A bagpiper in the family

Our family has always been very into our Irish heritage. We love the music, culture, food and spending time at Irish Festivals.

When Aiden was about 5 years old he decided he loves bagpipes. That year we went to Disney World and all Aiden wanted to see was the Celtic Rock band "Off Kilter". He listened to their CD all the time, knew the words to all the songs and would hum along with the bagpipes. The day we were to see Off Kilter at Epcot, Aiden came down with a bad fever. We ended up going to Florida Hospital by ambulance. During one of the afternoon shows, my mom told Jamie Holton (the bagpiper) about Aiden and what happened. Jamie gave my mom his contact information in case Aiden didn't make it back for the last show and said he would come to our hotel room to meet him! We did make it back for the last show, right when they were playing Aidens favorite song: Run Run away. After the show, Aiden got to go on stage and meet Jamie and the rest of the guys. He LOVED it! It pushed him over the edge, he fell completely in love with bagpipes and vowed to become a bagpiper when he grew up!













Two summers later, we returned to Disney World. Aiden was now 7 and still in love with piping. He couldn't wait to meet Jamie again and talk to him about what is the best age to start learning bagpipes.

Watching Off Kilter in the rain. He wouldn't miss it for anything!

                                                         Serious bagpiper talk

   Aiden (wearing his When I grow up I want to be a bagpiper shirt) and  Jamie Holton from Off Kilter.

After our Disney Trip, Aiden was determined to find someone to teach him to play bagpipes as soon as possible. After searching many Irish festivals and talking to a dozen teachers, we found the Lochaber Pipe Band only 15 minutes from home and they offer free lessons for anyone wanting to learn!

We bought Aiden his chanter (which is the mouth piece and fingering area of a bagpipe which you learn on) and he started lessons in October. He caught on very very quickly. Within a few lessons he was reading the music and quickly learning the fingering.

Aiden has been taking lessons for almost 7 months now. He LOVES IT! He is also very very good. He is learning all the intricate techniques and has already learned a few songs, including Amazing Grace. Because he is still young, he won't get his own set of pipes for another 4 years or so. There is a lot still to learn (bagpipes are one of the hardest instruments to learn) and he has to be bigger to have the arm muscles to work the "bag".  He swears he will be patient, he gets excited at every weeks lessons and can't wait to grow up and be a "professional bagpiper!"