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 [...]

The 30-Day Bagpipe Challenge by Vince Janoski

Matt Cutts works at Google. He also has a blog where he is currently documenting his many months of attempts to regularly try something new for 30 days. The idea is a not new. It has been applied to everything from weight loss to photography. Even bagpipers have gotten into the act. Some time ago, [...]

Unleashing Your Imaginary Bagpiper by Vince Janoski

There is a great quote by Franz Liszt: “Think 10 times, play once.” Franz Liszt was a virtuouso. A musician who amazed even his peers at the time (e.g., Wagner, Shumman) with his musical abilities. So when someone of such prodigious talent utters such a line, take note. It’s the kind of quote that could [...]