I'm a member of Firefighter of Tampa Bay Pipe and drums. I'm a piper and love it. We have 17members.

Sorry it took me a while to find this joint...

Does anyone know where I can get a Nomex Kilt? I've checked a ton of tartan and kilt webpages and have been unable to find one. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Kyle short answer is No... any bands who wear kilts of Non tartan wear PBI material... I believe the idea popped up and the local distributer was approached who called the factory which along with I believe scotchlight ( I think)
got behind the project 100%... the material was shipped and a KILTmaker manufactured the PBIkilts along with scotchlight reflective markings....So you see how it came about... Youcould also try the same sort of path butI dont know ifits worth the trouble for a singlekilt or not, JIm

Thanks for the information. I'll keep looking and hope I stumble onto something. Thanks again.

while some of the midwest bands hooked up with the "PBI girls" at the FDIC to get material to make kilts I decided to do something totrally dissimilar ... since I am wearing my 3rd generation gear my old FDNY style long coat was going to be scrapped so I decided to begin with giving it a good washing, removed the liner, have been removing the reflexite striping and I found a Bagpipe cover maker who is willing to make a pipe bag out of my old turnout coat, and stripe it with the reflexite being a history buff and knowing the coats life experiances first hand it seemed like a cool thing to do when I get it back made up, I'll share the pics and bag makers info ..

Kyle, I talked to the southeastern rep, for Utilikilts. I believe if you can get the material they will make it for you. You can check their website www.utilikilt.com and see. If they do let me know I want one too. Good luck If you need anty help just let me know. Be safe, keep training.

Hello all new to the bagpipes and just got my practice chanter didnt realize it was that much different than a tin whistle

Hello all,
I'm a retired Battalion Chief and am now playing with NCSU Pipes and Drums, her in Raleigh, NC.
http://www.ncsu.edu/pipesanddrums/

love hearin those "old" pipes!

The pipes make my blood boil. Love em!

me too William!!!

How do I go about getting 4 t-shirts from you guys? I have a friend that is Batallion Chief in Romeoville that is looking to join your group sometime this summer and I would love to get him and his partners a frew shirts. Thanks in advance! barb

Barbara, you will need to be a bit more specific... which band group are you looking for or at ? All in all there are over 130 firefighters pipe band groups out there.... if your talking to Joe Ryan about NCSU's pipe band click his link or the band link. :)

Band of Brothers..UGH..what I do for people...LOL

Hi Barbara,
Follow this link to the FDNY's Fire Store.
They have t-shirts, polos and hats for sale. FDNY Fire Zone is the OFFICIAL store run by the FDNY Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation established to fund Fire Safety in New York City and the professional development, training and education of members of the FDNY.

http://www.firezonestore.org/emeraldaisle.html

Joe

Keep on Rockin them PIPES!!!!!

Aye Ladd , wish I was.

Gigahertz checking in...

I'm a Vollie out of Rickreall, Oregon and a beginning piper. In fact, my instructor is starting to think I am beginning to get on his nerves! I can't say too much about my instructor, he's already on the board here!


Stay safe!

Gigahertz

hi there from sunny South Africa i am a full time firefighter who recently started a small pipe band in our area we are self funded and just enjoy playing the pipes we have 3 pipers and 2 snare drummers and a bass we are not an official department band but we have played on a few occasions for parades etc great to have a group dedicated to one of the best instruments there is , keep safe and keep playing .regards sean

Love the pipes! Bought a chanter years ago. Now that I've found this group, I think I'll go look for it and dust it off!
John Martin
Burke VFD, NY

Hey John!

You're right! No time like the present to break out that chanter and learn it.

It will help if you get yourself a good teacher, like I did. Maybe if I compliment him enough here, he won't figure out that I haven't practiced this week. LOL

Gigahertz

I am a vollie out of Vermont. I just got my Chanter a few days ago and I am trying to learn it. I think for three days I am doing pretty well. If anyone has any tips or advice I would appreciate it.

