Many Average Pipers struggle to learn new music. They can pick up a new song on the radio in minutes. They can also sing along with the oldies from 50 years ago without forgetting a single word! If I sang out “There she was just a-walkin’ down the street, singing…” there’s not a one of them that couldn’t finish the line in proper pitch and melody. But put a new piece of music in front of them and weeks later they still rely of the sheet music. Why is this? Let’s examine one possibility.

Many pipers look at the notes and try to remember the sequence. They analyze the note values and dots and cuts and embellishments. They may even visualize the sheet music in their heads, trying to memorize the notes without understanding the music that the notes are singing! By not connecting to the MUSIC they are left with little confidence in how the tune is supposed to sound. One wrong note takes them completely off track.

My advice is to put the chanter down. Look at the first two measures only and figure out the melody within. Hum it a few times to get a sense of the tune. If you have an audio recording sit back, close your eyes, and listen. Hum things to yourself a few times. Try to sing the melody (in your head) without thinking about doublings or gracenotes. Now pick up your practice chanter and refer to the sheet music. I recommend that you eliminate all but grace note embellishments. Let your fingers play the basic melody. Go over this a few times to lay some groundwork and muscle memory. If you want to work full embellishments into place, do so but not to the detriment of the melody.

Once you can play the first two measures without looking at the sheet music, go onto the next two measures. Do the same. When you can comfortably play the first two measures and the second two measures, you can now link them together. Go over this a few times to “cement” the melody into your head and fingers.

Now you’re ready to look at measures 5 & 6. In many instances, these will be the same or similar to measures 1 & 2. Lastly look at measures 7 & 8. These will be very important and may repeat through the tune. Learn them well. They make a statement. Play them as such.

Only when you have the first part baked into your head and your hands should you go onto subsequent parts. Otherwise you’ll only confuse yourself and totally impede your ability to learn the tune. As you work through the tune, you’ll discover that certain phrases are repeated. There is both logic and rhythm that transforms the notes into MUSIC and helps you to memorize the tune!