The long & short of it...

As a kid I was drawn to Highland bagpipes any of the rare occasions I heard the instrument being played -- which was mostly on an old 33rpm record in my folk's collection.  Growing up I displayed a knack for rhythm and singing, and frequently filled the house with all sorts of creative and often bizarre sounds and impersonations.  When concert band became offered in elementary school -- around fifth grade -- I became a percussionist, but still had a desire to learn how to play this unique instrument I grew up hearing in passing.  With my parent's help, we looked for a local instructor, but couldn't find anyone, so I continued in the percussion section through junior high.

We later became aware that one of the high schools in my home town had a Scottish theme and mascot, and also had it's own pipe band as an elective class.  Since I wasn't in the right zone to attend this school, my parent's and I petitioned the school district to be allowed to attend; I received the transfered I sought, and my dream began.

I played throughout most of my high school career (Fall '88 - Spring '92).  Similar to a lot of people when it comes to school and musical instruments and performance, I dropped it all as soon as I picked up my diploma -- I didn't want to, but unfortunately it was a matter of need.  For the next six years or so I never stopped thinking about piping.  I had a few false starts trying to get back into it, I even joined one of the local pipe & drum corps, but due to a lack of time or practice, things never gelled.

Around the late 90's I had become a fan of a local Celtic-rock band that featured Highland bagpipes -- I both enjoyed the music out of personal familiarity with the instrument, but also pined to start playing again.  During the summer of 1998 my sister announced her marriage for the following spring, and asked if I might get back into playing to perform at her and my brother-in-law-to-be's wedding.  This came as the right kick-in-the-pleats to get me going again.

I called one of my former instructors toward re-starting lessons and was quickly back underway.  Over the next 10 months I worked like crazy with the intent to be able to at least passably pull off playing the ceremony.  Ultimately, by the time of their wedding, my playing ability was better than I predicted it would be.  This event turned out to be the springboard I needed -- to get started again as I had desired and a goal to drive me -- and I've been going strong ever since.

Now, simply, I want to play until I cannot play any more.

Since returning to piping, I have played in 2 local pipe & drum corps, traveled to Canada for training through Simon Fraser University's world famous pipe band, traveled to Scotland and NYC to play in parades of 10,000 pipers and drummers raising money for cancer research, I have become a studio musician, I instruct when time permits, and I play with a growing pipe band I co-founded June 2006, John Cunningham Memorial Tartan (Alumni?) Pipes & Drums.  Additionally, inspired by a series of jam sessions I did with various percussionists between Summer 2004 and Spring 2007, I started my own Highland bagpipe/drum kit/percussion project Winter 2006 now called Nae Regrets.

In 2003, through a series of occurrances and suggestions, I was turned on to the idea of recording albums.  This has taken off for me -- it has driven my playing ability and musical creativity like nothing before.  Although its been slow building, I am well into my first recording project, and at last count I have concepts for nine albums that could follow.  Additionally, I have made contributions to two other albums -- a domestic Latin-pop album, and a Greek art-metal album.

Watch out -- the only way for me is up!


I remember my folks taking me to the performance of a British military pipe & drum corps on an American tour when I was quite young.  After the show, a number of the performers came out into the foyer to meet their audience.  Excited, I broke away from my parents and ran up to one of these men -- I believe he was the drum major, decked out in Scottish military regalia, and stood the better part of seven feet tall.  I wasn't much taller than his kneecaps; I looked up at him in awe and could only muster saying "Wow!".

Its said that everything comes full circle; often when I'm playing out in public, little kids run up to me and do the same thing I did all those years ago.  I have to wonder now, and I'm humbled to think, which of these kids will someday start to play pipes or drums, remembering that tall piper they looked up at from his kneecap height and said, "Wow!"