Wednesday, January 11, 2006

SSP Beginner Tutorial 1 & 2

Tutorial 1 and 2
PDF file of book
Hello!
Welcome back! It's been a while, I've been busy (organising a wedding mostly, but that's a different story!). Anyway my plan now is to podcast the tutor book that I wrote. Now, I know that most of you guys already play the smallpipes, but what I'd find really useful is for you to have a look and a listen and let me know your thoughts. I'd love it if you took the materials and give it a go with any of your students. It is in A, maybe I'll do a D version if there is lots of demand, but it is quite time consuming, so here is the A version. I'm going to work my way through the entire book, but as this is for total beginners the first two chapters deal with the complete basics.

If you're a new person looking at this blog/podcast welcome, great to have you on board. If you don't have a set of pipes, then a practise chanter would do, in fact, I think would be better! So get to your local folkie shop and get a really cheap one. (Hobgoblin do them). I'll give more info laters, but please, please, loads of feedback. Use this tutor and let me know how it goes. Drop me a line and say hi too!!!!
laters!
Vicki

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Vicki,

Dowloaded the pdf twice -- I cannot read it with acrobat 5 or 6 as it says there is an error -- is is streamed or
something ?

Dave Singleton

Smallpiper said...

Hello!
Could you try it again? I've exported it again, still as a pdf. If it doesn't work this time I'll try a different file format. it works ok, so it could be a mac thing. Anyway, try once more and then I'll think of something else! Thanks for looking!
:-)
Vix

Anonymous said...

Hello again Vicki,

I can't get it to download now -- the link address is to intra-ultralab-net and I have no authorization to go get it. Sorry ---

Have a good weekend

Dave Singleton

Smallpiper said...

ahh, the server at Ultralab gets backed up every Friday night, so give it another go tomorrow. I'm sorry about that! I keep the podcasts there as I have more server space for my masters site. I've moved the pdf to my own webspace now though, so fingers crossed this time....

Anonymous said...

Hi Vicki,
It's downloaded, and it looks good -- I'll get back to you shortly when I have had time to go through it.

Dave

Anonymous said...

Hi Vicki,

I have read the first section and find it quite understandable, some good ideas and complete beginners should have little trouble finding their way around.

I have come up with th following comments,

page 2 where you invite the beginner to pick up the bag, maybe mention that one should not let the chanter dangle free --- the photo shows you are using the pipers safety grip -- chanter between the first two fingers and probably picked up the drone stock between the thumb and first finger ----

page 3 in the brackets -- and tune the chanter to that drone --- ?
tuning the drone -- the throb slows down as the notes get closer -- don't they ?

page 7 minims appear but don't get named until they get dotted on page 8

I have seen that Jack Campin has put up an old Clarinet tutor in jpg format on his site -- for the old 5 key clarinet, has some tunes as well

Keep at it -- have fun

Dave Singleton

Anonymous said...

Hi, Vicki!!

Any idea how often you'll be posting chapters?? I'm a GHB piper, but I find your book to be a very nice refresher so far. Helpful, too, as I do have a set of "Kitchen Pipes," which are pseudo mouth-blown smallpipes!!

Cheers,
Kevin

Smallpiper said...

Hello!
Thanks for all your comments! I'm taking note of them and adjusting. I plan on posting them up quite regularly. I'm about to start editing the second podcast now. So watch this space!
:-))
Vx

Anonymous said...

Dunfion Bagpipes has introduced a set of affordable smallpipes:

http://www.arransites.co.uk/bagpipes/new_for_2005.htm

available in the US through Aberdeen Bagpipe Supply:

http://www.aberdeenbagpipe.com/switchback/switchback.html

Hopefully I'll be getting my set by the end of the week!!

Cheers,
Kevin

Anonymous said...

Hi Vicki,

First let me congratulate you on an excellently produced project. So good infact you have pesuded me to take up the SSPs. I have been ditherring for some time now, reluctant to make the costly investment in a set of pipes. I play the accordion reasonably well having been trained classically many, many, years ago although I now play mainly traditional music The theory side shouldn't be a problem however, I am no longer a spring chicken and dexterity may be an issue. A local piper mentioned that he has a quality set of SSPs but didn't have time to play any more. I have made him an offer and hope to start soon. I'll let you know how I progress through your tutor.

Rod J.

Anonymous said...

My pipes haven't arrived yet but I bought a practice chanter last week and have progressed through first three chapters of your tutor without any problems. The biggest complication when praticing is keeping the chanter reed dry. Any suggestions.

Rod. J.

Smallpiper said...

I wish I did know of a way to keep the practise chanter reed drier. Maybe there's a hlighland piper reading who can gives us a tip!

Smallpiper said...

by the way, congrats on buying some pipes. I so hope you enjoy playing them!!!!

MajikPiG said...

Some bagpipe equipment distributors sell little sponge rings that sit around the chanter reed. They aren't perfect, but they do help reduce moisture. It's the only way I can keep playing on my practice chanter for any length of time. I play the GHB and I'm a wet blower, so I use these little sponges on all my reeds, practice or otherwise.

Thanks for the podcast. I have a set of "Practice Pipes" which are plastic mouth-blown pipes with two drones. Not great, but it works for now. So, what can I do when you play extra notes? Should I just wrap around?

Keep up the good work.
-Matt

Smallpiper said...

Hello Mr. Tartan TV.
Thanks for your comment, I generally only podcast tunes that I've written that only have the usual 9 notes in them. I don't think any have slipped through on the podcasts. If you fancy having a go at other tunes we've written, erm, then I guess, yes, just wrap around. If you let me know which tunes, I'll have a look and make a suggestion.
Thanks for posting!!!!!!!!
:)
Vx

Smallpiper said...

Sorry, I should have said Matt, or at least got the name right, tartanvision.tv, sorry!!!!!!
:)
Vx

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