Use a box didgeridoo instead, it's much quiter than a full-size one.
replyFunny.
replyThe didge forces you to learn circular breathing, it's cheaper, it is easier to learn, and is easier to play well. Plus I think it sounds better. Everyone should learn to play the didgeridoo. Bagpipes are a whole another level, and feel more like a practical joke gone horribly wrong (Sorry Gran.)
I suspect bagpipes may be the worst wind instrument to learn in this regard, at least if the goal is to train circular breathing?
replyI don't think circular breathing is the goal. It's just a means to an end. The goal is strengthening the muscles that keep the airway open. The resistance from blowing into the didgeridoo seems to be what does that. I have no idea how that compares to bagpipes, however.
replybagpipes reed is high resistance, like a balloon
replyI would imagine some basic breathing techniques may help, wonder what the research in anuloma viloma pranayama shows, but beware there's a lot written by random people on the internet about it without scientific evidence.
replyIf you're talking about the great highland bagpipes, circular breathing can be really helpful while learning. Because of the "practice chanter," every piper have one or two and use it to learn new tunes or just practice technique.
replySeveral varieties of bagpipe I'm aware of don't even require breathing, since they're powered by bellows. The pipes are surprisingly hard to learn by the way. One normally starts on the chanter, which is more like a recorder and is not bag assisted.
reply>One normally starts on the chanter, which is more like a recorder
replyIn the case of the Great Highland bagpipes, the most similar traditional instrument is the rauschpfeife (capped double-reed with conical bore and without prominent bell):
Both can practice in the other room.
replyDidge isn't that loud unless you're really going for it. Nothing compared to bagpipes.
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