On the other hand, I think it can be useful to have the drones going when you’re learning because it helps you realize when you’re not playing your chanter in tune, and it also helps train you to keep steady bag pressure. When I was playing a practice set I never quite grasped the fact that the higher notes of the first octave (A, B, C) will be flat if you use the same amount of pressure that you can use to get the lower notes, and I was always playing out of tune. With the drones going, I can tell immediately if I’m not using enough pressure. Furthermore, playing a chanter alone allows you to get away with things (like relaxing the pressure a bit) that you can’t get away with when the drones are going, so it might lead to habits that you’d have to unlearn later on. When I’m learning a tune I usually leave the drones off, but then practice it quite a bit with the drones going and it definitely helps.
Added some picture to the top. 
Doc
Lovely set there Doc!