# North Georgia Piper > Thoughts on piping, pipers, and the joys of having taken back up what I once laid down. --- ## Pages - [Cost](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/cost-to-hire-a-piper-for-a-funeral-wedding-or-other-event/): What does it cost to hire a piper? Visit NorthGeorgiaPiper.com. Most area piper fees will be in the same range, though skills vary. - [Hiring a Piper](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/hiring-a-piper/): Hiring a piper for a funeral? A party? A wedding? St. Patrick's Day? You want an accomplished musician playing a well-tuned bagpipe! What to look for ... - [BingSiteAuth.xml](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/bingsiteauth-xml/): Bagpipes for Atlanta and North Georgia - The Great Highland Bagpipes create a sound like no other, stirring the soul. Let me pipe for you! - [Recommendations](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/bagpipes-recommendations/): Here are client recommendations of Robbie Rogers, bagpiper for weddings, funerals and more in metro Atlanta and North Georgia - [Tune Ideas & Piping Links](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/bagpipe-tunes/): My piping repertoire includes many familiar Scottish and Irish tunes in all idioms, as well as hymns and even some popular songs. - [Piper's Tartans](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/bagpiper-tartan/): If you have a tartan or color preference, let me know! Choose whichever tartan better matches the color scheme of your wedding or event. - [Hiring Rob](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/northgeorgiapiper_whyhirerob-funeral-memorial-wedding-tournament-party/): You want a bagpiper. Why hire Rob? See Robbie's skill level, experience, and professionalism. And find commendations from clients. - [Highland Bagpipes for Your Special Event](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/highland-bagpipes-for-your-special-event/): Welcome to North Georgia Piper! If you are looking for a bagpiper to play for your special event or memorial,... - [My Account](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/my-account/): - [Checkout](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/checkout/): - [Cart](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/cart/): - [Shop](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/shop/): - [On Piping](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/a-pipers-blog/): Thoughts on piping, pipers, and the joys of having taken back up what I once laid down. - [Contact Rob](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/contact-bagpiper-ro/): Contact Rob to reserve a quality piper for a funeral, wedding, golf tournament or other special event. Text or call 404.434.7998 or email me. - [Welcome to North Georgia Piper](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/): Accomplished bagpiper for Atlanta and north Georgia for funerals, weddings and events. "Let me play for you tunes of glory and beauty" - [About the Pipes](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/about-the-bagpipes/): Bagpipes are an ancient instrument .... a great accompaniment for special events whether funeral, wake, or wedding! Atlanta and North Georgia --- ## Posts - [Sacred Sounds and Spaces: Bagpipes](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/on-bagpipes-wi/): Listen to the origin of the bagpipes and rarely told history of this centuries-old musical instrument in this edition ... - [Piping in a Pandemic](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/piping-in-a-pandemic/): Bagpipes are best at a distance. During this pandemic, I remain available to pipe for you, observing appropriate health and distancing rules. — Robbie - [The Battle's Over](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/the-battles-over/): It was still dark when I arrived at Newtown Park in Johns Creek at 5:45 a. m. on November 11th,... - [The Ranger at the Funeral](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/a-ranger-at-the-funeral/): For many people, bagpipes are often closely associated with funerals. As pipers, playing funerals is just one of the things... - [Up/Down, Sharp/Flat – Sorting Things Out](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/up-down-sharp-flat-sorting-things-out/): “You can tune those things? ” my son asks with an incredulous expression. It’s his favorite bagpipe joke. Though many... - [Ceol Mor Catharsis](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/ceol-mor-catharsis/): My sisters love the bagpipes. Friends love the pipes. People I don’t know in the park or at a gig... - [The Worlds (2018)](https://www.northgeorgiapiper.com/the-world-pipe-band-championships-2018/): It on! For pipe bands, The World Pipe Band Championships is the Superbowl.Every August pipers and drummers gather around screens connected to the internet to catch the live stream of the World Pipe Band Championships. Unless, of course, they’re at the Worlds. --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages ### Cost What Does It Cost to Hire a Bagpiper? Competing at the Luss Highland Games by Loch Lomond What does it cost to hire a piper? My fee range is typically $250 - $400. This covers most