Ian Underwood - Piper For All Occasions

I am extremely flexible and open to almost any performance arrangement. Here are the standard types of services that I provide for a few common types of events.

WEDDING CEREMONIES

Typically the pipes are played outside the church or venue for 15 minutes as guests arrive, and then again as everybody is leaving, for another 15 minutes. This is the standard arrangement, however upon request I can pipe the bride down the aisle. I can also play for the cocktail hour, if requested.

FUNERALS

Piping before and after the church service for about 15 minutes. This can also be done at the grave site, or can be at both locations, if desired. Slower, somber music is generally played, sometimes including piobaireachd selections.

PARTIES

For parties of various types, I will play for the specified amount of time. Repertoire would be upbeat and varied, from marches to jigs and MSR performance sets. I treat these types of situations as concerts. I'm always open to surprise parties, coordinated events, and the like.

REGARDING PRICING

My minimum fee is the type of rate that I would charge for a short or surprise performance of 5-10 minutes, within a 15-20 minute drive, either fairly short notice or happening earlier in the day, and incurs no bridge/road tolls. In other words, peak convenience. Weddings, funerals, and many other types of events will come in at a higher rate based on time commitment, travel, and time of year, so please do not take offense when a higher quote comes in. If you ask me to play for a shorter time for a reduced price, I may be able to accommodate such a request. However, my quote cannot be cut in half if a client asks for 30 minutes instead of 60, for example. When I perform, the majority of my time that day is spent putting on the uniform and driving to the event. Whether I play for 30 or 60 minutes, that's only a half hour difference in a day where my round trip could be as many as four or five hours of driving. Thank you for your consideration.

REGARDING REQUESTS

I am open to requests. However, it should be noted that most pop music is not well suited to the bagpipes, as the range of the melodies typically exceed the range of the bagpipes, which consists of only nine notes. I will make the effort to adapt suitable pop melodies to the pipes, however.

REGARDING TRAVEL

I sometimes receive notes from potential clients informing me that they hired somebody else that was located closer to them. I always submit quotes that incorporate my travel time, so I would encourage anybody looking for a piper to book based on quality and experience, rather than logistical convenience. I travel far and wide to perform, and I do it full time.

REGARDING ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS

I do not work with additional pipers and/or drummers. It introduces too many variables and adds a great deal of work to secure other musicians, and then hope that they don't cancel, as add-on players so often do. When playing with other pipers, I am limited to 5-10% of my normal repertoire, and there is no guarantee that our chanters and reeds will tune with each other. It is better, from a musical standpoint and from an administrative one, to perform as a soloist, and that's the way I keep it.

COMMON REQUESTS UNPLAYABLE ON THE BAGPIPES:

- Ave Maria
- The Star Spangled Banner (God Bless America can be substituted)

I began taking an interest in the bagpipes when I was in fourth grade. By the time I was in fifth grade, I was taking lessons and joining the local pipe band in Litchfield, CT. The thing that really got me interested was a band called Wolfstone, which blended traditional music with heavy, borderline arena rock arrangements.

Jeff Miller was my teacher for many years. When I was about 12 or 13, I spent an intense two weeks at the Gaelic College in Nova Scotia, and had the opportunity to study under who I regard as the best living piper, Angus MacColl. One of the classes I desperately wanted to take was the smallpipe class, but every spot was full except the most advanced class. I was granted a waiver and joined in a class that was way above my head. This was one of the best things that happened during my time at the college, as it pushed me in ways I hadn't been pushed before.

After high school I attended and earned a Professional Music degree from Berklee College of Music in 2009, where my principal instrument was electric bass. While living in Boston, I spent a year playing with the grade 2 Stuart Highland Pipe Band.

In addition to the bagpipes, I am a very active performer with wedding, tribute, and original bands in the New York metro area playing electric and double bass. I am also a busy private instructor, with guitar, bass, piano, and bagpipe students.

As a full-time musician, I am dedicated to being the best at what I do. Piping is my first love, and I aim to show that through every performance.

I have no technical requirements.