The following are books and essays I believe every serious piper — which is most of us — should collect, read, and return to regularly. I view these as essential reading toward building your understanding of the function, playing, and important history of the instrument.
These are placed in a particular order, indicating the stage in your piping when to read and begin making use of them. Do not skip any of these — this also goes for seasoned pipers. Where possible I have included links for publications that are not found through major online retailers.
Please Note – I encourage these products based on my opinion only; I am neither paid or usually even acknowledged for endorsing these titles.
The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book 1
– Beginners
by Seumas MacNeill and Thomas Pearston
ASIN: B001GE2YTO
This title is available through major online retailers and most bagpipe suppliers; please buy this title directly from The National Piping Centre to help support their establishment.
When To Read – As Soon As Possible when starting to play. Best bet for you and your instructor is if you can start reading it before your first lesson.
About – To be frank, I have little experience with this book. The beginning-book I used to recommend is no longer in print. Upon asking an instructor-friend what he recommended, he suggested this book … so, good enough for me!
Things To Consider – When I asked my instructor-friend about a new title to put her, he said he was also working on his own text. Knowing his approach to teaching piping, I’m sure that will be my new recommendation. However, I am sure I would still recommend this and the other National Piping Centre book presented here.
The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book 2 – Transition to Bagpipes
by Seumas MacNeill and Thomas Pearston
ASIN: B004P6Y9IY
This title is available through major online retailers and most bagpipe suppliers; please buy this title directly from The National Piping Centre to help support their establishment.
When To Read – Upon or before transitioning to Highland bagpipes.
About – Again, I have no experience with this book. However…
Things To Consider – In my opinion this has been an underserved topic in piping. Many instructors don’t do a particularly good job in teaching how to start making the instrument function. This leads to bad habits, bad sounds, unnecessary frustrations, and even new players quitting their dream of playing Highland bagpipes.
Playing With Control
Essay by Bruce Gandy
(See below about availability)
When To Read – During your first 6 months of learning to play.
About – In this writing, Mr. Gandy illustrates the importance of focused technique and execution in learning and performing both exercises and tunes. While the writing itself is brief by comparison to the books on this list, it provides important aspects to the collective wisdom in mastering one’s own playing discipline.
Things To Consider – I was given a copy of this document. With reworking this essential-reading page, I have not only belatedly added this important essay to my list but I have messaged Bruce to ask where it can be found. As he gets back to me, I will update this page …. again.
Rhythmic Fingerwork
by James McGillivray
ASIN: B006URENUK
When To Read – About 6 months into learning to play. This is assuming that you are …
- Practicing 5-7 days per week
- Working with an instructor who teaches these methods, meeting weekly for an hour or more
About – Other instructors and players I know, along with myself, have nicknamed this book “The Bible” — we feel it is that important to piping! The playing technique suggested through this book can go a long way toward helping to fix every mistake, error, or bad habit that come out of our fingers. Rhythmic Fingerwork at Amazon
Things To Consider – In my opinion, Do Not Get This As A ‘Teach Yourself Bagpipes’ Book. These techniques should be worked on with an instructor who understands them, teaches them, and uses these themselves. Again, this book is about improving or correcting hand movement technique; it is not an introductory-level book that will teach you how to play tunes or pipes.
Also – Mr. McGillivary additionally offers “Piobaireachd Fingerwork“, which similarly gives instruction in piobaireachd technique. Based on my experience with Rhythmic Fingerwork, were I to start learning piobaireachd (and I’d like to), I would probably get my hands on this book immediately after finding a piobaireachd instructor.
The Complete Pipers Handbook
by P/M Brett Tidswell
So far as I am aware, The Complete Pipers Handbook is only available through SchoolOfPiping.com
When To Read – Upon buying your first set of Highland bagpipes.
About – There are numerous books on the market teaching bagpipe maintenance, reed set-up, and tuning (etc) — and for me this is the definitive book on the subject. The writing is insightful and efficient.
Things To Consider – Personally my piping focuses on being musically creative, whereas The Complete Pipers Handbook has writing that clearly orients it toward competitors. However, the information of course remains applicable to both types of players. It is also my feeling that this book was over-priced, and yet I feel that this book is invaluable — the tips, troubleshooting insight, and techniques for instrument operation — there is no end to the usefulness of this book.
The Book of the Bagpipe
by Hugh Cheape
ISBN: 10: 0809296802
When To Read – Any time before beginning to perform
About – This is a beautiful little book that I find to be a leader in the history of bagpipes. Mr. Cheape is the chief curator of The Museum Of Piping in Glasgow, Scotland. Drawing upon his many resources, and with support from Roderick D. Cannon (author of “The Highland Bagpipe and Its Music“), The Book Of The Bagpipe follows the path of pipes starting in the mid-east some 4500-5000 years ago, lastly reaching Scotland in antiquity. This book can be pleasingly read in a few hours and is packed with information and images. The Book of the Bagpipe
Things To Consider – I have previously owned two copies — I loaned these to other pipers and they did not get returned. I like to think that it is because this is a great of a book. Suffice to say, the third copy I have purchased is not leaving my home in any hands other than my own.
The Highland Bagpipe and Its Music
by Roderick D. Cannon
ISBN: 10: 0859765490
When To Read – Any time after beginning to perform
About – This is the new, updated edition of the classic “The Highland Bagpipe and Its Music”. It is a definitive and critically acclaimed book giving the origins of Scottish bagpipes and piping history. Mr. Cannon covers Ceol Mor, Ceol Beag, Piobaireachd, dance and martial music, music for competitions and music for pleasure, music for pipe bands, and also gives commentary on the state of today’s piping. This is a foundational book and stands as the only comprehensive history of piping in print and has never been surpassed.
Things To Consider – I found this book a bit dry. Nonetheless, the information is valuable to a person who is passionate about piping. My approach to this book is read it when you get it and refer back to when you need it. The Highland Bagpipe and Its Music at Amazon