| Learning to Play the Bagpipes Almost everyone will tell you that the first thing you should do is buy a practice chanter. The Chanter is the part of the Bagpipe that gives you the notes with the proper fingering. This is good if you are not already a musician or just want to get an introduction to what you can and can not do with the pipes. However, if you are already a musician of any kind there might be a better way to get started, depending on how much money you want to spend. If you want to jump in head first, spend a few extra dollars and start out with a great set of pipes go to someone like Stuart Cullinan at Ethnic Sounds (http://www.ethnicsounds.com/) and order a set of ready-to-go pipes. Stuart starts out with a very good entry level set of reasonably prices pipes ($210) that may take a little care and encouragement but will get you going (http://www.ethnicsounds.com/Bagpipes_full.asp?ProductID=100). From the above you can graduate to (or start with) some great Gibson, Walsh, Southar and other pipes. I'm semi retired and have time to discuss these things with you. I enjoy doing this kind of thing. Home/Office: 706-216-6534, Cell: 770-519-2587 If your wallet is a little tight and you want to learn pipes from the ground up, contact my friend Chris at Mid-East (http://www.mid-east.com./) and order a set of half pipes (or full pipes) from them. These are entry level pipes from Pakistan and eventually you will want to upgrade them. Upgrading these pipes can be done with better drone reeds, a better chanter some drone valves and maybe a few other things. I have two sets of these pipes and two sets of GHB pipes. With a little work my Mid-East pipes are very good! When you have started with the less expensive pipes and done the upgrading yourself you will understand a great deal more about Bagpiping. Bagpipes are feminine in gender and require quite a bit of caressing and care. In just a short time you will find your way through the notes of Amazing Grace, this will be quite a thrill. Continue with getting started Go here to see some of the stuff I do: http://www.dawsonnews.com/section/1/article/6729/ Home Bagpiper |
| Federal Bureau of Prisons Annual Memorial May 9, 2011 - Atlanta, Georgia In honor of all who have lost their lives while employed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. |
| Fulton County Georgia Memorial May 11, 2011 In honor of all Fulton County Law Enforcement, Fire, Marshals and Emergency Service workers who lost their lives in the line of duty. |