A bagpipe question...?

Question

I am learning the bagpipes. I am finding it difficult to keep them going for more than 1 minute, even with a soft reed. Do you know of anything, maybe some kind of breathing or chest exercise, that will improve my lungs and help me blow for longer?
Cheers :)

(You don't need to be a bagpipe player to answer just give any ideas you have).

Answer 1

Get a large soda bottle fill with water. Place a large straw into the water. Blow bubbles for ten minutes, twice a day. Sounds easy try it and be surpriaed. It will build up lung capacity quickly.
Dan.

Answer 2

It is very normal for a beginning piper to have problems blowing for any length of time. I'd recommend that if you aren't already, plug up one, two or all three of the drones with corks to ease your transition onto the "big pipes." As you develop your stamina over a course of weeks or months, remove the corks. It's not a quick process. The best exercise is to simply pipe, it'll use exactly the muscles you need to develop! (Like bike racing, the best training is to bike.)

If you are losing your lip, you might consider purchasing a product called the "Ergonomic Mouthpiece." It definitely extends the time you can play before you start blowing air past the blowpipe. It's available at reedwrangler.net and piping retailers.

If you don't have an instructor and are serious about learning, definitely get one.

There are lots of articles and advice for beginning (and advanced) pipers here:
http://www.BagpipeJourney.com

Answer 3

This may sound silly...Take deep breaths all the time...Since I do believe that most people only use a small percentage of thier lungs. Also when starting the pipes you will be on a practice chanter and that will help as well...

Answer 4

if you play it slow ( the way they do at a funeral) it will sound bad.

try faster melodies or other versions of bagpipes - they're not all the same.

I'm used to the Balkan melodies myself, but I heard nice ones in the movie Braveheart too.