wisdom is an ass. If you wait til you can pump the bellows before you learn any tunes it bloody will take tou 21 years

“received wisdom is an ass”… I don’t get it, what do you mean by that?

I mean it will take however long you want it to take. If you believe it will take you 21 years, then it bloody well will.

Llig - in my experience with the Northumbrian pipes it was well worth following rob’s advice. In the same way I think possibly even you would not recommend playing fiddle - or even viola - until you had checked which side of the bow should rest on the strings, and which end of the bow gave the best hold. Mastering the pumping without trying to play a tune should, take someone of average ability no more than half an hour tops. Then just get on with playing tunes.

Did you know that Llig Leahcim backwards is Michael Gill? Astonishing coincidence, that.

😉

I-fel, I agree. You can’t possibly learn a wind instrument in a vacuum.

Firstly, thanks for all the comments, much appreciated.

Secondly, I have no trouble with keeping a single continous note, as its just that… a single note. My problem is when playing a tune (not a very complex one mind you) , thinking where my fingers should be next and then i have to pump the bellowsto re-inflate the bag, I take my mind off where my fingers should be and onto controlling the bellows which, usually results in me hanging on the last note for longer than is normally intended :P so im wondering does the natural smoothness come with time or should i focus 100% on gaining that control first before i look at any more tutor books?

Thirdly I have Clarke’s new approach to uilleann piping book +cd, davy spillanes book + cassette, and the first 2 NPU dvd’s to keep me going, Is this enough or should i go for the one mentioned above also? “Sean’og pots cd rom tutor” Theres no teachers round about that i know off, but one of my buddies brother’s has been playing the pipes for years so i guess ill just have to drop into his house some day and annoy him for a while :D

And finally… lazy hound, yes im aware of the 21 years craic, but im a stubborn git so its no biggy ;)

Thanks for the clarification, Micheal - and I must say, it makes a lot of sense - developing an optimistic and confident outlook re one’s ability to learn is a huge part of the process… at least it is for me 😎

Sell the pipes and buy a fiddle NOW! It’ll save you much heartache AND you’ll get to stay friends with your neighbours! You’ll also be able to spend hours practising playing instead of tuning, reedmaking, and trying to mend leaks and you won’t feel like you’ve been down the gymn for a workout.

Plus, as we all know, all traditional Irish musicians of whatever persuasion secretly wish they were fiddlers…..

Sounds like sour grapes to me, Jaye-eye.

I don’t recall ever wishing I played the fiddle but I do sometimes wish I played the accordion when the humidity’s down to something like 5% and it’s Patrick’s Day and I have a gig…

I would say it doesn’t have to be 100% before moving on, but it does have to be worked on specifically every time you practice. Try doing some intermediate steps, like alternating between two notes, or doing simple scales.

Sour grapes? Not at all.

Severe emotional scarring maybe.

It wouldn’t be so bad if they were like ciggies and carried a health warning….

My biggest problem with UP’s (and I only played them for 12 months) was they were slightly too loud for considerate late night or early morning practice. When I mute my fiddle I can play at 3am if I want to (insomniac…huh!) without disturbing family or friends. A muted fiddle is quieter even than a whistle with Blue Tac and because of that I’ve made far more progress in my 15months of fiddling than I ever would have if I’d stuck with the pipes. Plus, in the fiddle I’ve found the true expression of my soul! Oh yes, me and the fiddle…. I could have been a child prodigy if only I’d started earlier!

Slightly OT, sorry……