Mr D.

Personal:

I am married to my Carolyn, who also is a music teacher (singing and piano). I have four children and five grandchildren, two black Labradors called Bryn & Islay and a Bichon Frise called Willow (AKA The Princess!). I live near Mold, North Wales. I am 66 years old.

I enjoy reading, the countryside and taking our dogs for walks.

Tuition:

Learning to play the bagpipes is not something that you can do quickly. You need to learn the correct techniques right from the beginning. I offer an understanding approach to the learning challenges of playing the bagpipes and use a 'brick by brick' building approach to learning. I try to make the lessons fun and set small (but achievable) challenges for your home work. Every lesson is tailored to an individual's learning ability. Some students pick up the basics quickly, others not quite so fast, but it really doesn't matter as I will teach you at your own pace.

I use a well tested syllabus which covers both the practical and theory aspects you need as a learner. This syllabus has seen my students go from complete beginners, to competing (and for some) winning their category in on-line piping competitions.

Ideally 'face to face' tuition is always best, however, for students who live more than 1 hour away, I use Zoom for their lessons. I also recommend the use of WhatsApp to share videos and encourage students to share videos of their progress inbetween their lessons. This enables me to check on their progress and give feedback on errors so they aren't practiced and memorized. I am also able to send instructional videos so students can see the breakdown of finger movements and gain a better understand to the rhythym of tunes and exercises.

In the 10 years I have been teaching I have taught all abilities, including a number of students who have had learning difficulties and PTSD.

Experience:

I first learnt to play the bagpipes 45 years ago at the College of Piping in Glasgow. I later received tuition from Willie McKay, Crieff, P/M Andy Renwick (Vale of Atholl Pipe Band), Dougie McCance (finalist in The Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2017 & Red Hot Chilli Piper), Harry Richards and Kyle Howie, both also full time pipers with the The Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

I was a member of the Gleneagles Strathearn Pipe Band (Grade 3 World Pipe Band Champions) for 8 years. I am currently Pipe Sergeant of the Wirral Pipe Band which is under the leadership of P/M Chris Eyre and is based at Moreton on the Wirral.

As a member of the The Wirral Pipe Band, I have played on stage with Andre Rieu, The Chieftains and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers. I was also part of the Massed Pipes and Drums at the City of Liverpool Tattoo 2018 and the British International Tattoo Massed Pipes and Drums.

Most of my piping time is spent playing at weddings, funerals, Burns and St Andrew Nights and a variety of celebrations, and of course with The Wirral Pipe Band on events.