2008 Woodie Awards
Piping with pride the Great Highland way
In pursuit of a childhood dream, student finds teacher in his father's funeral home to master his musical passion
By: Karen McGlenn
Issue date: 3/30/06 Section: LifeStyle
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Most two year olds are happy to bang on a toy drum and sing along to their favorite kids' tunes. Junior Jim Drayton, a music major, had a different idea, he wanted to play the bagpipes.
"I was two years old and I saw them in a parade," Drayton said. "I said to my mom I was going to play them."
Drayton received his first set of bagpipes in high school. He learned the notes on a practice chanter, a small instrument that looks like a toy recorder. Drayton took lessons from the late Vic Masterson and Greg Abbott, both professional pipers. Masterson played bagpipes for funerals at Drayton's father's funeral home, which is where they met.
Drayton met Abbott after running into him at various functions and becoming acquainted.
"I learned to play from two extremely good pipers in the country," Drayton said.
Now considered a full Highland piper, Drayton teaches the bagpipes for the John Ford Highland Pipe Band. There are hundreds of different types of pipes, some originating from countries such as Poland, Germany and Turkey. Drayton plays and teaches a popular type of pipe called the Great Highland Bagpipes.
"There are a lot of pipes," Drayton said. "The ones you see in the movie 'Titanic' are Irish pipes. They are called uilleann pipes."
Pipes differ for several reasons, such as the number of chanters and reeds used, how big the pipe is and the type and number of drones they have. A chanter is where you put your finger to produce the sound of the notes. A drone is a continuous sound, produced by a reed.
At the age of 21, Drayton said he is not the youngest piper, but "one of the youngest in St. Louis that I know of." According to http://www.celtictraveler.com,people may begin playing the bagpipes around age 13, but some may start as early as five years old.
Traditionally, piping has been for men, Drayton said, but he's "known women who have played and they are good pipers."
"I was two years old and I saw them in a parade," Drayton said. "I said to my mom I was going to play them."
Drayton received his first set of bagpipes in high school. He learned the notes on a practice chanter, a small instrument that looks like a toy recorder. Drayton took lessons from the late Vic Masterson and Greg Abbott, both professional pipers. Masterson played bagpipes for funerals at Drayton's father's funeral home, which is where they met.
Drayton met Abbott after running into him at various functions and becoming acquainted.
"I learned to play from two extremely good pipers in the country," Drayton said.
Now considered a full Highland piper, Drayton teaches the bagpipes for the John Ford Highland Pipe Band. There are hundreds of different types of pipes, some originating from countries such as Poland, Germany and Turkey. Drayton plays and teaches a popular type of pipe called the Great Highland Bagpipes.
"There are a lot of pipes," Drayton said. "The ones you see in the movie 'Titanic' are Irish pipes. They are called uilleann pipes."
Pipes differ for several reasons, such as the number of chanters and reeds used, how big the pipe is and the type and number of drones they have. A chanter is where you put your finger to produce the sound of the notes. A drone is a continuous sound, produced by a reed.
At the age of 21, Drayton said he is not the youngest piper, but "one of the youngest in St. Louis that I know of." According to http://www.celtictraveler.com,people may begin playing the bagpipes around age 13, but some may start as early as five years old.
Traditionally, piping has been for men, Drayton said, but he's "known women who have played and they are good pipers."