Thank you to everyone who entered the Build-A- Sporran for Jim McGillivray contest. The hard part was up to Jim to select a winner from all the entries. The winner was Ryan! All entries can be seen online.

Now in stock!!
World Piping Championships 2007 are now in stock! Check out volume 1, 2, and the qualifying rounds on CD. Volume 1 and 2 are also available on DVD. Get yours while they last!!

Also new in stock is the collaboration of some of Gordon Duncan's best, Just for Gordon. Celebrate the life of Gordon with your copy today.

Allan MacDonald's Dastirum CD is now available.

Summerside Drums Workshop '07
December 8th & 9th at The College of Piping, Summerside, PEI
Featuring Jim Kilpatrick, Tyler Fry, John Fisher, and Craig "Hoss" Colquhoun.
$125 includes the workshop, ceilidh, and t-shirt.
Register now, as seats are limited. For more information or to register, contact Patsy Martin patsy.martin@collegeofpiping.com 1-877-BAG- PIPE

Getting the Most Out of Your Pipe Bag

The pipe bag is one of the most likely areas to leak air. Any air lost through the bag is air that you have to replace, making it harder to play.

Regardless of the bag material, it must be airtight. To check this, plug the chanter and drone stocks with rubber stoppers. Blow up the bag until it is as full as it can get, then squeeze it for 30 seconds. If after 30 seconds, it takes more than 1 breath to fill the bag, it is losing too much air.

Common sources for leaks are the seams, around the stocks, or the stocks themselves. If you can't hear or feel the leak, use a soapy water solution to check. If the leaks are through the seam on a hide bag, a good seasoning may correct it. If the leaks are through the seam on a synthetic bag, it likely needs replacing. Re- tie in the stock for leaks around the stocks on a hide bag. On a synthetic bag, if the leak is between the rubber grommet and the bag, it will have to be replaced. If the leak is between the stock and grommet, you can wrap some plumber's tape around the stock at the top of the grommet, or remove the stock and build up the diameter at the tie in groove with the tape. If the leak is through the stock, there is a crack in the wood. These cracks are most common underneath the stock ferrules, but can also occur lower down. If this is the case, you will need to have the stock repaired by a bagpipe maker/repairer.