Learn the Bagpipes
Customized Bagpipe Lessons for Any skill level
From casual players to competitive soloists to bagpipe band settings - the lessons are tailored to equip students with the skills needed to develop and improve their bagpiping performance. Piper Jonas has taught beginning students with no musical experience to those who have played the bagpipes for years looking to sharpen their playing.
Lesson Plan
Depending on starting point and the student's goals, lessons will be customized to address the following skills:
Reading music - notes, rhythm, style, etc.
Finger placement
Bagpiping embellishments and movements
Learning tunes and developing a repertoire
Music memorization
Music theory
Sight-reading music
Transitioning from the practice chanter to bagpipes
Starting and stopping the bagpipes (i.e. "attacks" and "cut-offs")
Steady blowing and maintaining tone
Solo competition preparation and critique
Performing in a band/ensemble setting
Lessons are designed to teach technical skills and music learning in parallel - allowing students to begin playing music earlier than other forms of instruction. This format not only achieves the same mastery of piping embellishments found in traditional instruction, but also becomes a motivational tool as students are able to apply their learning faster.
“Taking lessons from Jonas has been so satisfying as he has made the process enjoyable and has helped me make such quick progress. He brought me from the beginning basics all the way to performing on my own and getting me to my first win at solo competition.”
Practice Chanter and Instruction book
Rhythmic Fingerwork by James McGillivray
When considering practice chanters - there are basically four options to choose from: regular and long lengths made in either polypenco or blackwood. While adults can use either length, it's recommend that regular length chanters be used for younger children
For the material - polypenco is more durable and considerably less expensive while blackwood is more attractive and can have a more pleasing, woody sound.
Students are also recommended to purchase Rhythmic Fingerwork by James Macgillivray (commonly called the "Green Book") as it contains all of the embellishments and exercises needed for a beginner or novice student. Copies generally cost $40-45 and contain a CD that helps students hear proper execution of the exercises.
Rates
First lesson is always complimentary before deciding to commit
In-person lessons in Brentwood: $50/week (or $160 monthly with a ~20% discount)
In-person lessons in Williamson County (outside of Brentwood): $60/week (or $190/month)
Virtual/remote lessons: $40/week (or $130/month)
Workshops and competition prep: please call 615-330-3050 or email bookings@piperjonas.com.
location
In-person lessons are provided at Piper Jonas’ residence in Brentwood, TN. Piper Jonas may be able to meet students elsewhere in Williamson County or adjacent counties* subject to maintaining a regular meeting schedule and additional travel fees. Online lessons are also offered outside the immediate area given the student has a high-speed internet connection, but young beginners and even novice players may find in-person lessons to be more beneficial, especially when working on the full bagpipe set.
*Davidson County, Rutherford County, Marshall County, and Maury County.
References
Available upon request.