One-to-one lessons (online) : £25 per 25 minute lesson

Thanks for your interest in learning Scottish bellows piping with Lindstruments. Lessons are currently offered as one-to-one online sessions with Lindstruments’ founder, Donald WG Lindsay.

Donald was the founding tutor of the Scottish smallpipes evening class at the College of Piping, Otago Street (Glasgow) (later the National Piping Centre, Otago St), which was established in 2017 by the College of Piping in collaboration with the Lowland & Border Pipers Society. He is a former Convenor of the Lowland & Border Pipers Society, and a critically acclaimed recording artist on Scottish bellows pipes.

Beginners & prospective smallpipers: a clear foundational pathway on the practice chanter, with a “melody first” approach that links ear, voice, and musical phrasing — suited to the styles and contexts Scottish smallpipes excel in.

Intermediate & advanced bellows pipers: guided exploration of repertoire and style. Scottish smallpipes don’t really have a single “home repertoire” — that freedom is one of their strengths — and I can help you build a repertoire and aesthetic that fits you and your instrument.

Lindsay System players: structured modules for beginners and for experienced pipers transitioning across from Highland bagpipes, border/lowland pipes, or standard smallpipes. If you intend to play the Lindsay System and you’re starting from scratch, your journey will begin “from the ground up” with a course on the practice chanter, with content specifically tailored as a route into bellows smallpiping.

For intermediate/advanced pipers moving to the Lindsay System, the work can be tailored to your goals. I’ve used this chanter in concert and on tour (including major UK festivals), in the studio (including for award-winning Scottish films My Old School and Being in a Place), and on recordings including History of Sleep (experimental), Welcome Home My Dearie (traditional Scottish folk), and Two Boats Under the Moon (contemporary Scottish folk). Between us, we’ll work out where you want the music to go — and how to get you there.

Book a slot using the calendar on this page. You’ll receive a confirmation email with the call details and any prep notes.

What we can work on

• Setup & sound: reeds, pressure, steadiness, and “what good sounds like”.
• Subject areas offered (pick what suits you):

• Introduction to Scottish smallpipes (beginners)
  • practice chanter basics
  • bellows technique
  • setup and maintenance
  • learning by ear (includes working with voice)
  • smallpipe aesthetics
• Transition to Lindsay System (intermediate/advanced)
  • Lindsay System fingering specifics
  • Note-at-a-time approach (each new tune & topic introduces a “new note”)
    • exploring the new low range
    • exploring the new high range
    • exploring the new semitones
• Skills building & technical exercises
  • exercises for the low range
  • exercises for the high range
  • exercises for the semitones
• Gracing & ornamentation
  • an approach to gracing for smallpipes
  • ornamentation for the low range
  • ornamentation for the high range
  • ornamentation for the semitones
• Improvisation and creative exploration
  • diatonic drone-based improvisation
  • an intuitive approach to composition
  • free / atonal expression on smallpipes
• Tuning & troubleshooting
  • adjustment of fundamental scale notes
  • adjustment of flea-hole notes (semitones)
  • dynamic tuning of the high range
  • common pitfalls and bugs
• Repertoire & style
  • tunes as diagnostic pieces
  • stylistic influence from other traditions
• A little theory for the Lindsay System
  • understanding keys and modes for pipes
  • introduction to harmonics for smallpipes
  • understanding chanter scale intervals & options

Who can I offer lessons for?

• complete beginners on the chanter
• pipers crossing over from other systems
• players who want cleaner technique and more reliable tone
• builders/owners who want help getting the instrument behaving

How it works

• Choose your lesson length and book a time.
• We meet on a video call.
• You tell me your aims and your current level.
• I’ll listen, diagnose, and give specific, playable fixes you can apply immediately.

What to have ready

• Your pipes (if you have them) or a practice chanter
• A tuner (phone tuner is fine)
• A chair, good light, and a phone/laptop that can hear you clearly
  (A headset mic helps.)

After the lesson

If you’d like, you can send a short recording afterwards and I’ll confirm you’re applying the fixes correctly.

Rescheduling

If you need to move a booking, use the reschedule link in your confirmation email. Please give 48hrs notice of cancellation if you wish to receive a refund.