Andrew Hayward

My Poor, Poor Bagpipes [Edited]

Just now I have encountered the rudest person who has ever interrupted my bagpipe practice. She said her name was Queenie and that she was my neighbour. It seemed that she had nothing to say for a while, until she asked, "Can you play those things somewhere else?" I said nothing.

"...Every time you start up everyone says, 'Oh there goes that [blank] with his [blank] pipes.'" I was deeply shocked but still I said nothing. She went on to say, "It ruins our afternoons. I mean, it's OK what you're doing, I guess, but there's a reason why the piper's club is way up on Serpentine Ave where no one can hear them." She also threatened to call the noise control if I continued.

Needless to say, I was hurt by this encounter. Keeping in mind that this was the first time we had ever spoken to one another, I felt rather grumpy afterwards.

What am I to do? I was enjoying the freedom to play on my deck in the sun. I never play at 7:00 in the morning or late in the evenings. I am a musician trying to practice his instrument. It's my passion and it drives me more than almost anything else. Damn! I wish I lived in the highlands of Scotland.

I shall have to find somewhere else to practice...

www.andrewhayward.co.nz

This week in Piping

Well, on Tuesday I attended a meeting of the City of Dunedin Pipe Band. Although it's their 'off season'(there are no upcoming pipe band competitions), they are happy to train me for a concert they are preparing for after Queen's Birthday weekend.

On Wednesday I had my weekly leson with Geoff Hallberg, who taught me the science behind tuning a bagpipe. He showed me how to set up a chanter reed, and how the alteration of only one note can effect the entire chanter. He has given me some reeds to experiment with this week. I have already set up one - but how well I have done so, I'm not too sure. Inspection of my reeds will be next Wednesday.

I have started additional piobaireachd lessons with Bill Robertson via Skype. Former Pipe Major of the 1st Batallion Royal Scots, Bill has over 60 years experience in piping, with training from the Army College of Piping (i.e. from Willie Ross, a famous bagpipe composer and performer), and piobairachd training from Donald MacLeod (the most celebrated of all 20th century pipers).

www.andrewhayward.co.nz

Music at Otago 28/02/11

Well I made it. It has been about eight months since I started applying for universities and after a somewhat laid-back holiday of working and learning to drive,  today I was shoved back into action with a powerful force. After only one day of lectures, I believe I have a good idea as to which of my papers will be most interesting and enjoyable for me, and which of my papers will bring my mind to ultimately explode.

Nonetheless, it's good to get back on track with my academic goals, and to plant the seeds of greatness from which I will reap in my musical career to come.

View more of my photos on Flickr:

www.andrewhayward.co.nz

Pipe Lessons and Orientation Week at Otago

Lectures at the University of Otago don't start until next week, so this week has been filled with student events on and off campus in what staff, students and other locals call "O'Week".

I haven't been to any concerts or clubs during O'Week, except on Thursday this DJ set up near where I was sitting in the sun, and started a party around me. I have, however, been on campus everyday, trying to get lost somewhere, then seeing if I can find my way back again. At least I know where all the music buildings are, so I won't be late for lectures next week.

Since arriving, I have had two pipe lessons with my new tutor, Geoff Hallberg, who as it turns out, I have met before. Perhaps I met him at one of the RNZPBA summer schools or in the Auckland & District Pipe Band practices sometime. I know he will be a good influence on me, for he can tune my bagpipes so well that I sound like another piper entirely. He has me working on two piobaireachds: The Little Spree and MacIntosh's Lament. No doubt he will have me competing with those by April!

I haven't heard from the Pipe Major of the City of Dunedin Pipe Band yet, but Geoff says many student pipers my age play with their bands, so I do think it is the best band for me.

www.andrewhayward.co.nz

Octagonal Day: Dunedin's Pipe Band Competition

Feeling right at home this weekend, I enjoyed watching and listening to many of the South Island's highland bagpipe bands competing in the Octagon. From what I recall of the annual RNZPBA Summer Schools, South Island piping is 'interesting' and kind of 'weird', but yesterday and today I was quite impressed with many of these South Island pipers and their pipe bands. I especially enjoyed the Canterbury Caledonian Pipe Band, and the City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band, both of which played rollicking strathspeys in their MSRs, and one of them, I think, played Mrs. John MacColl - a favourite 2/4 march of mine.

This is the City of Dunedin Grade 2 pipe band. I am told they have 3: a grade 2, a grade 4 and a juvenile band. I would like to join their grade 2 band, partly because they wear one of my family tartans, Gordon, but mostly because it has been a while since I have played in a pipe band and I feel my technique is getting a bit sloppy.

In all, this was an excellent weekend of piping. I only wish I could have bought some haggis for my dinner.

www.andrewhayward.co.nz

My Homepage: www.andrewhayward.co.nz

I have been working on a little project over the summer, and I am happy to announce that it is finally ready for viewing!

My homepage is www.andrewhayward.co.nz. I hope this site will help me promote myself as a piper and tutor in Dunedin.

Some changes to appear in the next few months:

• Audio clips of my wedding, corporate event and funeral repertoire;
• Videos and photos of some of my events;
• More detail about the hiring process;

That's all for now.

World Famous

This month, I appeared in my work's staff newsletter for playing my bagpipes around back last Thursday.

I am really looking forward to university this year : )

Photos from Sir Lachlan MacLean's Visit to New Zealand

Photos from The Butterflies' End of Year Recital

Sir Lachlan MacLean's visit to New Zealand

This week the 28th hereditary Chief of the Clan MacLean visited New Zealand to meet members of the Clan MacLean Association of New Zealand. I dressed up in my highland regalia and greeted Sir Lachlan at the airport with a 6/8 march on the bagpipe called Redford Cottage. I then attended afternoon tea with the Chief and other members of the Clan MacLean committee at the Heritage Hotel in Auckland. Unfortunately, no photos are available yet, but I will post them another time.

Last Friday night, I piped at a reception for Sir Lachlan at Government House and spoke to many MacLeans from across the country. Here is a photo of the Chief and myself:

I will post more photos as I receive them.