There any pipes instructors in the New England-ish area? I finally got my set and am doing alright with it (even if it did decide to be in a whole new key yesterday, leaving me befuddled as to what I should do about it) but am seeking out some kind of instruction before I unwittingly give myself too many bad habits.
Is there anyone?
Check the piping links on Seth Gallagher’s website for pipers near you. Also, this site has a City index forum which will give you details of sessions near you.
i’m in boston
pat hutchinson is in rhode island
suzanne ward, bruce childress in maine.
benedict kohler in vermont.
There are others, but these are the folks I’m most familiar with.
Eric
“New England-ish area”
How new is England? Seeems to me it’s been here a pretty long while
ar an drochuair…
I’m far from an expert piper, but I’m in NJ, as is David Power
Are you in Maine? If so, you might be interested in knowing that there’s a pipers club in Quebec. We usually meet in Montreal every two months. We’re planning another meeting for Feb.5.
I am in Western Massachusetts.
In addition to instruction in playing the things, which actually isn’t going too badly, I desperately need help with my reed, which has decided it hates Western Mass. I don’t really know how to fix it. While I agree with my pipes that Ireland is way better than South Hadley, MA, I have to deal and so do they.
Um, yeah, so I need help (but we all kinda knew that…)
You bought pipes in Ireland and brought them to US? Welcome to the world of unpredictable reeds. My practice set was made in Dublin and I’m now living in Canada. The first year was crazy. I went from having a beautifully sounding chanter in the morning to having something that sounded like a cat being killed by a lawnmower by lunchtime. I had some reeds made by Joe Kennedy of Ontario. They have been much better behaved. It may be a coincidence. It may be proof of reed fairies or life after death or whatever, but I certainly agree with those who maintain that there is a difference between pipes and reeds made in Ireland and those made in North America.
It is a simple matter of reeds being made in and for the area in which they will be played. Reeds made in Ireland will most certainly sound a lot different in Canada or the US…yes, they’re a fickle beastie dem reeds is. 
I hope you’re taking full advantage of Mr. Power’s presence Antaine? If you aren’t taking weekly lessons from him you should seriously think about it.
Good luck,
Patrick.
You beat me to David I was going to say him.