Junior Masterclass
The National Piping Centre Junior Masterclasses
Advance Your Piping
The NPC Junior Masterclass is a three day course with optional residency, delivered by our World Class teaching staff. It is structured to help inspire and aid the development of promising young pipers you have advanced beyond novice standard and are currently on their journey towards the highest levels of piping. Some of the topics include:
- Competition, performance and exam preparation
- Piobaireachd and Light Music lessons
- Refined tuning and tonal development
- Refined pipe band craft
- Playing with other instruments and musicians
- Music writing and theory (using software)
- Reedmaking and manipulation
- Sit a PDQB exam (find out more here)
Advanced young pipers, broaden your knowledge and take your piping ability to The Next Level
These courses are aimed at small group lessons, to be booked through a school programme, pipe band or other piping contact. If you are interested in booking a Junior Masterclass programme there should be a minimum of three students in the group, so please ask your piping group leader to get in touch with The National Piping Centre for more information.
For more information email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0141 353 0220
Fees and Bursaries
Tuition and accommodation fees are available upon request.
The National Piping Centre is committed to providing equal opportunities for all young players and should financial assistance br required to cover attendance costs, we will be happy to provide confidential information to explore all funding opportunities available for you/your child. Bursaries may be available. Please get in touch to find out more.
For more information email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0141 353 0220
Accommodation
Housed in our beautiful B-listed building, The Pipers' Tryst Hotel is a hone-from-home located in the heart of Glasgow's vibrant city centre. All 8 bedrooms are equipped with en-suite bathrooms, large flat screen TV , radio, hairdryer and tea and coffee making facilities.
Our award-winning Scottish restaurant uses only the finest local produce to create a variety of delicious dishes with a Scottish twist, with our Pipe Major's breakfast being a favourite among guests.
For more information email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0141 353 0220
Learning Resources
The National Piping Centre has some fantastic learning resources which you can use to help you on your piping journey. We have our printed tutor books available from The Bagpipe Shop here. On this page you will find links to our downloadable tutor books from Apple by Ceol Mor Software, our Bytesize Bagpipes course for young beginners, the videos that will guide you through the Highland Bagpipe "Green" Tutor Book and the music clips for the Piobaireachd Tutor Book. As well as this, take a look at Noting the Tradition, a heritage lottery funded project which saw interviews conducted with people from the piping world.
TNPC Complete Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book
Watch short video clips to help you learning experience as you go through The NPC Complete Highland Tutor Book
Bytesize Bagpipes
Bytesize Bagpipes is a short course of videos for complete beginners aged around 8 and up. This course is designed for absolute beginners to teach them the very basics of the practice chanter, with fun exercises to go along with it
Digital Resources
Find out more about the downloadable tutor books which are available for Apple iPads and iPhones through Ceol Mor Software.
Highland Bagpipe Tutor One Videos
Hear and see instructional videos to support the lessons in The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book One "The Green Tutor", as taught by Colin MacLellan.
TNPC Highland Bagpipe Piobaireachd Tutor Book
Listen to sound clips of movements and more as part of your Pioabireachd learning experience with the Tutor Book
Noting the Tradition
Listen to interviews with people from across the piping world with this Heritage Lottery Funded project.
Hearing Protection
The National Piping Centre requires all students to use hearing protection at all times when playing pipes. Hearing protection is available for purchase in our shop or free of charge from the earplug dispenser in both our piping school venues.
If you are a beginner player or seasoned performer, you should still look to protect your hearing as much as possible. This document gives more information about hearing protection for beginners.
For more advice on hearing health for musicians, please visit hear for musicians at the link below.
This video from the Scottish Schools Piping and Drumming Trust produced this video with Jono Heale, an ex=professional musician who is passionate about hearing protection
Bellows Evening Classes
We are delighted to announce that The Bellows Evening Classes are back with a re-vamped course, led by Fionlagh Mac A’ Phiocair which will take place at the National Piping Centre on McPhater Street on Tuesdays from 6pm starting on Tuesday 16th of January 2024 for pipers aged 18+. The 10-week course costs £110. The Current Term of Bellows classes runs until Tuesday 18th of March 2024.
The classes deliver a mixed learning approach which combines group learning with 1-1 tuition.
For people interested in getting started, Transitioning to Bellows is the perfect class to learn the foundational skills of playing bellows.
For more experienced players, the Extended Techniques class will have a focus on exploring your own musical voice, through alternate
ornamentation.
Both classes will include the following content:
- Ornamentation on Bellows Pipes
- Maintenance
- Oral Tradition – Learning by ear
- Finding your own voice in Piping
- Discussing Sessions: Etiquette & Repertoire
- The 1-1 tuition is an opportunity to explore your piping in any
- direction.
- There will also be an opportunity for people to come together and play tunes, in a session environment and have some fun!
Book now at the link below. If you have lessons booked and would like to look at your account, please click Customer Account below, and you can login from there.
When you click on your preferred option, a date range will appear. Please select Tues 15th Jan, which is highlighted with a small blue dot. This will allow you to move to the next screen and complete your booking process.
Book Evening Class Customer Account
Looking for information about our regular Evening Classes? Head to this web page to find out more
Piper aged 17+Under? Take a look at our weekend piping club information here.
Hearing Protection
The National Piping Centre requires all students to use hearing protection at all times when playing pipes. Hearing protection is available for purchase in our shop or free of charge from the earplug dispenser in both our piping school venues.
Find out more