Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
- rorybbellows
- Posts: 3195
- Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:50 am
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 10
- Location: the cutting edge
Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
I’ve been asked this question a few times and I’ve given it a bit of thought on how it might be possible to have an educated guess by adding up NPU and other club memberships but I’m not sure if this would be an accurate way of going about it.
Any suggestions on an valid guesstimate method, or whats your guess ?
A few years ago I heard there was 3000 members in NPU.
RORY
Any suggestions on an valid guesstimate method, or whats your guess ?
A few years ago I heard there was 3000 members in NPU.
RORY
I'm Spartacus .
- KevinCorkery
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:39 pm
- antispam: No
- Location: Bethesda, Maryland. USA
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
I don't think I know any NPU members here in Wash DC. I know of half a dozen pipers and there is probably a few closet pipers. I don't know how you could estimate.
- straycat82
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2005 12:19 pm
- antispam: No
- Location: Arizona
- Contact:
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
I would imagine that there are many pipers who can't afford the NPU dues (such as myself this year) but there are also probably some NPU supporters who can afford and do support the organization even if they aren't pipers. Seems like it would be an inaccurate source to use, even for an estimate.
-
- Posts: 913
- Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:11 pm
- antispam: No
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
You could get some insight (not firm numbers, mind you) by investigating how many active pipe makers there are, how many sets they make in a year, and also how many dealers in used pipes there are, and what kind of turnover they have.
By establishing the size of the pipe market, you could get some idea of the number of pipers by making assumptions regarding how many sets transfer outside of the market (i.e., from father to son), the ages of pipers when they start piping, how long pipers live, how many no longer pipe but still own pipes, and so forth.
You'd end up with a range. The accuracy of the range would depend on the accuracy of the assumptions and the quality of the research. It's not perfect, but it would give you an idea.
Another idea for investigation would be to survey teachers of pipes and find out how many students they have.
By establishing the size of the pipe market, you could get some idea of the number of pipers by making assumptions regarding how many sets transfer outside of the market (i.e., from father to son), the ages of pipers when they start piping, how long pipers live, how many no longer pipe but still own pipes, and so forth.
You'd end up with a range. The accuracy of the range would depend on the accuracy of the assumptions and the quality of the research. It's not perfect, but it would give you an idea.
Another idea for investigation would be to survey teachers of pipes and find out how many students they have.
- tommykleen
- Posts: 1686
- Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2002 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: I am interested in the uilleann pipes and their typical -and broader- use. I have been composing and arranging for the instrument lately. I enjoy unusual harmonic combinations on the pipes. I use the pipes to play music of other cultures.
- Location: Minnesota, Birthplace of the pop-up toaster
- Contact:
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
Piper/mathematician John Walsh made an amusing calculation some years ago factoring in land-to-surface ratios and such to get rough estimate. Must find that! I think he came up with a number around 3k.
t
t
- BigDavy
- Posts: 4885
- Joined: Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:50 am
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: Larkhall Scotland
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
Hi Rory
It would be a nice job of calculation, and using NPU membership would likely seriously underestimate the number of active or inactive pipers.
In my opinion, the number of uilleann pipers is only going to increase, as the instrument is increasingly coming into the radar of the GHB fraternity.
David
It would be a nice job of calculation, and using NPU membership would likely seriously underestimate the number of active or inactive pipers.
In my opinion, the number of uilleann pipers is only going to increase, as the instrument is increasingly coming into the radar of the GHB fraternity.
David
Payday, Piping, Percussion and Poetry- the 4 best Ps
- CHasR
- Posts: 2464
- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:48 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Location: canned tuna-aisle 6
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
not as long as there's a 7-10 year waiting list.BigDavy wrote: In my opinion, the number of uilleann pipers is only going to increase, as the instrument is increasingly coming into the radar of the GHB fraternity.
GHB pipers are used to instant gear gratification.
worldwide,
I guess 5 per million. Is there a prize?
- rgouette
- Posts: 761
- Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2001 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
~Jesus of Nazareth - Location: Maine
- Contact:
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
I almost hesitate to ask, but what does constitute a piper?
Someone who owns a set, and...well.. plays them?
cause in the GHB world, I know when a feller ISN'T a piper....
Someone who owns a set, and...well.. plays them?
cause in the GHB world, I know when a feller ISN'T a piper....
- MTGuru
- Posts: 18663
- Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:45 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Location: San Diego, CA
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
Is 5 ppm an acceptable level of contamination?CHasR wrote:worldwide, I guess 5 per million.
Vivat diabolus in musica! MTGuru's (old) GG Clips / Blackbird Clips
Joel Barish: Is there any risk of brain damage?
Dr. Mierzwiak: Well, technically speaking, the procedure is brain damage.
Joel Barish: Is there any risk of brain damage?
Dr. Mierzwiak: Well, technically speaking, the procedure is brain damage.
- Doc Jones
- Posts: 3672
- Joined: Sun May 12, 2002 6:00 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Location: Southern Idaho, USA
- Contact:
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
I don't play them worldwide, only in Idaho.
'Course we'd have to come to a working definition of "play".
Doc
'Course we'd have to come to a working definition of "play".
Doc
Doc's Book
Want to learn about medicinal herbs?
Doc's Website
Want to become a Clinical Herbalist? Doc's Herb School
Want to learn about medicinal herbs?
Doc's Website
Want to become a Clinical Herbalist? Doc's Herb School
- KAD
- Posts: 224
- Joined: Tue Mar 16, 2004 1:27 pm
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 1
- Location: on the other side of the pine lands
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
Well, but the closet pipes are a completely different instrument. I don't really think we should lump the two together.KevinCorkery wrote:I don't think I know any NPU members here in Wash DC. I know of half a dozen pipers and there is probably a few closet pipers. I don't know how you could estimate.
KAD
- Mr.Gumby
- Posts: 6629
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:31 am
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Location: the Back of Beyond
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
When I became a member of NPU membership hadn't reached 400 yet. The mile and a half stretch of the road up to my house has maybe 15 houses. There are five pipers on that stretch. Tommy Reck told me how someone asked Seámus Ennis if he knew a piper called Tommy Reck. 'No' replied Ennis 'but I know a Tommy Reck who owns a set of pipes'. I haven't taken the pipes out of the house once in the past four years, does that make me a closet piper? And does it matter if it does?
Does it mean anything at all? Don't ask me.
Does it mean anything at all? Don't ask me.
My brain hurts
- CHasR
- Posts: 2464
- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 8:48 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Location: canned tuna-aisle 6
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
personally Ive always favoured the time-honoured guild distinction of, "mastercraftspiper, journeypiper, aprentice-learner. "KAD wrote:
Well, but the closet pipes are a completely different instrument. I don't really think we should lump the two together.
KAD
(or if we want to be surly, "superior, mediocre, and brutal" pipers.)
either way, anything but that "grade 5 thru open" bs.
SO...whats the prize. A staple or something?
- rorybbellows
- Posts: 3195
- Joined: Sun Dec 14, 2003 7:50 am
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 10
- Location: the cutting edge
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
If you want to know the facts you just got to ask the right people,so I phoned The lovely Ladies at NPU and they reckon that worldwide there are 6000 people who play the Uilleann pipes.
RORY
RORY
I'm Spartacus .
- Ceann Cromtha
- Posts: 883
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:03 pm
- antispam: No
- Please enter the next number in sequence: 8
- Tell us something.: I’m changing my location to my actual address. My previous location was a reference to Joyce’s Finnegans Wake.
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland USA
Re: Worldwide how many people play the Uilleann pipes
Thanks, that's good to know. Did you ask them how they came upon this number?