Piping Links
- Na Piobairi Uilleann
- SWAUP
- Reedshaman
- Uilleann Obsession
- Mad for Trad
- NWUP
- The Session
- Last Night's Fun
- Chiff and Fipple
- EZFolk
- The Hibernia Centre
- TradLessons.com
Other Links
Steve J. Turner, Uilleann Piper
Céad míle fáilte - Welcome to the Pipes of Ireland website. My fascination with the uilleann pipes started one evening back in 1992 when a friend played me an old recording of Finbar and Eddie Furey. I quickly fell in love with the sound of the pipes, the energy and feeling contained within the music, and I vowed there and then that I had to learn more about this awesome instrument.
Much research followed, and I eventually managed to obtain a practice
set, which
is
simply a chanter, a bag and bellows. Having studied music previously, and
being able to play the organ, and guitar, I thought that I would soon be
playing jigs and reels with the best of them, but I couldn't have been
more wrong. I smile when I think of the awful noises I made initially, but
I was so determined to play this instrument that I struggled on and, with
much effort, started to grasp the basics. I even remember apologising to my
neighbours for the torturous noises emanating daily from my house!
Early on in my piping career, I was fortunate to meet Nick Scott, of 'Last
Nights Fun' fame and he put me in touch with The South Western Association
of Uilleann Pipers (SWAUP), a very friendly group, who meet
regularly in Somerset. It was through SWAUP, and their annual piping
weekends, that the horizons of my piping world were widened, and I had the
chance at last to sit at the feet of master pipers, observe their
technique, and receive constructive
criticism of my own playing. I was
also fortunate to receive instruction in the black art of
reedmaking from master reedmaker and piper Alan Burton. Now I am in the
position to be able to keep my Froment full set of Uilleann Pipes supplied
with reeds of my own construction.
Eighteen years have now passed since I took my first faltering steps towards becoming a piper, and in that time I have learnt a thing or two about playing the pipes, their maintenance, reedmaking, performance and teaching. I am happy to help those who would like to learn how to play the pipes, need reeds or advice. I hope this website also caters to those who just enjoy listening to Irish traditional music played on the national instrument of Ireland.
I hope you enjoy this website, and thanks for visiting.
Sláinte