A little about me.
I began playing the pipes at twelve after watching my dad learn for a few years. He’s my first teacher, and had me wait for a year to ensure my interest was genuine; piping is an investment after all! Luckily I was patient. After numerous instructors and over a decade of competitive success, I now instruct two pipe bands (so far) and teach a growing group of wonderful students.
“What’s your skill level?”
My skill level is known as “Open”; Grades 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 are considered “amateur” grades, but those falling in these categories are still competent pipers. Open is the next step. This means two things: I win money if I place well during competitions, and the best players in the world are now my competitors. Gulp.
A close-up view of the bass drone.
My instrument and setup:
I’m rather proud of my “Big Tweedies”, as they’ve been called by friends. Their original date of manufacture is unknown to me, but I received them packed with newspaper dated 1977. The following is pulled from Ron Bowen’s brilliant website, The Bagpipe Place Museum: “Jim Tweedie was a turner for Wm. Sinclair and Hugh MacPherson in the 1960’s before opening his own business in Edinburgh in the early 1970’s. … I don’t know where Jim acquired his skills and knowledge however, to be certain, he knew his business. Wood was aged a minimum of eight years and Jim was the first to perfect polished bores. Aesthetically, his standard bagpipe following the profile of flat-combed Sinclair and MacPherson bagpipes, but a bit ‘heftier’ in appearance. He also made ‘beaded & combed’ sets, although seemingly not too many. The bells were quite deep and disproportionate in size. The sound is and remains spectacular. … The first Tweedie bagpipe I played the bass failed to start. I tuned the tenors and thought ‘Hey, they’re pretty nice.’ Then I popped on the bass and it just blew me away. It was magnificent. Without reservation, Tweedie drones are among the best sounding drones I have played.”
I can certainly corroborate the touchy bass drone; these pipes demand you learn their preferences, and all three of them (including the “twin” tenors) have a unique personality. But when they’re good, the sound is unlike anything I’ve ever played! Interestingly, the bass only seems happy with cane. Currently I’m running Canning reeds in the tenors, and they’ve been partial to Balance Tone Highland Reeds, produced by my good friend and colleague Bruce Hitchings, MBE. You can find his excellent products on his website here.