SOTM: Brendan is in his Bag

Scotland’s national instrument, the bagpipes, produces beautiful music but is very difficult to play. A player must learn steady breathing, master complex finger movements, and maintain pressure within the bags of the instrument. These skills are the most challenging to master, according to sophomore Brendan Anderson. 

The bagpipes consist of a blowstick, which a player blows into like a mouthpiece; multiple drones, which are devices within the bags that create the humming sound omitted from the bagpipes; bags, which hold the air; and a reed within the pipes used for tuning. 

Brendan has been playing since the first grade. Brendan’s father, who also plays bagpipes, sparked his interest in the instrument. Brendan says that “it was hard at first and it took about 6 months to learn, but now if I play regularly then it is easy.” 

It is very rare to find someone who plays bagpipes today. There are a scarce 10,000 players in Scotland and only around 100,000 players in North America. Only Europe and North America have a significant population of pipers, and in Europe they are primarily located in Scotland. 

In addition to playing the bagpipes for fun, Brendan also plays in a band that competed in the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) World Championships. The championship, held in Glasgow, Scotland, featured 283 total performances. Although he enjoyed the experience, Brendan  “will compete in the regional competitions” for now, “and probably go back to the worlds in a few years.”

Bagpipes are a rare instrument, which makes it hard to find others who play. Brendan has become very close with the pipers in and around Charlotte and enjoys the community centered around his unique hobby.

Brendan performs during a WCNC feature on International Bagpipe Day