# New Prognosis: I may have a future piper on my hands! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116 "2010-01-23T14:58:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/1 "2010-01-23T14:58:49Z")
Back in August, I posted a thread about how the Piper Cub was showing signs he might turn into a drummer: [So, I may have a future drummer on my hands.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=528320) Half a year on, and new data is emerging: when I play my practice chanter, he gets a big grin on his face. When I finish a tune, he says “more!” And several times, he’s managed to get his little mitts on my chanter and tries to blow it. Since it’s about three-quarters as long as him, he’s had a bit of difficulty, let alone I blow a hard reed. However, verrrry promising. We’ll have him on pìobaireachd in no time! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/2 "2010-01-23T15:22:05Z")
When I read the thread title I thought you were saying you might be pregnant. Good news on the music front. the world needs a steady and ever-increasing supply of people to play the pipes. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/3 "2010-01-23T15:56:39Z")
Oh sure, you applaud. You’re in freakin Missouri! The sound will barely even be audible there. Meanwhile here I am a mere 225km away. Oh the humanity! Actually I rather enjoy pipes. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/4 "2010-01-23T16:30:58Z")
I think I’ve posted this before, but there’s no joke like an old joke, eh? What’s the definition of a gentleman? Someone who can play the bagpipes but doesn’t. 😃 Nothing brings tears to my eyes like hearing that song pipers always play for military funerals. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/5 "2010-01-24T10:04:33Z")
I like some bagpipe songs. Scotland the Brave, for example. Even better, any song by The Mudmen. I do not like to hear people _practice_ the bagpipes. But, good luck, and um cool I guess. Please do not allow practice when there is a wind blowing east. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/6 "2010-01-25T03:28:49Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > When I read the thread title I thought you were saying you might be pregnant. > > Good news on the music front. the world needs a steady and ever-increasing supply of people to play the pipes. Nope, wrong equipment! But thanks for the good wishes! [QUOTE=Gorsnak] Oh sure, you applaud. You’re in freakin Missouri! The sound will barely even be audible there. Meanwhile here I am a mere 225km away. Oh the humanity! [/QUOTE] When the time comes, I’ll make sure he uses an extra-sharp reed and practises outdoors when the wind is from the south-east! 😛 [QUOTE=Cat Whisperer] Nothing brings tears to my eyes like hearing that song pipers always play for military funerals. [/QUOTE] [Amazing Grace?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu2hGLjBmKs)[Flowers of the Forest?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO0qkvdI5UQ)[Going Home?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPiqWzHiPmQ) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/7 "2010-01-25T05:52:36Z")
Oops - this is embarrassing - I meant Taps. I do know things, actually, regardless of how it may seem at times. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/8 "2010-01-25T07:31:21Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > [Amazing Grace?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu2hGLjBmKs)[Flowers of the Forest?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO0qkvdI5UQ)[Going Home?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPiqWzHiPmQ) [Hava Nagila](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mus-Mcq-so) ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/9 "2010-01-25T16:38:19Z")
How about the Red Hot Chili Pipers covering Queen? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/e3b573x7iPw/hqdefault.jpg "We Will Rock You - Red Hot Chilli Pipers") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3b573x7iPw) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/10 "2010-01-25T16:42:02Z")
Cool! More musicians are always good. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > However, verrrry promising. We’ll have him on pìobaireachd in no time! That’s some kind of… Gaelic drug, isn’t it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/11 "2010-01-25T16:50:34Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Cool! More musicians are always good. That’s some kind of… Gaelic drug, isn’t it. 🙂 It’s the one that makes you think bagpipes sound pleasant. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/12 "2010-01-25T16:56:27Z")
Yay! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/13 "2010-01-25T18:18:55Z")
There’s electronic bagpipes now, I can’t for the life of me remember his name at the moment (for which I should thoroughly kick myself), but a Spanish piper came up with the idea and it became the “project” of a friend of his who was studying Electronic Engineering (in Spain, Engineers need to write a sort-of-thesis to graduate). It allowed him to practice without driving the neighbors up the wall or himself into the ER with an overdose of birdshot in his lungs, but he performs with regular pipes. ---
**Author:** ![toodlepip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/97f17d/32.png) [@toodlepip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toodlepip)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/14 "2010-01-26T00:14:11Z")
I was just about to start typing an encouraging reply about your offspring’s future recitals and gold medals and such, but got completely sidetracked by this: > [@Punoqllads](#): > > [Hava Nagila](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Mus-Mcq-so) 😃 _runs off to grab practice chanter_ ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/15 "2010-01-26T03:41:41Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > There’s electronic bagpipes now, I can’t for the life of me remember his name at the moment (for which I should thoroughly kick myself), but a Spanish piper came up with the idea and it became the “project” of a friend of his who was studying Electronic Engineering (in Spain, Engineers need to write a sort-of-thesis to graduate). > > It allowed him to practice without driving the neighbors up the wall or himself into the ER with an overdose of birdshot in his lungs, but he performs with regular pipes. If I remember correctly, our own **Broomstick** ’s hubbie also designed electronic pipes. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/16 "2010-01-26T03:48:00Z")
I love the pipes, though I admit I’ve never heard anyone practicing, and I am sure that colours my opinion somewhat.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/17 "2010-04-25T04:21:12Z")
an update: I was blowing my pipes the other day, with a grinning PiperCub watching from Mrs Piper’s lap. When I finished, he said, “Bagpipes!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/18 "2010-04-25T04:22:39Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > [QUOTE=Northern Piper] > > However, verrrry promising. We’ll have him on pìobaireachd in no time! That’s some kind of… Gaelic drug, isn’t it. 🙂 [/QUOTE] A very seductive and addicting one, yes. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/19 "2010-04-25T04:26:14Z")
I thought maybe Mrs. Piper was expecting a Wee Chanter. StG ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116/20 "2010-08-19T04:40:13Z")
The scene: Piper bedroom. The time: 6 a.m. The actors: Piper and Mrs. Piper, sleeping. Enter Piper Cub. He walks over to Piper, pulls on Piper’s eyelid to see if Piper is still in there, then picks up the Piper glasses from the nightstand and gives them to Piper. He then takes Piper’s hand, and says “Come.” Piper groggily follows the Cub into the study. The Cub points to the sheet music on the music stand, then to the pipes on the desk, and says, firmly: “Play!” Glad to have a fan, but the timing… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-prognosis-i-may-have-a-future-piper-on-my-hands/526116.md?page=2)