situations. Fee is affected by the travel distance and time involved. To get a specific quote, tell me the address of the venue and length of time of play. The fee range above covers the Atlanta Metro area and north Georgia. For a bit more I do go south and travel across the SC and NC borders. Most pipers in this area charge in this same range, though not all have the same skill. If I am unavailable on your event date, I will recommend another skilled piper to you. See Choosing a Piper and Why Hire Rob. Or just contact me! --- ### Hiring a Piper What You Need to Know about Hiring a Bagpiper In hiring a piper for a funeral or memorial, or for the special joyous event of your wedding, you want a good piper. Highland bagpipes are a challenging instrument, and being able to "play a tune" on them is a very long way from mastery of the instrument. When your hired piper begins to play, you want your guests to enjoy and be moved by the experience - not run for the exits! Here's a guide to choosing a piper. Are they supposed to sound like that? ? Bottom line up front: Look for a piper that is or has been involved in competitive piping; ask what grade they have attained. The better the grade, the better off you'll be. Grade 5 is the entry, beginner level and Grade 1 is at the top amateur level, with Open or "professional" piper at the pinnacle. Luss Highland Games on Loch Lomond. Rob with Donald Morrison The grade indicates the piper's capability to play various types of music from slow airs to marches to foot-tapping dance tunes, as well as proficiency in tuning and mastery of the pipes. A proficient piper will be able to call forth the beautiful sound. Number of years playing does not guarantee mastery. Bands are also graded (without an Open grade). But individual grade and band grade is not a one-to-one comparison. In fact there are very few grade 2 bands and only two grade 1 bands in... --- ### BingSiteAuth.xml 0ED563C5EA2AA78C7EDC0583011C961F   Photographer: Zachery Toth Welcome to North Georgia Piper Bagpipes for Atlanta and North Georgia: Whether you need a bagpiper for a funeral, to celebrate a wedding, or for your Burns dinner, St. Patrick’s Day or birthday party, I will play for you. The Great Highland Bagpipes create a sound like no other. The sound of a well-tuned, well-played Highland bagpipe brings a special exhilaration, touching the heart and stirring the soul. For quality bagpipes for Atlanta and across north Georgia, text or call me: 404-434-7998. "Let me play for you tunes of glory! " I also play Scottish Smallpipes when you need something mellower and less bold! --- ### Recommendations Client comments about Rob and his piping in Atlanta and around Georgia "Robbie - We can't thank you enough for playing such a beautiful & important part in our wedding ceremony. You are a very talented bagpiper player & such a warm & radiant person. It has been such a joy working with you! " - Nicole & Brad, Atlanta, GA Robbie played at my husband's Celebration of Life reception. Robbie was wonderful - I highly recommend and if I ever need a piper in the future, Robbie is the one I would call! - Deborah M. , Alpharetta, GA "Dear Rob, Thank you again for another great & outstanding job! " - Mike Escoe, Atlanta Citadel Club “There are no words to thank you for what you did for us on Saturday. Your music was amazing and hospitality even better. You truly made our night and my husband and father were both shocked and overjoyed by your surprise. I have two other sisters so you will be contacted in the future! ” - Liz R. , Roswell, GA "You crushed it - thank you Robbie! " - David J. , Rome, GA (more... ) --- ### Tune Ideas & Piping Links My repertoire includes many familiar Scottish and Irish tunes in all idioms. I also play hymns and even some popular songs. Let me know if you have a favorite. I'll be glad to offer suggestions. I have music appropriate for weddings, funerals or memorial services and other occasions: St. Andrews Day, Robert Burn's Birthday, St. Paddy's Day, or your loved one's birthday! Bagpipes at a Wedding There are a variety of ways to incorporate the pipes in a wedding. For example, often the pipes make a notable welcome as the guests arrive. You can incorporate them into the ceremony itself (typically the processional or recessional). Or have them provide music immediately after the service. Pipes are a fun way to lead guests from the ceremony to the reception area. Another option is piping during the cocktail hour. For a bagpipe processional, here are a few options: Traditional Wedding March (Wagner) Skye Boat Song (Outlander Theme) Love Divine (Hyfrydol tune) A Love Song for Deborah Anne (lovely 3/4 waltz signature) Amazing Grace Highland Wedding Highland Cathedral Mari's Wedding Ode to Joy Piping Samples Here are a couple recordings of me playing tunes from the above list. Here's "Captain Rogers Welcomes Emily Rose": And here is Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (Hyfrydol setting): Bagpipe Tunes for Memorials and Gravesides During and/or after the service, or at the graveside, typically the pipes play as the casket is carried from the hearse to graveside (often "Going Home," "MacCrimmon Will Never Return" or Danny Boy)... --- ### Piper's