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Tune of the week (Prince Charles Welcome To Lachaber)

1/7/2012

This Tune dates back to 1746. Prince Charles Edward Stewart arrived in Lochaber from France to liberate Scotland from the British. This is a joyful 4 part, 2/4 with repeats, An excellent choice as a first solo march, this tune is musical and easy for a young learner to wrap there fingers around.

Sadly, this 2/4 Quick March was replaced by a somber lament after 2000 men were killed at the battle of Culloden on 16 April 1746. (the british forces only lost 50 men.

However, history aside, this tune is a fun piece with some complexities that make it Ideal for a Novice Piper.

princech.bmw
File Size:	2 kb
File Type:	bmw

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Boss Dr. Beat DB-60 Metronome for Bagpipes

1/6/2012

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Price: $77.99 on Amazon.coms

well if we compare prices of the DB-90 and the DB-60 the latter comes in at roughly half the price.

So at half the price what have they left out? well the DB-60 wont count in a human voice, doesn't have a foot switch control, wont accept input from v-pad drum pads, or rhythm coach your drumming via a built in microphone. barring these feature the DB-60 can do every thing the DB-90 can do.

So for half the price you get a neat portable device with all the feature useful to a Piper.

Features- Wide variety of rhythm patterns
single beats, accented bars, triplets, syncopation. the DB-60 can match any time signature.

- Quickly create original ryhthm patterns with the Note-Mixing function
Beat groupings can be taped out precisely,

- Loop Play function for calling up memory settings and playing the rhythm patterns for any number of times
As an example this feature worked brilliantly for tutoring my learners. In Amazing Grace I was able to program the DB-60 to beat
out the time and change to beat each note of the "FED" run every time it comes around in the tune.

- Default patterns that can be called
8-beat, 16-beat, Shuffle, Funk, Dance, Country, Reggae, Clave, Rumba, Bossa nova, Waltz, Tango, Mamba, March.
- Memory function for storing independent tempos for each song
Spend time programming you loop play back and save it for use any time in the future.

- Tap Tempo
Not sure what tempo to set to just tap you finger on a button a few times and the tempo is set to your tap

- Timer, and Stopwatch function
No point getting disqualified because your set was too long or short

- Standard Pitch function for tuning instruments

- Backlit display

Build Quality

A very sturdy device. It even handle a fall onto a tiled floor with no visible marks afterwards. Even with extensive tugging and ruff handling the rubber buttons stayed firmly seated.

Overall and excellent build quality.

Conclusion
The DB-60 is priced to please, yet it doesn’t disappoint in the feature department. This handy little timekeeper can lay down the click in style. As a result of going deaf from years of playing the Bagpipes the only thing I would Change on the DB-60 would be to make it a little Louder.

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Bagpipe Reader on 64-bit windows

1/5/2012

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Bagpipe Reader will install without any problems on a 32-bit installation of Windows. On a 64-bit, it tells you that the setup can't run and that it needs a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the program. The program it is talking about though is the installation program - it is not referring to the actual Bagpipe Reader program.

To get Bagpipe Reader to install on windows 64-bit, extract the contents of the zip file below to   "C:\Program Files (x86)\Bagpipe Player"

Then open "C:\Program Files (x86)\Bagpipe Player\fonts" and cut all the files in it to   "c:\windows\fonts"

Then create a Short cut on your desktop pointing to  "C:\Program Files (x86)\Bagpipe Player\BGPlayer.exe "

Finally, set the short cut to run as administrator.

and... "job done"

bagpipe_player64bit.zip
File Size:	717 kb
File Type:	zip

Download File

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Android Bagpipe Tuner (gStings)

1/5/2012

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I installed gStrings on my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 p7500 today. Running Honey Comb (android 3.1)

Had a second Mac Cullum pipe chanter lying around so I picked a Ross Reed and seated it in the chanter.

In the settings menu of gStrings, I set the Pitch of "A" to 470Hz (under orchestral tuning) and set the temperament to "Great Highland Bagpipe " at the bottom of the list.

With a little tape and a about 5min I had balanced the Chanter according to gStrings fairly accurately.

Next I set the drones to the same reading on g-strings with a little help from the wife and spent a few minutes listing to the tone and reached the following conclusions:

The scale from "LG" through to "F was" was astonishingly good. Had to move a little tape on "D" but otherwise I Could not make any corrections.

The "HG" and "HA" where quite sharp however the tuner still thought they were in tune, I corrected them by ear.

All things considered A pretty good tuner and well worth downloading.

.

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Mark Saul's Composition, Creative Harmony, Integration class

1/3/2012

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This seems to me to be one of the most amazing opportunities for any piper. No better way to improve your Piping than by understanding and mastering compossing.

"And then, there was the Hellbound Train. Mark Saul’s incredible piece for three pipers changed the way the world thought about composing and arranging for bagpipes. This Dojo U class introduces you to Mark, and will show you where to look to find your own creativity.In this class, you’ll learn about the endless creative possibilities that the bagpipe has to offer. Learn how the world of music theory applies to the bagpipe – in a way you can understand. Get your feet wet by composing a simple tune or two. Then, you’ll take it to the next level by learning to create harmony in bagpipe music. Finally, you’ll learn how bagpipes fit with other instruments, and to play with them. Oh – and one more thing – Mark will take you deep into some of his own creations…

Instructor: Mark Saul
10 weeks – Begins Sunday, Jan. 22nd; Ends Thursday Mar. 25nd.
Lecture: Sundays from 6– 7p EST.
Open Office Hours: To Be Announced at First Lecture
Ability Range: Students should have some experience playing tunes on the Bagpipe and aspire to become more creative!
Price: $299 for individuals, $199 for group members (before early-bird and/or any other promotions) "

See http://www.dojouniversity.com/classes# for more information

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Bagpipe Tuner for Android

1/2/2012

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The android app gStrings tuner now has a Bagpipe setting. download the app by clicking on the QR code along side or scanning with your android phone.

After installing the app go to settings then temperament, the bagpipe setting is hidden as Great Highland Bagpipe right at the bottom.

14 Comments

Tune of the week (Prince Charles Welcome To Lachaber)

Boss Dr. Beat DB-60 Metronome for Bagpipes

Bagpipe Reader on 64-bit windows

Android Bagpipe Tuner (gStings)

Mark Saul's Composition, Creative Harmony, Integration class

Bagpipe Tuner for Android

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