Bagpipe camp
I'm in Killington, VT, waiting for the evening concert to start. I'm having a terrific time with these folks, who are friendly, creative, funny, and welcoming.
I've met several people I've known only from the bagpiping forums, which is an increasingly common and regular part of this digital age. I've managed not to spend $350 on a beautiful wooden pennywhistle that makes me sound like I'm an angel playing, but let me tell you, it was tough. The vendor tried to sell me a transverse flute with the same fingering for $35, but I don't really want to focus on my ombechure right now.
I have managed to borrow a set of mouth-blown scottish smallpipes (commonly known as SSP), and I found someone who will make a custom bag for my long-suffering mouth-blown SSP. I've also managed to find someone who will finish the inside of my English medieval pipe. Tomorrow I might try some bellows pipes, just to see how I do. I keep hearing that they're not that hard to master, so we'll see. I'm sure I'll be OK.
I've been making significant use of my Tunetalk iPod plugin, which records really well. I've even gone through and catalogued what I recorded today, because I know I won't get another chance before I forget what was what.
I've gotten a good handle on my pennywhistle playing, with an emphasis on being able to read music specifically for the whistle. Go me! I hadn't recognized what a good story my pennywhistle story was, but it goes like this:
Several years ago, we were visiting my mom's older brother. He had always been a musician, so there were always instruments around the house. Nate, who was probably not quite 2, found one whistle and brought it to me. He said 'Mommy play." so I did, and I haven't really stopped since. There's nothing I can do about this, but his wife was supposed to give me his whistles after he died, but didn't, and now mu cousin tells me they're gone.
Ah well.
For next time I come to this gathering, I'll need to remember to bring my portable music stand, and also the wall plug for the iPod, since I have to plug it in to the laptop to recharge it.
I'll also need to remember to come Fri-Mon, and not leave on Sunday, because there's still stuff going on into Monday.
It wouldn't, on the whole, make a bad triangle to go NC->Vermont->Pennsic, since this gathering is always on Pennsic's middle weekend (and I'd get to skip a good deal of the initial setup).
I've met several people I've known only from the bagpiping forums, which is an increasingly common and regular part of this digital age. I've managed not to spend $350 on a beautiful wooden pennywhistle that makes me sound like I'm an angel playing, but let me tell you, it was tough. The vendor tried to sell me a transverse flute with the same fingering for $35, but I don't really want to focus on my ombechure right now.
I have managed to borrow a set of mouth-blown scottish smallpipes (commonly known as SSP), and I found someone who will make a custom bag for my long-suffering mouth-blown SSP. I've also managed to find someone who will finish the inside of my English medieval pipe. Tomorrow I might try some bellows pipes, just to see how I do. I keep hearing that they're not that hard to master, so we'll see. I'm sure I'll be OK.
I've been making significant use of my Tunetalk iPod plugin, which records really well. I've even gone through and catalogued what I recorded today, because I know I won't get another chance before I forget what was what.
I've gotten a good handle on my pennywhistle playing, with an emphasis on being able to read music specifically for the whistle. Go me! I hadn't recognized what a good story my pennywhistle story was, but it goes like this:
Several years ago, we were visiting my mom's older brother. He had always been a musician, so there were always instruments around the house. Nate, who was probably not quite 2, found one whistle and brought it to me. He said 'Mommy play." so I did, and I haven't really stopped since. There's nothing I can do about this, but his wife was supposed to give me his whistles after he died, but didn't, and now mu cousin tells me they're gone.
Ah well.
For next time I come to this gathering, I'll need to remember to bring my portable music stand, and also the wall plug for the iPod, since I have to plug it in to the laptop to recharge it.
I'll also need to remember to come Fri-Mon, and not leave on Sunday, because there's still stuff going on into Monday.
It wouldn't, on the whole, make a bad triangle to go NC->Vermont->Pennsic, since this gathering is always on Pennsic's middle weekend (and I'd get to skip a good deal of the initial setup).