The pipes.
Begin with fingering and tunes on a practice chanter. Bagpipes come later, together with blowing, tuning, and care of the instrument.
Talk to Allison about piping ↗A FIRST NOTE. A NEW TRADITION.
Everyone starts
with a breath.
Learn pipes or drums with the band, or explore the Maui Pipe & Drum School.
01 / LEARN WITH THE BANDBEGINNERS WELCOME
A little curiosity.
A lot of possibility.
The band offers free piping and drumming instruction for people who join.
Start with a practice chanter for piping, or sticks and a practice pad for snare. The band can help you choose equipment before you buy. Performance drums are supplied by the band.
Lessons develop technique, rhythm, reading music, and playing together. Progress into the performance band includes an audition with the piping or drumming leader.
Ask about getting started02 / FIND YOUR INSTRUMENT
The drums.
Explore snare technique, or the bass and tenor section. Learn the rhythms—and, for tenor drummers, the flourishing—that give a pipe band its heartbeat.
Ask about drumming ↗
MAUI PIPE & DRUM SCHOOL 2027
February 11–15, 2027.
Makawao, Maui.
The best bagpipe & drum school on the planet: four days of classes, private instruction and island exploration on the slopes of Haleakalā. All skill levels accommodated. All welcome.
Piping with Jack Lee, Andrew Lee and Zephan Knichel. Drumming with Ed Best.
REGISTRATION · TUITION $450
Register for 2027Online registration form coming soon. Until then, email PM Allison Jackson at pipes@isleofmauipipeband.org to register.
SCHEDULE & DETAILSMAUI PIPE & DRUM SCHOOL 2027
Basic schedule
Thu Feb 11 Private lessons with Jack, Andrew, Zephan and Ed.
Fri Feb 12 – Mon Feb 15 9a–4p class. 5p evening activity.
Location
Held on the side of Haleakalā in historic paniolo Makawao Town, surrounded by Maui’s lush, colorful Upcountry trees, with views of both the south and north shores and Haleakalā crater. Add Maui’s perfect climate, and you and your pipes will be singing on the hillsides as you ought to.
Seabury Hall School
480 Olinda Road, Makawao, Hawaiʻi 96768
Class structure
Three-hour class sessions in the morning and afternoon, with an hour break for lunch. We work from a hand-picked tune packet Jack provides before the school starts, covering all idioms of light music at different skill levels and two piobaireachds.
Topics include idiom structure, technique, blowing and tuning, maintenance, performance, reeds, bags and pipes, the mind, ensemble performance, solo competition—and anything you’d like to add. Coffee and continental breakfast provided.
Accommodations
The school is held up the volcano in a small Upcountry town, with many B&Bs and vacation rentals in the surrounding neighborhoods. Down the mountain you’ll find hostels and hotels at every price. We’re happy to offer our local expertise.
Questions? Email PM Allison Jackson at pipes@isleofmauipipeband.org.
Evenings
together.
Haleakalā High Pipers Club
We traverse up the mountain to approximately 10,000 feet and pipe the sun down to the curve of the Earth.
Dinner out with Jack, Andrew, Zephan and Ed
An evening out with the band and instructors at an Upcountry restaurant. Possible whale cruise. Details coming.
Performance with Jack, Andrew, Zephan and Ed
Concert performance at Seabury Hall. Details coming.
Ceilidh
An evening of relaxation and fun. Time for smallpipes and all the ceilidh instruments with the boys.
Polar Plunge
You’ve worked hard. There is no better way to end your Maui bagpipe journey than entering the ocean, hand-in-hand with your classmates and instructors. A tradition started by piper John Visentin of B.C., Canada, in 2013: we pipe the sundown at Kamaʻole Beach II in Kīhei, ceremoniously toss some “icebergs” (ice cubes) into the water, then dive in.
03 / A FEW FIRST QUESTIONS
Do I need to buy bagpipes straight away?
No. Beginning pipers start on a practice chanter. Ask the band for equipment guidance before purchasing.
Can I learn drumming instead?
Yes. The band teaches snare, tenor, and bass drumming. The practice equipment depends on your instrument.
When and where do you practise?
The band’s published information lists Monday evening rehearsals in Kahului. Contact the band to confirm the current time and location before attending.
Are lessons the same as the pipe school?
Band instruction and the Maui Pipe & Drum School are separate experiences. Ask about current school dates, tuition, and registration.
Before your first lesson,
try a little tune.
Play the website’s chanter—or let it play Scotland the Brave for you.