This frequent question, along with the others, are the reasons I created this website. Please review the Background page for more information and Contact me anytime for details. 

I'd gladly help you get started but always suggest searching online for your local pipe and drum band and connecting with their Pipe Major or Drum Major to begin lessons on the pipes or drums, respectively.

It may feel like an intimidating endeavor but rest assured that you first begin slowly, if learning the pipes, with just a relatively inexpensive practice chanter and lesson book recommended by a Pipe Major to learn the note fingerings and some simple tunes. The first steps are as simple as when you might've played a recorder in grade school. There are many very inexpensive but worthless chanters and bagpipes online, so please don't buy anything until you speak to an instructor.

Purchasing your first set of bagpipes will come much later when you're ready, so don't worry about getting started. And, although practice is required with anything worth doing, just around 15 minutes a day or as many times you can a week should be adequate to begin this very rewarding hobby. Consistent practice should become routine since every tune must be memorized, to perfect embellishments / timing and to build enough strength for adequate control of the instrument. Please never hesitate to send me a message.

Not all songs transpose well to the bagpipes, but please provide me the details far in advance to potentially accommodate your preferences. Be sure to view the Tunes page for readily available options. 

I volunteer my services for many cancer centers, VA hospitals and select charities, but must charge for others due the significant practice and preparation time required to provide you with the best experience.

Please contact me with your plans to determine your cost based upon required on-site hours, travel distance from home and other factors, but consider $300 as the typical starting fee for local events. Payment via Venmo or PayPal, with links provided at the appropriate time, are preferred. Thank you 

I perform at a wide range of events including but not limited to weddings, funerals, parades, corporate and private gatherings. Please view the Performances and Gallery pages for more information. 

I recommend booking as far in advance as possible to ensure my availability and adequate time to prepare for your event date.

Please let me know your desired date or dates to confirm my availability. Many aren't sure how to involve bagpipes in an event. However, once you share what you know such as its location, purpose, and timeframe, I will:

• suggest ways to enhance the experience for your guests
  

• introduce myself to the venue such as a church's Pastor and Music Director/Organist, restaurant's owner/manager, Funeral Director, golf course's management, etc.

• align with them what will work best with their planned agenda, logistics, and meeting space

• and visit the requested location to determine my most appropriate positioning and to more accurately suggest the most impactful use of my music. Most just ask me to do what I think best, but I am always open to alternate ideas and requests.

In other words, just provide me the opportunity to maximize your guest's experience and I will take it from there. Enjoy the peace of mind knowing that I always arrive early, will be fully prepared and do my best to accommodate any last minute changes.