I don´t know the exactly way to became a piper with an old traditional scottisch instrument, which is made with an sheepskin - bag makes a very loud noise and often plays lamentos. And it is one of these instruments, you´ll love or hade it. There is nothing between, but your neighbours will make the choice for you ;-)) !!

In Germany we called this instrument Dudelsack, but I prefer Great Highland Bagpipe, that´s the name, what it is - GREAT !! It is an instrument that in many cultures was played, but the scottish version is one of the loudest and well known.

The first I came in touch, was after a whisky tasting in hameln with friends of mine. Andreas is an Scotland-fan and stay travelled a lot of times through it. On one of these vacations, he bring a highland dress an a bagpipe with him to Germany. At the end of tasting, he bring his bagpipe and we started playing on it. I dont must say, that this playing was absolut terrible and the only noise was an loud squeeching. After this beautiful night, I had no more touches to this instrument.

At Christmas time 2001 we stay together with the hole familiy and it is one of there favorite chrismas traditions, that we sing together. This is one of my horrable things, I can´t sing and I only open my mouth without a sound. I do a gentleman agreement, that I have to play one year later a christmas song on the pipes and we defeat this agreement.

When I arrived at home I started my surch in the world wide web, found a pipe in Scotland, a tutour book an practice chanter in Germany. The first I was reeding in the book was, that you have to play the practice chanter 1 up to 1 1/2 year before you play the pipes. That was absolut to long and I dont want to break the gentleman agreement. So I started with playing every day.

The pipes arrived and it was not playable, so I contacted a pipemaker in Edinburgh. He recommend, that we have to bring the pipes with us, when I stay on holidy vacation in April. The day of thruth came in and that he was telling me, bring my blood and smiling out of my face. The pipes were a parkistani imitation - not to play, only for the wall decoration. So I brought one there and I started to practice on the pipes 05.05.2002. With a lot of training I played the christmas song in August 2002 and won the agreement.