With the competition season done, now what?

            <h1>With the competition season done, now what are your plans?</h1>

Are you taking your competition results and feedback, and working to improve for next year?  Have you decided to take a bit of a rest before starting working towards next year’s competitions?  Have you sworn off competing and instead going to find a street band to play with?

My last competition

I haven’t competed in several years.  My last piping competition was really to find out if I was really as good as I thought.  While I didn’t place, I didn’t expect too either.  In fact, the comments and feedback I did receive confirmed, in my mind at least, that I had correctly judged my own level.

My Winter Plan

I have a few strings to my bow, as they say.

I plan to work out a new set list, and then practice and record the sets.  First step is to find the wayward Scots Guard  books.

Secondly, I have a number of beginner pipers that I am training.  Instilling the basics and good habits will remain a priority.  Also having them blow pipes, be them my own  or their own is right up there.  I don’t believe you should play the practice chanter for 2 years before seeing a set of pipes.  Lesson four or five is as good a time as any to start blowing drones.

Thirdly, I intend to write some more lessons articles, especially focusing on bagpipe maintenance.  Now that competitions are finished, it is a good time to replace bags, break in new reeds, fix cracks and re-hemp joints.