SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The Northwest Territories Pipe Band Association is recruiting new members to play the bagpipes at special events.
Longtime piper Lori Clark said prior experience isn't necessary - just an interest in learning, as it can take several years to become proficient at playing the wind instrument.
Clark said she became involved about eight years ago after hearing the bagpipes on Canada Day.
"It's stirring," she said. "There's something about it."
Aspiring pipers who decide to enrol with the band will start with the basics by learning what is called the practice chanter, according to the association's website.
The chanter is where the piper puts their fingers while playing the bagpipes. Starting out this way allows beginner pipers to concentrate on learning the proper fingering and helps develop mouth muscles for blowing, the site says.
The basics also involve learning the basics of scales, some easy tunes, typical embellishments and instructions on how to read sheet music.
Once comfortable, the learner graduates to the pipes.
The association website says this shift is also a big learning curve.
It involves getting used to tuning and playing with drones (the pipe which acts to harmonize the rest of the pipes) and inflating and squeezing the bag.
Band members have to learn to march at the same time, in step with the rest of the band.
The bagpipe is also a quintessentially Canadian instrument, according to Clark.
Scottish immigrants brought the bagpipe over from Scotland as a way of preserving their culture in the 18th century. Clark said she moved to the U.S. for a couple of years and didn't hear a single bagpipe while she was there.
Aside from the hard work involved with learning to play the bagpipe, Clark said joining the group is a great chance to socialize with new and interesting people.
"It's really different from other groups," she said.
"You meet people from all walks of life that you normally wouldn't meet. We play along with everyone really nicely."
The association is holding an information session on Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at Northern United Place.
