Squeaky reed sounds usually trace back to coverage or reed strength. When a low G sounds squirrelly, check that fingers fully cover the holes, try a gentle poke with a reed poker if the reed is easy, and watch out for cold-weather playing where hands don't seal the holes as well.
Pulsing is what makes a march breathe. Since pipers can't play individual notes louder, the only way to bring out the beat is to slightly lengthen the front half of each beat — this turns a flat, four-feeling tune back into a strong, two-beat march.
Keep your sheet music current and your hands close to the chanter. Gracenotes and doublings quietly drift or disappear over months of playing from memory, so go back to your written score regularly, and keep your fingers low over the holes for clean, fast technique.
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Member Videos — September 20, 2023
51m · Full class available to Inner Circle members
08:00Second to Donald MacLean's video: Farewell Oban🔒
10:12Hunting notes grace for missing🔒
13:41and accurate music Gillies keeping Alistair sheet🔒
15:01Gray's and pipes historic Willie Farewell Third video:🔒
16:00story a The pipes behind historic of set🔒
23:45thumb Bottom-hand a foam and tightness trick🔒
27:482/4 pulsing in Teaching marches🔒
37:53short-long rhythm pipers up that trips The🔒
44:23of tune gets part hard third Why the a🔒
48:45Inner coming What's in Circle next the up🔒
50:06between ask how questions Q&A: to Closing sessions🔒
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