Tartans Tartan Color Schemes I wear one of two different tartans. So for your wedding (or any event), choose whichever tartan best matches your color scheme! The choices of kilt tartan cover the basics: red or green! Specifically, the tartans are Morrison (muted red with green stripes) and Isle of Skye (green with purple heather). Morrison Morrison Isle of Skye Isle of Skye Morrison - I wear the Morrison most often. It's a beautiful kilt and acknowledges my family heritage. A family bible hid a swatch of the tartan for years until 1935, when someone discovered it. As the Scottish Register of Tartans records, "The bible contained a hand written reference to the tartan and was dated 1747, one year after the proscription of Highland dress. " Isle of Skye - A fairly new and very beautiful tartan. According to the Scottish Register of Tartans, Mrs Rosemary Nicolson Samios registered the Isle of Skye tartan in 1992. The tartan "was selected through a worldwide competition won by weaver Angus MacLeod from Lewis, who produced the first commercial quantities in traditional kilt weight in 1993 at Lochcarron Weavers. " The colors of the tartan depict those of the beautiful 'Misty Isle' of Skye. Dress Up or Down Optionally, tell me the degree of formality or casualness of your event. I can adjust the details of my highland "kit" to include different types of sporrans as well as types of shirts, ties or no tie, and variations of vest and jacket. For example,... --- ### Hiring Rob Why Hire Rob My aspiration to play bagpipes started early Skilled piper ◊ Extensive performing experience ◊ Attention to the details ◊ Flexible and adaptable ◊ Arrive early, prepared ◊ "Bringing" the music! Active solo grade 2 competitor in the EUSPBA (see Choosing a Piper). I started pipes as a child in the seminal Wilmington Pipe Band under Robert Gilchrist, who played with Robert Hardie in Scotland before coming to the U. S. Ever striving to improve, today I am privileged to receive coaching from the great Roddy Macleod, MBE. I am Pipe Major of the Atlanta Pipe Band. For the past several years I've been honored to be the soloist playing Flowers of the Forest at the Stone Mountain Highland Games' annual remembrance. Piper of the Day I have extensive experience playing for funerals and memorials, for weddings, for party cocktail hours, golf events and tournaments and more. See the "Recommendations" page for what clients have had to say. Go to the Tunes page on this site to hear sample audio clips of my playing. Click Here to see me playing Amazing Grace with Choir and Orchestra at the Korean-American Friendship Concert. (This is the Mack Wilberg setting. ) Hire Robbie: 404-434-7998 robt. g. rogers@gmail. com (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i=r;i=i||function{ (i. q=i. q||). push(arguments)},i. l=1*new Date;a=s. createElement(o), m=s. getElementsByTagName(o);a. async=1;a. src=g;m. parentNode. insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www. google-analytics. com/analytics. js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-105685717-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); --- ### Highland Bagpipes for Your Special Event Welcome to North Georgia Piper! If you are looking for a bagpiper to play for your special event or memorial, you have come to the right place! Please contact me to discuss your needs and how I may serve you. Rob 404-434-7998 robt. g. rogers@gmail. com --- ### My Account --- ### Checkout --- ### Cart --- ### Shop --- ### On Piping --- ### Contact Rob Hire Your Piper - Contact Rob For a good time, just add bagpipes! For a funeral, memorial, wedding or other special event, call or text me at 404-434-7998 or email robt. g. rogers@gmail. com Have questions about bagpipes or hiring a bagpiper in Atlanta or North Georgia? Have a look at Choosing a Piper, Cost and Why Hire Rob, or simply contact me. Follow me on Instagram Rob Rogers - North Georgia Piper (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i=r;i=i||function{ (i. q=i. q||). push(arguments)},i. l=1*new Date;a=s. createElement(o), m=s. getElementsByTagName(o);a. async=1;a. src=g;m. parentNode. insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','https://www. google-analytics. com/analytics. js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-105685717-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); --- ### Welcome to North Georgia Piper Thrill to the Sound of Bagpipes Bagpiper Robbie Rogers Bagpiper for Atlanta and North Georgia - Whether you need a bagpiper for a funeral, to celebrate a wedding, or for your Burns dinner, St. Patrick's Day or birthday party, I will play for you.  The Great Highland Bagpipes create a sound like no other. The sound of a well-tuned, well-played Highland bagpipe brings a special exhilaration, touching the heart and stirring the soul. For quality piping in a professional manner in Atlanta and across north Georgia, text or call me: 404-434-7998. I also play Scottish Smallpipes when you need something mellower and less bold! On Hiring a Piper On this site you can find help choosing a piper, what the cost will be, and what my qualifications are. If you need a piper for a funeral or memorial, a wedding, or a civic function, call me.  