Hey Bill , the best advice I can give you is don't rush through the lessons. I know we all want to get this going and get on to the next lesson but take your time. A good foundation of clean fingerwork and muscle memory will keep you on the path of success. Watch those crossing notes from E to D, Pipe out!

me gustaria de corazon pertenecer al grupo de las gaita carlos de argentina

Hi there, great to know the existence of this group. Just bought a practice chanter myself. It's hard work, I found out. Trying not to rush it, but really eager to move on. Anyhow, bagpipes and fire department is a rare combination here in Holland. You're really lucky over there. Salut

Good Evening, I'm a probe here so please forgive me. I have just got back to playing after aproximately 35 years of not playing. I found a new set of pipes and they're in pretty good shape. Can't say as much for me but, I'm getting there. I have to echo the thoughts of the other poster to you newly taking up the pipes practic, practice and then ptractice some more. I started in 1963 playing. Thanks and hope to hear from you guys

Thanks for the message Jerry,
I felt like a NONO. Fingering the chanter is hard to master.

Aye, it 'tis. But stick with it and it will come. As I've gotten older (65) and the arthritis is trying to settle in the fingering gets a wee bit harder, but I keep doing it. Like you I'm glad they've got this group to hang out with. I have been asked to join the West End Fire Department Band in Paul, Idaho and I'm going to give it a shot. Might be after the first practice with them they may invite me to quit lol

i love the pipes. I would love to see if there is a band here in Charleston.If not get one up.

After 35 years of being dormant and just going back to them, I can guarantee that there are a flock of weak muscles, especially in the face. My lovely bride was giving me a bad time until she picke 'em up and tried. She said she's got more respect for the pipes now

our fire chief, one of our firefighters and myself marched in the city of palatka, fl. christmas parade last night as members of the ancient city pipes and drums. what a great night!!

Richard, I hope there is video.

I have to toss this out. I really wanted my old set of pipes working again so I decided to try something I have never done. I took the synthetic bag out of the new set I bought and tied it into my old set. Amazingly they don't leak. And the African Black Wood sounds better to my old ears than the rosewood. My own thoughts any way.

To all of you Brothers and Sisters Merry Christmas, be it a safe one.

Kevin from South Carolina there was an attempt, is the best way to refer to it, In fact there was a guy a couple years ago who was a transplant from Long Island or just around NYC I dont recall, who was either a member of this group OR the other Bagpipe group on FFNation, he was asking for advice and help, but never came back.. its not the easiest undertaking in the world But its not too hard considering 10 years ago Darrol's Band In Oregon was the only one in the NW now there are 12 or 15 groups in Oregon Washington , Idaho... and thats just a single region....

Jerry, the biggest issue in changing bags is obviously making them tite, just as on a leather Bag.. In the 1st generation gortex bags the drone stocks were fit into a rubber grommet and often these would leak by, which could be taped off, I Currently have 2 sets of shepards both with L&M leather bags and a set if mouth blow small pipes with leather, my newist set has a hybred zipper bag.. like the old school synethetic it just feels goofy, I Like the solid leather feel, even if it means seasoning ... ( I do all of them at one time.. )

Jim, I think I got lucky as they don't leak so far. I have no idea what brand my pipes are as I've had them for about 50 years. My dad gave them to me in 1962 or '63 The old original bag was as hard as a rock since I hadn't done anything for nearly four decades. I'm slowly getting in shape and playing longer each time and have even opened a drone. Maybe in another week or two I may attempt another drone. I don't ever plan on playing in competition or anything like that. I just play for self gratification and keeping with my family tradition. I have at least one son that is learning to play. I may break down later and buy a new leather bag and rebuild the rosewood set for my son to start out on. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks for the comment back I appreciate it.

Hello everyone, I have been involved in honor guards on the past but never as a piper. I am interersted in learning the pipes and drums but I don't know where to start. Can anyone help. Are there grants to develop honor/color guard for fire dept. etc. Thanks!

