If you are new to the bagpipes, it can be very daunting! No worries. This page will attempt to lay out an order of operations in order to get you from novice to a full member of the band. Some of these things can be done simultaneously as it will take many weeks or months to really get a scale or embellishment under your fingers.

1. Purchase a book and a practice chanter

2. Learn the first scale

3. Learn the second scale (g grace-note scale)

4. Learn the third scale (doubling scale)

5. Learn grips and play through the 4th scale

6. Learn the D throw

7. Learn the tune Balmoral - Memorize it when you can.

8. Learn the tune Castle Dangerous - Memorize it when you can.

9. Try and play Castle Dangerous into Balmoral on the practice chanter from memory.

10. Learn the Tarlouath

11. Learn Murdo’s Wedding

12. Learn Blue Bell’s of Scotland

13. Learn the Rown Tree

14. Learn Scotland the Brave

15. Play Murdo’s Wedding, Blue Bells of Scotland, Scotland the Brave, and Rowan Tree from memory