The Uilleann pipes and the Irish tin whistle. Two, two instruments that I play. I have played the whistle for eight years, and the pipes for almost three years. I have gone to Ireland once to compete in the world competition. That was in 2011, now, this year, I want to go again. This time though, I want to go for pipes, whistle, pipes slow airs, and whistle slow airs. The first time I only went for whistle.

For the whistle and pipes competitions, I will play two tunes, a jig and a reel, and then my turn will be over. For pipes I will play my drones, which are the long pieces coming out of the bag(I hope that this is self-explanatory). For pipes and whistle slow airs, I will play a very slow piece that has words which make it a song. This one requires a lot of true feeling, otherwise you will not place. Slow airs were secret messages to the Irish saying where a mass would take place, since they weren’t allowed to practice their own religion.

Sometimes, I mess around with my friends who play too. I have 5 fiddler friends, 4 whistlers, and 1 piper. We might be messing around on our instruments or just playing a game, but those friends are some of my closest. We can all relate with how hard being at an international level is.

Beyond my competition I do other things to. I have gigs, shows, fundraisers, and I go to sessions. Sessions are a group of people who just happen to be there that night. They all sit around and play with each other, starting a tune when asked to by the leader. I am going to be leading a session soon. It is in Downingtown and the pub was just made.

I haven’t done fundraisers since 2011, but this year I’m going to do them again because I’m going to Ireland. Fundraisers are like my gigs and shows, but I try to fit a lot more in, since I need the money for something instead of just for saving. A typical gig consists of playing anywhere from 45 min.- an hour. I am paid for all of these. That is what makes the difference between gigs and shows. For shows I am not paid, but they are usually great for publicity.

I have the question a lot “What interested you in the pipes?” My story is, is that when I was three, I heard the pipes on a CD in the car. I asked “Mommy, what’s that!?!?!?!” She didn’t know exactly what they were so she said that they were some kind of bag pipe. I didn’t know what they looked like, but I knew that I liked that sound.

Thinking, that if I hadn’t had parents who didn’t listen to Irish music in the car, I wouldn’t be a world’s level player in anything. I might not be playing any instrument, but just be a kid who sits around and plays video games all day, which I manage to do anyways, but that is not the point. I would have no motivation in my life, except to reach to the next level.

To me, that just seems like a boring life to lead. Never getting up except to pee and eat. Never any action or risk to your own emotions, instead of your character’s. This just bugs me. Everyone should have to try an instrument of their choice, sometime in their life. The world would be able to communicate more easily, because music is the universal language.

I really hope that I never get tired or too overwhelmed by my music, because I never even want to think about quitting.My music is amazing to me, it is my life. I do not think I could survive without it. I would rather go without my favorite foods, bread, cheese, and meat, than go without my pipes.