How to Use the Practice Chanter for Bagpipes

The practice chanter is a wind instrument on which the bagpipe student can practice tunes and fingering techniques before adding in the complications of the bag and the use of the drone tones. Practice chanters are also used by experienced players who want to practice without disturbing the neighborhood because bagpipe instruments are very loud.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Purchase a good practice chanter. Things to consider are tone quality, ease of play, the reed and the manufacturer. Expect to pay upwards of $50 and as much as $250 for a good practice chanter. Look for one that is a newer model, has recessed finger holes and spaces the finger holes similarly to an actual bagpipe chanter.

2. Find a teacher. There are many instructional books and CDs available but nothing beats the face-to-face experience of learning a musical instrument from someone who has already mastered it.

3. Study technique. Breath control and fingering skill, among other technical abilities, will lay the foundation for playing good sounding music on the bagpipes. You can develop and maintain all of this with the practice chanter.

4. Learn some pipe tunes. The practice chanter allows the student to establish a repertoire of pipe tunes long before he or she begins to play the actual pipes.

5. Care for your practice chanter as you would any fine musical instrument. The practice chanter is a musical instrument in its own right, and will have an important role in your life as a piper long after you have learned to play the Highland bagpipes. Keep it in its case, away from temperature extremes. Maintain the reed and replace it as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not get a cheap, poor quality practice chanter. You cannot learn to play well on a bad instrument.