Edward Arnold

To begin bagpipe lessons, you will need a practice chanter. This is a small, easy-to-blow instrument, not too dissimilar to a recorder. It allows you to learn all the fundamentals and your first few tunes without having to manage a full set of pipes—or deafen everyone around you at the same time!

All bagpipers learn this way, and the practice chanter remains an essential practice tool throughout your piping journey.

If you don’t yet have a practice chanter, I strongly recommend buying from a reputable supplier that specialises in bagpipes and accessories. Chanters sold as “new” on eBay or Amazon are often unplayable and a waste of money. Trusted brands include McCallum, RG Hardie, and David Naill. A good quality plastic chanter costs around £50, with wooden chanters starting from approximately £90.

My lessons are tailored to your needs. If you want to learn to play professionally then we will begin with a huge focus on exercises and perfecting embellishments, understanding music theory and playing alongside a metronome. If your aim is to play simple tunes for your own enjoyment, we’ll cover the fundamentals and get you playing music you enjoy as soon as possible.You learn at your own pace.

In addition to one to one lessons, all students receive access to my exclusive online music portal, making it easy to book lessons, follow personalised exercises and tunes with video guidance, track practice time, and stay consistent with a built-in practice timer.

Feedback will be given after every lesson so you know exactly what it is you need to work out.

Students are also welcome to send me videos of exercises they're working on for feedback and I will reply with personalised videos if I need be.