New to the Bagpipes?
You’re exactly who this course is for.
Learn to Play the Bagpipes Now!
Start at the very beginning with a clear, beginner-friendly path to your first tune.
Just one note at a time.
What you will know how to do after completing this course.
Assemble and maintain your practice chanter.
Play with correct finger position.
Play every note on the bagpipe scale.
What gracenotes are used for and how to play them.
Read bagpipe music.
Play your first ‘movement’.
Play your first tune.
This course is specifically focused on these goals to set you up for a lifetime of successful piping.
“I’ve been a musician all my life. I had many teachers for voice, recorder, piano, clarinet, saxophone...and I wish John had been my teacher for all of them. He is patient, persistent, demanding, understanding, supportive, funny, encouraging...everything a music teacher should be. I showed up not knowing where to put my reed...and ended up creating my own pipe band and competing in Scotland, all under his guidance. Thank you, John!”
Still not sure if this course is for you ?
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Master the Foundations of Great Bagpipe Playing
This step-by-step course is a detailed introduction to the core techniques that all bagpipe music is built on.
Rather than rushing ahead, it gives you the tools to understand why things work — so you can confidently identify and fix issues in your playing, not just now, but throughout your lifetime as a piper.
Across 14 carefully structured video lessons, you’ll be guided from the very first day you pick up a practice chanter all the way to playing your first tune with solid, reliable technique. Nothing is assumed, and nothing is left to chance.
Every exercise and musical example is explained in clear, practical detail, so you always know what you’re working on and why it matters.
This course removes the guesswork from the most important early stages of your piping journey and sets you up with habits that experienced pipers spend years refining.
If you want a strong, confident start — built on clarity, precision, and understanding — this course is designed for you.
Testimonials
““Our thirteen year old son has been a student of John Allan’s for the past five years. John is a knowledgeable, patient and engaging teacher who has encouraged our son to take his piping to the next level. It has been an incredibly rewarding journey.””
New Pathways to Piping Beginner’s Course
A clear step-by-step process with video and time stamps you can re-watch and reference as many times as is helpful for maximum support.
An instructor who for over 30 years has guided hundreds of successful pipers through this exact process.
A breakdown of each action in piping music so you can understand everything that is going on at a fundamental, digestible level - one small action at a time.
Who is this for?
Beginners
You bought your first practice chanter and you don’t know what to do next.
You want a detailed step-by-step course to set you up for success in your piping journey.
You like to watch videos that give clear examples of how to play with the correct technique.
You like to learn through techniques that have already been proven to work.
You want to learn from a teacher with over 30 years of experience teaching pipers of all ages and abilities.
Advanced Beginners
If you feel like you skipped over some basics and would like to review.
Understand what you are playing on a deeper level or have it explained in a different way.
Teachers or New Teachers
Teachers who would welcome these videos as a supplement for students to study.
New teachers who would like to draw on a wealth of experience generated from over 30 years of teaching.
What’s inside?
A fourteen-lesson course that ensures you receive the correct information to build solid technique so you can create quality music for the rest of your journey.
Learn to read piping music through a step-by-step method.
Play with clean technique and understand why you are playing what you are playing.
Proceed at your own pace, ensuring each step is mastered before moving on to the next lesson.
You don’t need to have any musical experience to become a bagpiper.
You only need to be drawn to play the instrument and have a willingness to practice.
Start this course today and immerse yourself in the clarity and direction it offers.
Your piping journey can start today!
“In the time I’ve been with John he has brought me from an absolute beginner, getting the foundation well set, which he is very good at, to being able to play in a grade 5 pipe band as their pipe major and currently a grade 3 pipe band player.
I am also competing as a grade 3 soloist at local Scottish festivals in Southern and central California and Arizona.He always makes sure I’m fully understanding the instruction of the moment before moving forward.
This approach has always paid off, as evidenced by encouraging comments from judges that refer back to John’s excellent methodical instruction.”
Frequently asked Questions
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Not at all. This course is designed for complete beginners. You’ll learn how to read pipe music, understand rhythm, and develop proper finger technique step by step.
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The bagpipes are unique — but they’re absolutely learnable with the right structure. Most people struggle because they try to do too much too fast. This course breaks everything into manageable pieces so you can progress confidently.
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Most students begin producing clean notes on the practice chanter within the first few weeks. Real progress comes from consistent short practice sessions, not marathon rehearsals.
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No — and you shouldn’t.
You’ll start on a practice chanter, which is affordable, quiet, and perfect for learning proper technique. Full pipes come later, once your fundamentals are solid.
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Not at all. Early learning happens entirely on the practice chanter, which is apartment-friendly and much quieter than full bagpipes.
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Even 15–30 minutes a day is enough to make steady progress. Consistency matters far more than long sessions.
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Every piper — even professionals — started exactly where you are now. This course is built to guide you carefully through each stage so you never feel lost or overwhelmed.
Progress comes from small wins, not perfection.
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Yes. You’ll learn the core techniques that all bagpipe music is built on, allowing you to play tunes properly — not just memorize finger patterns.
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Absolutely. Strong fundamentals are what bands and audiences care about. Many students go on to solo piping, performances, and pipe bands after building a solid technical foundation.
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Bagpipes are very technical. Trying to self-teach often creates bad habits that are hard to undo.
This course gives you clear structure, demonstrations, and guidance so you build correct technique from day one — saving years of frustration.tion