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Learn the uilleann pipes
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The uilleann pipes are the pipes of Irish traditional music, played with a bag and bellows, and players build up from a chanter alone to a full set with drones and regulators. Learners start on a practice set of bag, bellows and chanter, and most can play a first tune within a few weeks of lessons.
Demanding£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A year or moreIndoorsAlone or with othersUK and US
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How learners progress
Beginners play a practice set, which NPU describes as a bag, bellows and chanter. Adding drones makes a half set, and adding regulators makes a full set; NPU says a practice set usually lasts for the first one or two years and the parts do not need replacing as you upgrade. A maker interviewed by The Irish Times said each of his full sets cost about €8,000.
NPU's checklist says most students can play a first tune after three or four weekly lessons, and around 12 tunes after a year of lessons with daily practice. It suggests 20 minutes a day for the first three months, 30 minutes after that, and at least 45 minutes after a year. Reeds are delicate and should be adjusted only by your teacher or a very experienced player.
When buying, NPU advises most beginners to learn on a concert-pitch chanter in D, to buy directly from a reputable pipemaker, and to pay only once the pipes are in tune, with an experienced piper testing them if you are new.
Ways in
| Provider | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Na Píobairí Uilleann, Dublin | Weekly classes in Dublin and across Ireland, including Derry in Northern Ireland, plus online tutorials for those who cannot attend | Class fees not listed; NPU membership €65 a year, €35 for seniors, students and unwaged |
| Na Píobairí Uilleann, Pipes on Loan | Practice set (chanter, bag, bellows and case) for 12 months; members only; weekly lessons required | €130 rental plus a €400 refundable deposit |
| Armagh Pipers Club, Northern Ireland | Termly classes from September to mid-June in instruments including the uilleann pipes | £100 a term for one student; no charge for Term 3 |
| Irish Arts Center, New York | Uilleann Pipes with Fiachra Meek: one session, 3-6pm, for players with at least two years on the chanter (October 2024 run) | $66 including fees |
NPU offers online tutorials for students who cannot get to a class, and the St Louis Tionól site lists US pipers' tionóls and summer schools. Email info@pipers.ie to ask about pipers near you.
How to start
- Contact Na Píobairí Uilleann (NPU), the pipers' organisation in Dublin, or a club such as Armagh Pipers Club in Northern Ireland, to find a teacher or class.
- Rent a practice set through NPU's Pipes on Loan scheme, or buy one directly from a reputable pipemaker, ideally with a piper to test it.
- Watch NPU's beginners' Learn videos in order and practise about 20 minutes a day for the first three months.
Where to go
- Armagh Pipers Club: classes in Irish traditional music, including uilleann pipes (Northern Ireland) UK
- Na Píobairí Uilleann: classes across Ireland, including Derry, and online tutorials
- Na Píobairí Uilleann: Pipes on Loan practice-set rental
- St Louis Tionól: list of US pipers' gatherings and Irish music summer schools US
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Questions people ask
How long does it take to learn the uilleann pipes?
NPU says most students can play a first tune after three or four weekly lessons, and about 12 tunes after a year of lessons with daily practice.
What is an uilleann pipes practice set?
A bag, bellows and chanter, without drones or regulators. NPU says it is usually enough for the first one or two years.
Can I rent uilleann pipes?
NPU's Pipes on Loan scheme rents a practice set to members for 12 months for €130, with a €400 refundable deposit, on condition that you take weekly lessons. Contact NPU before paying.
Are the uilleann pipes hard to learn?
NPU says they are no more difficult than any other instrument, though they have their own challenges, and that you need to be able to cover the chanter's holes with your fingers.
Where this comes from: Na Píobairí Uilleann, Learning to Play the Uilleann Pipes (checklist); Na Píobairí Uilleann, Pipes on Loan; Na Píobairí Uilleann, Our Classes; Na Píobairí Uilleann, Launch of Learn; Na Píobairí Uilleann, Buying; Armagh Pipers Club, Home; Irish Arts Center, Uilleann Pipes Masterclass with Fiachra Meek; St Louis Tionól, Other Tionóil and music schools; The Irish Times, Tuned in to a new way of life. Opened 12 November 2026.
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