“It was from then I decided it was my duty as a pipe maker to educate people about the instrument and the lecture basically takes you on a journey back to Tanzania when an African blackwood seed is fi rst planted. We then fol- low the journey of the seed, to the growing, harvesting and preparation of the wood for transportation. Then we see it arriving at my factory in Glasgow and follow the process right to the fi nished product. I end the lecture by giving a few tunes on my Wallace pipes.” Craig’s lecture is also part of the Study
Abroad Piping Programme run by The National Piping Centre in collaboration with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews. He also gives the talk as part of The National
Piping Centre’s seasonal tuition weeks. “The National Piping Centre is doing great work to promote piping and improve pipers worldwide, and we are happy to sponsor this,” said Craig. “We provide almost £3000 worth of vouch-
ers as prizes which are awarded to the most outstanding piper or most promising learner on these workshops and these can be cashed for whatever they want in The National Piping Centre shop.” Craig’s mixture of music and travel and bagpipe business would seem like a perfect lifestyle choice to many people. He packs a lot of activities into his life and I asked him how he manages to run a successful business, meet the high standards of St Laurence O’Toole, the rock star demands of the Red Hot Chilli Pip- ers, and travel the world for piping workshops. “Well, the fi rst thing I have to do is run it by my wife!” said Craig. “We have agents all over the world so some-
times I may need to get out of bed at 5am in the morning to take a call from New Zealand, or at midnight from the States. I have realised that is my life now — and I can sleep on the plane when I’m travelling. “I don’t have any fi xed routine and I really
just go with the fl ow. When I’m not travelling, I’m at the Wallace Bagpipes premises every day and that keeps the company going. I then fi nd time to play my band pipes, and when I’m away with the Chilli Pipers, I take my band pipes with me and keep them going. “Technology now makes it so easy to run a
business. When I’m overseas I can deal with company business by email and I also have guys in the factory that I can rely on to keep things ticking over. “I’m strict with myself when I am away
at workshops. It would be so easy at the end of the day to relax with the other instructors with a drink in hand, but I always go and get my laptop and answer emails. It is all about customer service so no one is waiting 24 hours for an answer to an email. “I am constantly busy, but I just take one day at a time. I play pipes, teach pipes, make pipes — my whole career is bagpipes and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” l
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BA (Scottish Music - Piping) Full Time Ordinary Degree (3 Years)
and 4th (Honours) Year. A collaborative programme with the RSAMD. For particulars and RSAMD prospectus including information on how to apply contact Finlay MacDonald at The National Piping Centre.
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PIPING TODAY • 24
John Mulhearn Piping Tutor
PROFILE
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