I began piping in August 2001. It started with a newspaper ad that said "Free Bagpipes Lessons." I progressed quickly, passing most of the band in just a few months, and moving from the practice chanter to the full pipes after only a couple weeks. I played with the band for several years, eventually serving as the band's pipe sergeant.
In 2003, the band offered me the opportunity to take outside piping lessons. They set me up with John Ryan: a former sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Pipe Band and retired open-grade piper. I took lessons with John every week for about two years before he declared that he'd taught me just about everything he could and that I was at the point where I was able to progress on my own without significant instruction. I continued going down to visit and play with John after that, although we didn't do structured lessons. John passed away in 2013. I hadn't seen him in about a year - grad school got in the way. I'll always remember those long, music and story-filled afternoons in Johns basement, as well as his prediction on what would happen when I started participating in solo competitions again: "You'll pound 'dem into the ground, Steven."
John was right. In 2018, after a five-year hiatus, I began playing again and registered for solo competition. I scored above grade marks at my first games, and received a mid-season upgrade. On a judge's advice, I joined a local pipe band and sought out a new teacher - landing with a well-known Premier-grade piper. I swept my second games with above grade marks across the board and received another mid-season upgrade after my third games, hitting Grade 2 halfway through my first season. Now, I continue to learn as I rebuild my chops and move forward.
In 2003, the band offered me the opportunity to take outside piping lessons. They set me up with John Ryan: a former sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Pipe Band and retired open-grade piper. I took lessons with John every week for about two years before he declared that he'd taught me just about everything he could and that I was at the point where I was able to progress on my own without significant instruction. I continued going down to visit and play with John after that, although we didn't do structured lessons. John passed away in 2013. I hadn't seen him in about a year - grad school got in the way. I'll always remember those long, music and story-filled afternoons in Johns basement, as well as his prediction on what would happen when I started participating in solo competitions again: "You'll pound 'dem into the ground, Steven."
John was right. In 2018, after a five-year hiatus, I began playing again and registered for solo competition. I scored above grade marks at my first games, and received a mid-season upgrade. On a judge's advice, I joined a local pipe band and sought out a new teacher - landing with a well-known Premier-grade piper. I swept my second games with above grade marks across the board and received another mid-season upgrade after my third games, hitting Grade 2 halfway through my first season. Now, I continue to learn as I rebuild my chops and move forward.