I started to learn the bagpipes in 1990, shortly after the death of my older brother.  It was at the request of my mother that I learn them, as a way of honoring the memory.  Living in Virginia Beach, I was fortunate to have an instructor with a lot of patience.  He pushed me to get my fingering right and I practiced daily on the chanter then on the pipes.

When I left Virginia, I fell in with a 1745 re-enactment group, the Appin Regiment. This kindled my quest to learn the history of the bagpipes and to write the articles found in this web site. During this time I concentrated on historical songs and learning how the pipes were played prior to 1745.    This is also the time when I developed my love/hate relationship with pipe bands.

I was fotunate enough to be stationed in Edzell Scotland for 2.5 years.  While there, I was adopted by a local pipe band, The Royal British Legion Montrose band. Once again, I worked on my fingering and my timing. The pipe major was a great instructor as were several of the pipers.  It was here that I was introduced to the world of Piobaireachd.  

I also joined a re-enactment group while in Scotland, The White Cockade.  With this group, I was able to travel around Scotland and pipe in some very unique places.  As a group we visited Edinburgh Castle, Sterling Castle, Colloden Moor, Sheriffmuir and many other historical sites.  

I traveled around Scotland extensively and my pipes always went with me.  Sometimes I played just for myself, other times, unexpectedly I would be asked to play for others.  One such occasion, I played for the 15^th (Scottish Volunteer) Battalion, Parachute Regiment.  My wife and I were staying at the same location as the regiments dinning-in.  They heard my pipes and approached me to play for them, they were a little shocked by me being an American but seemed to enjoy my piping.  I truly enjoyed the time after, talking in the bar to these men, learning the history of the regiment and just getting to know them.  They were all truely heros of WW II.

Now, back in the states, I am again going to be enjoying historical re-enactments.  Playing the pipes and of course updating my histroy of the pipes when I find new or updated information.