My experience includes: WeddingsGolf tournamentsFuneralsFamily GatheringsMilitary banquetsGraduationsRetirementsHoliday EventsKirkingsMemorial ServicesChurch CelebrationsCorporate & Civic EventsRugby MatchesSt. Patrick's Day Parties Experienced Bagpiper for Atlanta and North Georgia Robbie playing the Annual Remembrance at the Stone Mountain Highland Games An active competitive solo piper, I am a member of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association and of the Competitive League of Amateur Solo Pipers (CLASP) in Scotland. I am also the pipe major of the Atlanta Pipe Band. I have years of performing experience. Let's talk about any questions or wishes you have. I look forward to serving you. Phone, text or email me: 404-434-7998 robt. g. rogers@gmail. com Image credit: American painter Matthew Bird... --- ### About the Pipes About the Pipes North Georgia Piper Bagpipes are an ancient instrument, with roots in the ancient Mediterranean. Today you will find a variety of types of bagpipes and pipers in several regions. The most familiar pipers are descendants of Celtic people, particularly Scotland and Ireland, but including France and Spain. In fact I had a French neighbor who loved the pipes, having grown up in Brittany, France. The Great Highland Bagpipes (more... ) --- --- ## Posts ### Sacred Sounds and Spaces: Bagpipes Here's a program about pipes with Seamus Dunning and Rob Rogers, produced and written by Adam Van Wickle for AIB TV. Adam sits down with the two pipers to talk about the origins of the bagpipes, the rarely told history of this ancient instrument, and the unique sound of bagpipes. Hear Seamus, Rob, (and a few other folks at the start, though you might want to skip over the first 2. 5 minutes and start with the program titles) playing their respective pipes (Seamus on uilleann pipes and Rob on the great highland pipes). View Sacred Sounds and Spaces: Bagpipes - AIB TV If you would like Rob to play for you, contact him here. Find more about Seamus here. --- ### Piping in a Pandemic Early Friday morning my phone rang. It was an American calling from Spain, which got my attention (he’s from Atlanta metro area). His aunt here in Georgia had just lost her son. Although he and his wife are in Spain right now, he wanted to do something for her. She’s half-Scottish, he said. Would I go and play the pipes for her?   Of course. I went and played for the woman who had lost her son. I stood in her driveway, she sat at the edge of the garage with a couple friends near by. For an hour I played. It was a privilege. An advantage of the pipes in this present time is that you do not need to be very close to enjoy them. In fact they're nice from a bit of distance. Earlier in the week I played for a graveside service, while maintaining a safe social distance. Pandemic "Cancels" St. Patricks Day Of course, the spread of COVID-19 impacted St. Patrick’s Day events this year—organizers cancelled parades in Ireland and all over the U. S. Since then, Scottish Highland Games that were scheduled for this spring began postponing or cancelling. So Saturday March 14th was the last hurrah for pipers and drummers banding together. I was fortunate that Saturday to play in one event with North Georgia Pipes & Drums in Atlanta and three events on my own, including an Irish pub and a couple private parties. Atlanta Pipe Band events Saturday and Sunday were... --- ### The Battle's Over Veterans Day - Veterans Memorial Walk, Newtown Park, Johns Creek, GA It was still dark when I arrived at Newtown Park in Johns Creek at 5:45 a. m. on November 11th, on the chilly side in the upper 30’s. I saw Kari’s big Toyota 4 Runner in the parking lot already. No Bob. (Surprise—he’s usually the first one anywhere we go. ) I got out of my car and jumped into the passenger seat of Kari’s warm truck to go over the details. A car pulled into the lot. Not Bob. Another one. Also not Bob. A guy got out and walked over to us. Kari lowered the window. “Do you know what the plan is? ” the guy asked. I didn't know who he was and could not be certain why he was there. I replied “I know what our plan is. ” In fact he was there because he had heard about what we were planning to do. He was a veteran. As it neared six, Kari and I got our pipes out, put on our glengarries, and headed over to Veterans’ Memorial Walk, followed now by five folks. We went up to the top of the stairs at the start of the Walk, turned, and at 6:00 a. m. , struck up and played “The Battle’s O’er. ” Just as we were striking in, another car pulled up, a kilted figure jumped out and ran. Bob joined us just in time to add harmonies on the repeat.... --- ### The Ranger at the Funeral For many people, bagpipes are often closely associated with funerals. As pipers, playing funerals is just one of the things we do. Nevertheless, it’s an important one. And it is a privileged role. The unique sound and music of great highland bagpipes has a way of piercing the soul. In circumstances of a funeral, the pipes both call forth and assuage powerful emotions. Not long ago I drove two hours southeast from Atlanta to a small Georgia town to play a funeral. It was a beautiful summer day. At the old town cemetery the crowd