Hello Kevin, 1st off I am not from Nor have i been anywhere near your state so, In that respect forgive any apparent stupidity on my part..:) I glanced at your profile and I gather your a Volunteer, and I dont have issue or anything, I say this because the Career state organization Has a large Honor Guard, with Pipers and drummers around all over the state (Pretty much).. so the "good thing" is a whole lot of potential around to find possible teachers etc.. The committment required to play the pipes anyone who's here who plays will tell you it is a committment every day one has to Practice and once one begins the actual PIPES even more so. you see the Piper uses a "practice Chanter" to learn to play and learn tunes forever, each "new" movement or tune is learned on the PC and eventually played on the "pipes" Chanter , the bagpipes are unique in that clarinets and Sax's you Play a single reed while an Oboe plays a double reed... and the Bagpipes you play 3 single reeds and a Double reed in the chanter which is quite a bit of lumber to make vibrate, IT takes skill to finger learn and it takes time to develop Your diaphram and lips and breathing, its like anything you would hear in woodwinds and Brass section 's worst thing for each all together BUT its not at all "HARD" if your truely determined to join the world of Bagpipers who do It TO HONOR they're brothers... if its truely something you know that you can set aside ultimately an hour a day to then you could most likely do it, I've known guys who work mutiple jobs and side jobs who practice in the Bathroom because of the family , at lunch at they're real world jobs go out in the car (warm weather) and Practice the firehouse for Career guys is great do you have a place you can go an play when NO ONE wants to hear you skin a cat?
..lol The pipes are awesome I never successfully learned to play about 6 ot 7 instruments as a Kid, I took up the pipes 1990 and never looked back.. what about them excites you? because down the road that excitement is something you will have to dig out and brush off quite often if you want to get through it.. ARe You still game? =8^p

Good Morning Kevin, I echo Jim's comments on learning to play. I started playing inteh mid 1960's and then set them aside for a long time (My Bad) I'm working on getting the skills back and I mean working :-). I am fortunate that I have an extremely supportive wife. If I don't practice she reminds me and I head to the bedroom and practice. As Jim said it is a commitment that you make if you want to play. I play because it's part of my heritage and because I love to hear the pipes. I would like to wish you success and hope you enjoy playing as much as I do.

Kevin!

I've been playing now for almost 2 years and I consider myself a beginning piper. There are two things that you will need to consider when you take up the pipes, time and money.

You will need to invest the time to play the bagpipes well. This means practicing every day. The practice chanter isn't bad for volume, but your family might protest a bit on the pipes. I practice after work in the Fire Station. My instructor has been encouraging me to start practicing in a City or County park.

Money is also a consideration. Bagpipes start out cheap and rapidly go up. A plastic practice chanter will run you between $50-80. A set of plastic pipes will run you about $800. I was adding this up yesterday and to outfit a piper will run you $1500-$2000.

If you're still serious about it, find an instructor. A good instructor will make or break you playing the pipes. I would not recommend learning the pipes on your own. It can be done, but it is HARD. I was extremely fortunate to find one of the best instructors around.

Good luck to you and lemme know if you have any more questions!

hmmm lets see, 3 sets of GHB 2200.00 and 1500.00 a set of scottish small pipes @ 600.00 2 kilts with full plaids , 4 tunics, 2 horsehair a leather day and a evening sporran, 4 or 5 styles of hose tops , 3 sets of spats 2 glens one diced, one black 1 feather bonnet Various Hackles & Cock feathers and Feather bonnet feathers, aussies shepards and croziur reeds 2 P/M Cases 1 soft, a nd a complete Military library orginal and reprints, BMW gold software I could have bought a car instead

Since we're discussing investments, I just ordered a new set of kilts, plaid (both in Royal Stewart, horsehair sporran and chain, sgain duhb, hose and spats. A wee bit of an investment. Time, gravity and fair amount of ale over the past 45 years has taken it's toll on my old set of kilts, They shrunk!