Patience

I did not compete at Loch Norman due to my back injury. I canceled my room at the Holiday Inn, emailed the pipe competition director, and canceled attendance to the Piobaireachd Enclave. I went to an MD and got Vicodin (pain) and Flexoril (muscle relaxer). I have visited my chiropractor several times and I'm finally getting relief. I'm surprised how playing the pipes put a strain on the back muscles. The highland games at Bridgeport are next weekend, May 5. I had planned to play a full piobaireachd, but I must have patience with my recovery. I don't want to sacrifice a complete healing just to play at the games in Bridgeport. My next possible competition would be the McHenry Games in Garrett County, Maryland. We'll have to wait and see. I'm keeping an optimistic outlook.

Injury.........drat!

I had to cancel my scheduled lesson on April 9. A back injury flared up again. Very agonizing, VERY.

I was able to have a good practice on Thursday. I recorded and critiqued myself on Friday. I played Struan the best I have played. I was very relaxed, didn't over blow or squeeze too hard. Didn't rush the music. Relaxed grip on the chanter for most of the tune. Crunluath is still a work in progress, but slowly improving.

Hiharin is coming along. I think I've had the chanter turned "out" just a little and it was making my birl sound funky. I've got a mark on the stock and chanter (used white out) to line the chanter correctly.

Next Saturday, April 21, is Loch Norman. My first competition. I'm looking forward to Monday's lesson. I need some final tweaking and wisdom from Winkie.

More Tweaks

I have continued to work on the crunluath (and will, for awhile) with emphasis on Winkie's exercises with a metronome. Practice, practice, practice, correctly, correctly, correctly. I'm getting more comfortable playing the crunluath, now I have to refine it.

Still working on the high G with an A gracenote. The gracenote should be a chirp, just as the G gracenote. I'm continuing to work on this.

Taorluath doubling. Last bar of each line, the last 2 notes are a cut A and then a D gracenote on A. Cut the first A, don't round.

I recorded myself several times and reviewed. When I get the adrenaline going, I don't blow steady. I've been working on steady blowing when I'm pumped up. During the tune, I noticed E was the main culprit, just a little unsteady. Also, don't play too fast when the adrenaline is going. I can also start with the crunluath, play the whole tune and end with the urlar with no problem with endurance.

I used a Naill ABW chanter with a McCann reed and it was at 475 on Monday. I spoke with Winkie about using an old Hardie chanter that tuned at 468. She likes the lower tuned pipes, but commented the judges don't. The lower tuned chanter would sound dull to the judges.

Next lesson is on Monday, April 9 at about 8:15 pm. That will be 4 in a row, a record. Loch Norman is April 21.