slowly gathered. The earliest arrivals had skipped the crowded church and just turned up at the cemetery to say goodbye to a notable town leader (and by a few accounts, a colorful character). The rest arrived little by little, working their way from the church on foot or by car. I played as folks gathered. Finally the brief graveside service began, and after the pastor’s prayer, I went into Amazing Grace. A few more words and the brief ceremony ended. I struck up again and, by prior request, played “I’ll Fly Away” and then went into a set of lighter tunes. The family and considerable number of friends visited, refreshed by lemonade and cookies set up in the shade of ancient trees. I stood a little ways off to play. A lone young man came and leaned against a tree near me. I thought he was coming aside to smoke, but there was no smoke.... --- ### Up/Down, Sharp/Flat – Sorting Things Out “You can tune those things? ” my son asks with an incredulous expression. It’s his favorite bagpipe joke. Though many may have seriously wondered, yes, you can (and must) tune bagpipes. Friend and EUSPBA Judge Al McMullin once told me, “It doesn’t matter how well you play, if the pipes are out of tune, no one wants to listen! ” Tuning the bagpipes involves matching three drones to the chanter. This is certainly critical, and it involves less than a hairline difference between “in” and “out” for each drone. But it also means tuning the chanter notes in relation to one another. Whether what we want can be called a well-tempered chanter I leave to better music scholars. I’ve read what we’re after on modern pipes is just intonation to the Mixolydian scale. Whatever it’s properly called, I remember Duke Ellington’s dictum (slightly out of context): If it sounds good, it IS good. When the chanter is properly balanced and the drone tuning “locked in,” the pipes will sound rich, “plaintive and sweet. ” Whereas a chanter or drones that are out of balance are discordant and lacking the harmonics that make a well-tuned pipe so pleasing. Only when the pipes are in tune can people enjoy the music we make. Balancing a chanter involves bringing the individual notes into alignment with one another. There are two adjustments that can be made (excluding, for the moment, manipulation of the reed itself, which is another challenging aspect). One is to raise... --- ### Ceol Mor Catharsis My sisters love the bagpipes. Friends love the pipes. People I don’t know in the park or at a gig tell me they love the pipes. As a piper I am always glad to hear it. But there is a kind of music I play that not everyone loves. It’s called ceol mor, which means great music. It’s also called piobaireachd (pronounced “pibroch” or “pea-brock”) which means, simply, “piping. ” It was the original great highland bagpipe music. It is referred to as the “classical” music of pipes. In form, piobaireachd comprises a theme (the “ground” or urlar) followed by a structured set of variations with increasingly complex ornamentation, ultimately returning to the simple theme. Most of the time when someone hires a piper, they’re looking to hear ceol beag – “little music” – i. e. the dance tunes: jigs, hornpipes, strathspeys, reels. Marches are popular, and a few slow airs are always nice. The exception to the above is funerals. When someone calls a piper for a funeral, they’re usually looking for a hymn or a melancholy air or lament. Sometimes that’s all they want – one, maybe two tunes. Amazing Grace is a familiar and regular choice, as is the spiritual Going Home. Those active about their Scottish heritage might request the traditional Flowers of the Forest. I’ve never been asked for a piobaireachd. About piobaireachd, one of my sisters says, "I don't get what you get from that. " Now I admit that piobaireachd, like scotch whisky,... --- ### The Worlds (2018) Wake Up! It's Time for the Party Ever been to a party that starts an hour before dawn and ends in the afternoon? Dragging ourselves up at 4:45 a. m. on a Saturday morning, we hop into the car and head over to band mates Will & Kathleen’s house. It's time for the North Georgia Pipes & Drums' World Pipe Band Championships watch party! The World Pipe Band Championships is already streaming live by the BBC from Glasgow Green in Glasgow Scotland. Will & Kathleen have a BIG screen TV. We can hear the bass drum outside in the driveway! (Reminds me of the Most Fascinating Man meme: "I don't always listen to bagpipes. But when I do, so do the neighbors. ") The Worlds It on! For pipe bands, The World Pipe Band Championships is the Superbowl. Every August pipers and drummers gather around screens connected to the internet to catch the live stream of the World Pipe Band Championships. Unless, of course, they’re at the Worlds. There were 216 bands from around the world there this year. That's 8,000 musicians across nine different grades, including several bands from the U. S. Our band, North Georgia Pipes & Drums, has gotten together to watch the Worlds for several years now. This year’s hosts unlocked their door at 4:30 a. m. Band president and fellow piper Bob was the first one there (as he is at pretty much every band event). The hosts’ two huge Newfie dogs greet arriving band... --- ---