HOW TO GET STARTED

Obtaining pipes.

Northumbrian smallpipes are not cheap to buy, a basic keyed set will cost upwards of £450 sterling, and it may be difficult to justify this sort of expenditure for an instrument when you don't know if you will get on with it. However, as it is a handmade instrument, this minimum price is actually very reasonable.
You cannot walk into any music shop and buy a 'beginners' set of NSP, as you might a classical or other folk instrument. There are one or two specialist folk shops that stock them, but if you are considering buying a new set straightaway, it is always most economic to deal directly with the pipemakers. The retail suppliers may have sets on the shelf, but they sometimes put a substantial mark-up on the makers prices for this convenience. Also you do not know how well the set has been maintained whilst in the shop, nor indeed how long it has been there.
Most pipemakers have waiting lists, the length of which generally reflects the desirability of that particular maker's product (of course there are other factors too).
It is also possible to buy secondhand sets, but prices are little less than the new ones.

Hiring pipes is a possible option to consider, but is becoming increasingly difficult, due to demand. In the UK, the Northumbrian Pipers Society will hire 7-keyed sets to members, sometimes with the option to buy after an agreed period. However priority is given to members in the Northumbrian region, due to maintenance and supervision considerations. Simple sets are also sometimes available for hire, but these are not generally for sale, and a very limited number of sets suitable for small children is also available. The Society usually has a waiting list for its sets. Some pipemakers also have sets for hire, but they usually give priority to their own potential customers (understandably).
In the US, one maker, John Liestman, has a couple of simple sets for hire, and in New Zealand, the NZ Pipers Society may be able to help.

If you are relatively isolated as a piper you will need 4 pieces of equipment besides your new pipes.

The most important is your ears (at least they are free!).
A hifi or similar is almost essential, for playing CD's / tapes - tutor tapes are available - see suppliers,
a copy of a book designed for the isolated player is well recommended. There are actually two principal tutor books - get both if possible, particularly if you are on your own.
Be prepared to buy as many CD's or tapes as you can find. Different recordings by different pipers will give you a perspective on the variety of playing styles around. See discography.

Your new pipes are a complicated and delicate piece of equipment. If at all possible, collect them from your supplier in person, and try and listen and remember all that he/she tells you about maintaining them. If your supplier does not know about pipes, take with you someone who does. Do not buy blind in a car boot sale except with advice, or at exceptionally cheap prices - otherwise you could cause yourself much grief, and probably much extra expense.

Join the NSP mailing list - instant access to many other pipers worldwide, most of whom will be happy to provide information / assistance, and some of whom are experts in their field..
Consider joining the Northumbrian Pipers Society, - the magazine, newsletter and address lists are a potential source of help and information to all pipers.
The Northumbrian Smallpipes Society of North America and the New Zealand Northumbrian Pipers Society also provide newsletters and contacts for people in those countries.

Starting to play.

If this is the first musical instrument you have ever played, you should redouble your efforts to find another player whom you can consult even if only for a short time on an irregular basis. You have presumably been captivated by the sound - it is not all that difficult to produce a fair approximation to what you have heard - honest!

Northumbrian smallpipes have evolved over 300 years, and have an evolving tradition of music which goes with them. They were designed for the music, and the music is right for the instrument. Even if you ultimately intend to use your pipes for hymns, jazz, salsa, or to sample them through a synthesiser, please at least give passing consideration to their traditional repertoire before you do so. It should help you understand both their possibilities and their limitations. See also music.

For all starters, the most important thing to get right first is the bellows technique, because if it is learnt wrongly it will never be corrected properly, and the most difficult for those accustomed to other wind instruments is the concept of LIFTING ONE FINGER to produce each note.

It is not possible or appropriate to go into detailed descriptions of starting to play on these pages, however if you follow enough of the links, information, contacts and suppliers, you should end up with your own personalised 'further information' pack, of addresses, books and bits.

If all this fails, or you don't understand any of it, write to me. I will endeavour to point you to the information you find is lacking.

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