Music Resources-
Comprehensive tune search. Tunes are in multiple formats including GIFs, PDFs, and MIDIs.
Best place online for looking up tunes. Lots of discussions of tunes, and also cross referenced to what albums have the tune you’re looking for.
Amazing resource for those of us that play Cape Breton Music. Hundreds of Cape Breton albums are listed with the tunes that are played on each track. And if you click on a tune it will show the first line of the sheet music and has a midi recording of that first line. Thousands of tunes!
Cape breton live began as a website that would broadcast a new show from Cape Breton Island each week. New shows are much rarer these days, but all the past shows are available to listen to. Pipers, listen to some fiddle!
This online store for CDs is run by Ian Lawther who plays all sorts of bellows pipes, and is a frequent instructor at the Piper’s Gathering. He knows what it’s like to want to listen to endless new piping cds, and he’s there to help!
Run by Tim Cummings, this is a real live publishing house “devoted to injecting fresh, new repertoire into the realm of Scottish bagpiping.” Tim’s fighting the good fight to bring great music to all of us playing our one octave beasties.
Celtic Music Interpretive Center
In Judique, Nova Scotia, the Interpretive Center’s mission is to “collect, preserve, and promote the traditional celtic music of Cape Breton Island through education, research, and performance.” This is the home of the Buddy MacMaster School of Fiddling, which is held during the Celtic Colours International Music Festival in Cape Breton Island.
Phil McIntyre is turning Maine into the place to live if you want to see great live Celtic (especially of the Maritime variety) music every week. His theater is linked with three or four other venues throughout Maine. Check out the line up, you’ll be shocked.
Discusion Groups-
Online forum mostly dedicated to GHB. It does, however, have a catch-all section for other pipes.
This is the non-uilleann pipe section of the popular irish music forum.
Yahoo group for all things blown by bellows. It’s not particularly active, but still good to subscribe to.
Societies-
APNA aims to serve as a clearinghouse and source of information for and about bagpipers and bagpipes in North America. It is particularly focused on reaching those pipers playing pipes other than the Great Highland Bagpipes, both bellows and mouth blown, AND pipers who are interested in using the GHB in ways that do not conform to current solo and band playing standards.
Lowland and Border Pipers Society
Society dedicated to Border Pipes and Scottish Smallpipes. Highly recommended that you join. Membership includes a subscription to their publication “Common Stock” .
Another society with a great publication that comes out four times a year called “Chanter”. Again, I recommend joining.
“The world’s first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world.” Not necessarily bagpipe related. But a great way to help people directly.
Events-
The Maine Pipes and Fiddle Weekend
A Fun, laid back piping and fiddling workshop weekend held in the Acadia region of Maine.
“North America’s most comprehensive alternative bagpipe event.” 2012 was a fun one. 2013 will be even better.
Like a mini, cozy version of the Piper’s gathering.
The Gaelic College, Cape Breton Island
The Gaelic College usually has at least two sessions per summer that include Scottish Smallpipes instruction. Past teachers have included Hamish Moore, Ellen MacPhee, Fin Moore, and Graham Mulholland. Nothing is better than spending a week taking Smallpipes classes in Cape Breton during the summer. There’s at least one dance or concert every night within driving distance from the College. I never spent much time sleeping whenever I went. Go!
I can’t recommend this highly enough. Run by Fiddler Ward MacDonald. Yes, it may be far from you, but you won’t find an event that you will learn more at. Classes for smallpipes, Border pipes, fiddle, guitar, whistles, piano, accordion, mandolin, banjo, dancing and more. You will not be dissapointed.
People-
Graham is a brilliant Piper from across the pond who I believe has returned to Scotland. If you’re lucky enough to live near Graham do look him up. He is now an owner of a set of my Bois De Rose and Buffalo Horn Smallpipes in A.
A great piper from Cape Breton, who I met while she was teaching at the Vermont Smallpipe School. Ryan is one of best photographers I’ve ever seen. She has been featured in the online magazine pipes|drums. Check out her website to see some great photos of pipers and fiddlers.
American maker of Colin Kyo Highland Pipes. Murray is possibly unique among highland pipe makers with how hands-on he is with every aspect of his product, including hand engraving his own sterling siver mounts and ferrules.
Great piper from the great band Tri. Now playing a set of my four drone Border pipes.
Will Woodson
Will is the new kid on the block in the Northeast Bellows piping scene. Having just moved from Glasgow with his new master’s degree in Scottish Music (Performance) from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Will is excited to make his name a piping household one. Check out his blog at www.boxwoodandbrass.com
Ben is a Border and smallpipe player originally from Queensbury, New York whose playing has been influenced by his years studying in Edinburgh and his strong interest in the Canadian Maritimes. Ben plays “the best sounding Border pipe known to man”, which he should be blamed for more than the maker.