Evening Classes

The National Piping Centre’s Evening Class courses provide top class tuition in small groups.

Suitable for everyone from complete beginners to advanced pipers, these weekly classes in small groups will provide supportive and fun learning environment.

We run classes in our two venues at McPhater Street and Otago Street. You can now book for each location through the Book Now button, by selecting your Location first, then age category and preferred day/time all on the form. Please ensure you pick the correct options for you.

City Centre - McPhater Street Lessons

The classes last for 50 minutes and start on the hour from 5pm - 8pm* Monday to Thursday and at 10am, 11am and 12pm on Saturday mornings. Lessons are given in small groups where the students will be of similar standard. You will be taught by one of our expert teachers using The National Piping Centre’s Tutor Book.

West End - Otago Street Lessons

Lessons here are held between 7pm - 9pm on Monday and Tuesdays, with 10am -12 noon on Saturdays. Students are given a 20 minute individual lesson. Mixed age groups attend these sessions, therefore Children under 16 should be supervised by a parent of guardian throughout their session.

The next terms at both venues run from Saturday 19th January - Thursday 28th March 2019.

For this 10 week course, the fees are:

£90 Adults
£80 U16

Book Now

What you will need

If you are new to the Evening Classes and the instrument, you will need to purchase our Tutor Book and a chanter. A starter pack is available from The Bagpipe Shop for £55 which includes both these things.

We can take registrations once the course has started, however the full 10 week price will still apply. We can only take new registrations until week 2 of the new course.

These 10 week courses are run over 3 terms a year. Term 1 is a 10 week term typically running between September and December with a mid term break. Term 2 is a 10 week term which commences January until Easter and Term 3 is a 10 week term which normally runs from Easter until July. For further information about our evening classes please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0141 353 0220.

* Please note that the main doors to The National Piping Centre McPhater Street close at 7pm. After this time, please enter the building through The Pipers' Tryst Hotel & Restaurant.

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

To find out more download the Evening Class brochure here.

The Piping Centre Evening Class Levels

This is a guide to the standards of each of our levels in the evening classes.

Beginner: Complete beginner, never played before

Level 1: Not a beginner, can play scales, g gracenotes, strikes and simple melodies and can read music. (Currently working on Chapters 7 – 9 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book)

Level 2: Able to play D Throws, High A and High G Doublings, G,D,E’s (Currently working on Chapters 10 – 13 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book)

Level 3: Able to play most movements including all doublings, G strikes, grips. Is just about to go onto the pipes (currently working on Chapters 14 – 20 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book).

Level 4+: Able to play all movements including birls, taorluath, B strikes and beyond. Can play several tunes with reasonable sense of timing on the pipes (currently working on Chapters 21 – 27 of The Highland Bagpipe Tutor Book).

For further information about our evening classes or for more guidance on the levels, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0141 353 0220.

Teachers

Willie Beveridge

Willie has been teaching at the National Piping Centre’s Evening Classes for a number of years and has become one of the most popular instructors because of his wealth of knowledge and entertaining approach. Previously, Willie has been a bagpipe instructor for the Royal Scots Regiment in the 1st Batt and has a huge amount of solo competition experience gaining a number of top awards as a member of the Competing Pipers Association.

One of Willie Highlights in his player career is having the honour of playing for the first President of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda. Willie teaches at the City Centre - McPhater Street Venue

Stuart MacKenzie

Stuart began learning the pipes in the early 1960s and was tutored then by the highly respected teacher, Tommy Pierson, of the College of Piping in Glasgow.

He joined the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band at age 17, later moving to another Grade 1 Band, British Caledonian Renfrew, in 1970/71. He rose through the ranks with B Cal, as they came to be known, finally becoming Pipe Major of the Band’s successors, Babcock Renfrew, another well-known Grade 1 Band.

All three bands were successful in their own right, each winning competitions at local and Championship level on a regular basis.

Stuart has been teaching the pipes for many years now and is currently Pipe Major of The Royal Burgh of Renfrew Pipe Band. Stuart teaches at the City Centre- McPhater Street Venue