Adults get bagpipe-band basics

"We (the instructors) play in a bagpipe band, and part of our role in the Tucson community is to teach people who want to learn," said Beth Sachrison, one of the drumming instructors for the class.

Noel Pitts and his mother, Vickie, were the two novices that night, both taking their first steps with bagpipes - not counting a frustrating earlier experience.

"I thought I was being helpful because 10 years ago I got her a set of bagpipes," Noel said. But the pipes turned out to be less than functional and resisted everybody's efforts to play them.

"We tried and tried hard to play those bagpipes," said Vickie, who has wanted to learn the pipes for almost 20 years.

The bagpipe-playing lessons were a Christmas present from Noel and seemed to be an improvement over the actual bagpipes.

"This is going to be better," she said after her first lessons. "I did 10 times better than I ever thought I would."

Fellow student Erin Craine had two earlier sessions under her belt and can now play tunes, including a good deal of "Amazing Grace," on her practice chanter.

"It's a lot of fun. I remember the first day - it's really horrible and you don't even want to come back, but everyone was very encouraging and said 'Everybody sounds like that when they start.' It's not a pleasant sound," she said. "I like playing a lot of different instruments, but this one is kind of obscure. How often do you meet someone who says 'I play the bagpipes'? "

If you go

• What: Introduction to Scottish Bagpipe and Drum Band, part of the Adult Enrichment programs for the Catalina Foothills Community Schools

• When: 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays through Feb. 15

• Where: Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive

• Cost: $53 for the class; additional fees for materials apply

• For more information: Call program coordinator Colleen Avender at 209-7812

Contact photographer Kelly Presnell at presnell@azstarnet.com or 954-1974.