Bagpipes For Beginners

Have you ever wanted to learn the Bagpipes? This ancient Scottish instrument evokes an incomparable emotional response among listeners and performers alike. In terms of traditional instruments, the Great Highland Bagpipe might stand alone due the duality that exists between the instrument itself and the music the instrument produces. The functionality of the instrument can seem mysterious and complex, yet the sound produced by the bagpipe is almost instantly recognizable. In this course you will experience first-hand the power and sonority of the instrument while gaining a fundamental understanding of this enigmatic Scottish art form. No prior musical experience is required, just a willingness to learn and have fun.

In this course you will:

• Develop a foundational understanding of the Great Highland Bagpipe
• Learn both traditional and contemporary music
• Learn to read bagpipe sheet music
• Learn practice techniques and strategies to further develop your musical skills
• Develop confidence as a performer
• Meet new like-minded people

Eight‑Week Winter Series Starting January 6th and January 8th, 2026

• Tuesday Levels – January 6th, January 13th, January 20th, January 27th, February 3rd, (No Class February 10th), February 17th, February 24th, March 3rd, Bonus Class – March 10th‍
• Thursday Levels – January 8th, January 15th, January 22nd, January 29th, February 5th, (No Class February 12th), February 19th, February 26th, March 5th, Bonus Class – March 12th

Tuesday Class Offerings

• 4:30–5:30 pm – Continuing Youth Chanter A (for youth students also enrolled in Youth Highland Pipes)
• 6:00-7:00pm - Level 3 Adult Chanter
• 6:00–7:00 pm – Advanced Chanter (your instructor strongly recommends this class if attending Highland Pipes at 7:15)
• 7:15–8:15 pm – Level 4/5 Adult Chanter
• 7:15–8:15 pm – Highland Pipes (must have completed Level 5 chanter or a minimum of two years of outside experience on Highland Pipes, your instructor strongly recommends pairing this class with the Advanced Chanter class)

Thursday Class Offerings

• 4:30–5:30 pm – Continuing Youth Highland Pipes
• 4:30–5:30 pm – Continuing Youth Chanter B
• 4:30–5:30 pm – Youth Level 1 (Completely new to piping? Youth start here!)
• 5:45–7:00 pm – New! Scottish Smallpipes Fundamentals (two instructors, bellows and mouth‑blown smallpipes welcome; mouthblown smallpipes provided if needed, students must have completed level 3 or have a minimum of 1-year of outside chanter/highland pipes experience)
• 6:00–7:00 pm – Adult Level 2
• 7:15–8:15 pm – Adult Level 1 (Completely new to piping? Adults and teens start here!)
• 7:15–8:30 pm – Smallpipes Drop‑in
• 7:15–8:30 pm – Highland Pipes Drop‑in

If you are registering for two or three bagpipe programs this fall (same student, multiple class series not including drop-in classes), the 2nd and 3rd courses will be 1/2 price.

Tuition includes winter quarter classes (January-March), printed materials to keep, and the use of a practice chanter to use during the series (and to take home for practice during the series).

If you or your student would like to register and need financial assistance, please email Cayley@CelticArts.org

If you would like to make a donation to support his program, please click here.

Your Instructors!
Instructor Zephan Knichel has been actively teaching the bagpipes for over 20 years. He is a veteran member of the world-renowned Simon Fraser University Pipe Band and competes with them every Summer at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. The SFU Pipe Band is currently ranked 3rd in the world. Zephan also competes as a soloist all over North America and in Scotland. He has competed at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the Northern Meeting in Inverness several times, winning prizes in both Light Music and Piobaireachd. Zephan works full-time teaching individuals, group classes, pipe bands, and at various piping schools all over North America.

Vienna Scheyer plays bagpipes with the grade 2 Cascadia Pipe Band in Seattle. Her first instrument is the fiddle, and she plays smallpipes too. She brings a unique perspective with one foot in the pipe band world and the other in traditional music and aims to give students a foundation to enjoy playing music in whatever settings they find fulfilling.

Thank you our supporters who help make this program happen!