boise bagpiper and teacher

Boise bagpipe performer and instructor Bob McMichael is currently accepting new students in the Boise, Idaho area, and via Skype to students outside Boise.

The standard rate per lesson is $30 for one hour at the Piping Centre or via Skype.

For lessons at other locations, such as your home, rates will vary depending on distance from the Piping Centre (which is located, fittingly, in the Highlands of Boise just off Bogus Basin Road).

Beginning instruction overview:

For students new to the bagpipes, regardless of whether you have any experience on another instrument (which does help), all students begin on the practice chanter (pictured at left). After acquiring a certain degree of competence on the practice chanter students are ready to move to the Great Highland Bagpipes. This is a difficult transition even for the best and most gifted students, and requires a serious commitment to the instrument (not least because a decent set of bagpipes will cost over $1000).

Bob can assist any student in selecting a decent set of new or used bagpipes, as well as offer suggestions on where to purchase them. If you already have a set of bagpipes but have not played them, he can evaluate them and help you set them up and get them into good playing condition.

Learning to play the bagpipes is one of Bob’s most satisfying achievements. Teaching others and sharing his passion for the instrument and its incredible music and culture is equally gratifying. Bob’s only regret is that he did not learn them at an early age.

If you’ve been thinking about learning the pipes, there is no time like the present!

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