Cracking the Millstone, Part I: Bagpipe Competitions Are Dead by Vince Janoski

It’s spring approaching summer here in the eastern US. And you know what that means? That means the Highland games and bagpipe competition circuit has begun in earnest. Many pipers are eagerly pressing their kilts, spending hours of practice time, and preparing their instruments for…well, another year of the same merry-go-round of MSRs, piobaireachds, and [...]

The Passing of Donald MacPherson by Vince Janoski

It’s a sign of the passage of time when the great ones embark on their journey to Tir nan Og. Donald MacPherson had his heyday long before the internet, so most of us must be content with the experience of seeing him in recital, or hearing the tunes on “A Living Legend.” Even in his [...]

Pipehacker Review: Treacherous Orchestra by Vince Janoski

When you first look at their album cover for Origins, Treacherous Orchestra appears as if it is just the latest thrash metal group or DJ-dance-hall-fusion-electronica band. Never would you suspect an ensemble that pays a great deal of homage to their Celtic traditional roots and puts forth a sound that is like a Scottish country [...]

Bagpipes: You’re Doing It Wrong by Vince Janoski

Most people who are not exposed to matters of Highland bagpiping have an image of bagpipers that includes a dandily dressed man in a skirt, making sounds akin to a tortured goat. Yes, there are a few who claim that the bagpipes will bring a tear to their eye, but it is likely a tear [...]

The Bagpipe Happiness Principle by Vince Janoski

Time is money, they say. If that is true, then what are you spending your money (time) on? “They” also say money can’t buy happiness. But I disagree. If you spend smartly, you can use your hard-earned cash on things that will improve and/or add value to, your life—the things that will bring you closer [...]

Having Fun = Great Bagpiping = Having Fun by Vince Janoski

One of the best times I ever had listening to celtic music was at a Fest Noz in St. Malo, Brittany. The informal gathering was all music and dance and the players on stage were having as much fun as the dancers on the floor. The music was brilliant. It’s hard to create that kind [...]

Pipehacker Hits the First Year: The Music Is Yours by Vince Janoski

It’s hard to believe, but a full year has passed since the very first post here on Pipehacker. In that time, there has been a tremendous amount of posts covering the inner workings of the bagpiper, a handful of projects for the handy DIY piper, a bunch of small tunes, and a lot of good [...]

EUSPBA Grade 4 Piobaireachd = Tuning Up for FAIL by Vince Janoski

The eastern piping competition season is well underway and bagpipers across the seaboard are busy practicing and working hard to make good music. it’s easy in the hubbub, though, to lose sight of the nitty gritty that has a tremendous influence over our activities. One such pile of grit was the kerfuffle over the recent [...]