Teacher wanted for help on Full Set (central or north Texas)

mattpiper · Post by **mattpiper** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:57 pm

Hello! I just received my wonderful full set of Seth Gallagher pipes, and while being extremely impressed by the tone and workmanship of the instrument, I am finding I need help playing the regulators--mainly in simply reaching them! I have been experimenting and have begun to find some ways to make it work... But I know an instructor with experience on a full set would make the process much, much easier!!

I live in Austin, TX, but I travel regularly (like every week) to Dallas, TX and was wondering if there was anyone in either city that is proficient on a full set of UPs and would be up to providing me with some instruciton on these bad boys.

Many thanks!

PJ · Post by PJ » Tue Dec 05, 2006 2:44 pm

Until you find your instructor, here's a link to some information on reg playing.

djm · Post by **djm** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:45 pm

See the new NPU DVD - The Art of Uilleann Piping Volume 4 - with Seam McKeon. It is entirely about regulator playing. He starts out with playing one reg, and adding the others later.

djm

mattpiper · Post by **mattpiper** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:57 pm

Thanks for the link! Good stuff--I'll try out this evening.

And I've already picked up the NPU DVD (I had meant to mention that in the initial email), which is great--but the section on posture and positioning is a little short... I'm still having issues even getting to the regulator--but thank you for the suggestion!

I don't have the 3rd volume of the NPU series (not on DVD yet, and I no longer own a VCR), which says i includes some regulator info in it, and was thinking it may have more on positioning in there...

No E · Post by **No E** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:14 pm

Hi Matt,

You might try using a shoulder strap (around the mainstock and over your left shoulder) to help bring the reg keys within reach.

No E

PS-glad you're enjoying the set.

Steve Turner · Post by **Steve Turner** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:27 pm

No E wrote: You might try using a shoulder strap (around the mainstock and over your left shoulder) to help bring the reg keys within reach.

I agree.....I use an old belt around the drone stock to help keep the pipes positioned such that the regulator fall 'easily' to hand. I try to position myself such that the middle regulator keys are my 'home' position, so to speak. Reaching for the lower notes on the regs is facilitated by moving my shoulder to pull the pipes up slightly and the higher notes are reached by a reverse action. Its tricky...no doubt about it, but the extra dimension that the regulators bring to the music is well worth the effort.

In my experience, it'll take you a little while to find a comfortable position, but once you do, your manipulation of the instrument will naturally adjust and before you know it, you'll be gaining more and more confidence on the regs.

Good luck and if I can offer any further advice, please feel free to ask

Steve Turner
www.pipesofireland.com

Kevin L. Rietmann · Post by **Kevin L. Rietmann** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:38 pm

Ramone Martin is in Austin or Houston, I forget which. My email disintegrated and I can't get at his address. Ramone's cool, he played the Downfall of Paris on the phone for me once and he can regulate quite well. He has pipes by Woofe and Angus, not to mention a homemade wardrobe, lots of shortbread, stuff like that. Wayne Williams (?) is in the same town. John Liestman's in Houston I think, perhaps he'll chime in.
You shouldn't regulate until you can play the chanter OK though, or the results will be hard on your listener's ears. Playing the regs while chantering is like, I don't know, driving a car and shooting a gun at the same time.

Wanderer · Post by **Wanderer** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 11:13 pm

Kevin L. Rietmann wrote:Ramone Martin is in Austin or Houston, I forget which. My email disintegrated and I can't get at his address. Ramone's cool, he played the Downfall of Paris on the phone for me once and he can regulate quite well. He has pipes by Woofe and Angus, not to mention a homemade wardrobe, lots of shortbread, stuff like that. Wayne Williams (?) is in the same town. John Liestman's in Houston I think, perhaps he'll chime in.
You shouldn't regulate until you can play the chanter OK though, or the results will be hard on your listener's ears. Playing the regs while chantering is like, I don't know, driving a car and shooting a gun at the same time.

Ramone was in Houston when I lived there, about 3 years ago.

The only UPer I've ever seen in Dallas sessions was visiting from out of town..

Cayden · Post by **Cayden** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 3:47 am

Kevin L. Rietmann wrote:Ramone Martin is in Austin or Houston, I forget which.

groan, the man with the videocam glued to his eye

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 4:04 am

Ah hell Matt, give it up... and more importantly, give me the set.

liestman · Post by **liestman** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:38 am

Matt please see your privates.

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:40 am

liestman wrote:Matt please see your privates.

Why? I am certain he is quite familiar with them.

patrick Jacob · Post by **patrick Jacob** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:07 am

Steve Turner wrote:
No E wrote: You might try using a shoulder strap (around the mainstock and over your left shoulder) to help bring the reg keys within reach.
I agree.....I use an old belt around the drone stock to help keep the pipes positioned such that the regulator fall 'easily' to hand. I try to position myself such that the middle regulator keys are my 'home' position, so to speak. Reaching for the lower notes on the regs is facilitated by moving my shoulder to pull the pipes up slightly and the higher notes are reached by a reverse action. Its tricky...no doubt about it, but the extra dimension that the regulators bring to the music is well worth the effort.

In my experience, it'll take you a little while to find a comfortable position, but once you do, your manipulation of the instrument will naturally adjust and before you know it, you'll be gaining more and more confidence on the regs.

Good luck and if I can offer any further advice, please feel free to ask

Steve Turner
www.pipesofireland.com

I don't agree !

Better play without a shoulderstrap as Mikie Smith tought me. The regs have to be in possition. And if you want to be fast on the regs, move your leg. Just look at Mikie Smith when he play the regs without a shoulderstrap. But start with the middle reg and put the two other a little to the side. The start is a bit tricky but believe I can't play pipes without regs anymore.

Patrick

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:14 am

patrick Jacob wrote:
Steve Turner wrote:
No E wrote: You might try using a shoulder strap (around the mainstock and over your left shoulder) to help bring the reg keys within reach.
I agree.....I use an old belt around the drone stock to help keep the pipes positioned such that the regulator fall 'easily' to hand. I try to position myself such that the middle regulator keys are my 'home' position, so to speak. Reaching for the lower notes on the regs is facilitated by moving my shoulder to pull the pipes up slightly and the higher notes are reached by a reverse action. Its tricky...no doubt about it, but the extra dimension that the regulators bring to the music is well worth the effort.

In my experience, it'll take you a little while to find a comfortable position, but once you do, your manipulation of the instrument will naturally adjust and before you know it, you'll be gaining more and more confidence on the regs.

Good luck and if I can offer any further advice, please feel free to ask

Steve Turner
www.pipesofireland.com

I don't agree ! Better play without a shoulderstrap as Mikie Smith tought me. The regs have to be in possition. And if you want to be fast on the regs, move your leg. Just look at Mikie Smith when he play the regs without a shoulderstrap.
Patrick

Different body types require different techniques. There isn't anything wrong with a shoulder strap, especially for flat sets which are larger, heavier and the reg keys are generally a little further away from the heel of the hand than concert sets.

Like with many aspects of this instrument, there is no hard and fast rule regarding playing. As long as it is not interferring with the ability to play correctly, whatever style or aid one uses is fine.

A few Pipers of Note who use a shoulder strap:

Robbie Hannan
David Power
Tommy Martin
Brian McNamara...

pudinka · Post by **pudinka** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 8:52 am

Wayne Williams (?) is in the same town

...wasn't Wayne Williams the serial killer of children in Atlanta back in the '70's? or am I thinking of John Wayne Gasey, Jr. in Chicago...or Elmer Wayne Henley in Houston? I can't keep them straight, though I should know this.