Bagpipes attract new generation of teenage players

5 hours ago

John Devinein Yaxley

News image — Yojit,14, got the bagpipe bug while at primary school in Peterborough

John Devine/BBC Yojit Bodduluri is 14 years old, has black hair and some whiskery stubble around his chin and under his nose, he is wearing a black fleece top and has his bagpipes on his left shoulder, behind him are other pipers and drummers, they are in a community hall, with chairs and tables around too. — Yojit,14, got the bagpipe bug while at primary school in Peterborough

A 14-year-old who started playing the bagpipes at the age of nine said he could not get enough of them.

Yojit is part of the Cambridgeshire Caledonian Pipe Band, who meet on Sundays in the Peterborough village of Yaxley, and has piped at VE Day and D-Day events in nearby villages.

He said: "I started learning in school, as we had a local piper offer free lessons, and I just loved the tunes."

His father Sreehari Bodduluri said the bagpipes had helped "instil discipline, respect for heritage, and an active role in civic and cultural life" in his son.

He said the sound was powerful and had become "part of the rhythm of our home".

Luckily, Yojit said his neighbours were very understanding of him practising the bagpipes.

The Cambridgeshire Caledonian Pipe Band A pipe and drum band made up of 13 players wearing traditional Scottish dress of kilts and sporrans, they have black hats on too and white shirts with dark waistcoats, there are men and women. Some have bagpipes, some not, and there are three drums at the front of them. Behind them is Burghley House and some ornate metal gates of black and gold. — The Cambridgeshire Caledonian Pipe Band at Burghley House wear kilts of the Weathered Logan tartan

Emma said she "fell in love with the sound" of the pipes after a family friend let her try them two years ago.

The 16-year-old, who has Scottish heritage in her family, said: "People are surprised when I mention the bagpipes but, once they hear me play, they really enjoy it. It is contagious."

She most enjoys playing them outside, as "that is where they are supposed to be heard".

John Devine/BBC Emma Russell is 16, she has brown hair, done up in a bun behind her head, she is holding some bagpipes and is wearing a grey top, with a purple shirt underneath and a silver chain with a small green pendant, she is in a function room, with table and chairs around and some of pipers in the background. — Emma said she kept her bagpipe playing a secret from friends when she started, but is now much more relaxed about it

David Faulkner, chair of The Bagpipe Society, said it had given tutorials to children to enlighten them about the instrument, as it was not commonly seen in shops.

"You do not see the instruments when walking into a shop, and that is always an issue as people know what they see," said Faulkner.

The society has started a new initiative to encourage people to take on the instrument, by allowing students to rent them out.

Music retailer Gear4Music said bagpipe sales were relatively low and could fluctuate significantly from year to year.

It said practice chanters provided a more accessible and affordable entry point for learners before committing to a full set of bagpipes.

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