The Real Problem

You've Wanted to Learn Bagpipes for Years.
So What's Stopping You?

Maybe you heard a piper play at a funeral and something hit you deep in the chest. Maybe it was a wedding procession that gave you chills. Maybe you're Scottish by blood and you've always felt a pull toward this instrument.

Whatever it was... you told yourself: "Someday I'll learn."

But then you looked into lessons. And everything felt confusing. How do you even start? What instrument do you buy? Where do you find a teacher who actually teaches beginners? Most online resources are made for people who already know how to play. And the few teachers out there? They'll have you grinding through boring exercises for months before you ever tackle a real tune.

So "someday" becomes next year. Next year becomes five years. And now that bucket list item is still sitting there, uncrossed.

Here's what nobody tells you: Most bagpipe students quit within six months. Not because they're untalented. Because traditional teaching is designed to make them fail.

You don't need more willpower. You need a different system. One built specifically for adults who've never played an instrument. One that gets you playing real tunes, not just running scales, from the very start.

That's why I built The Pipers Circle.

Meet Your Teacher

I Was a Terrified Introvert Who Threw Up Before My First Competition!

My name is Gary Guth. I'm 68 years old, and I've been teaching bagpipes since 1978.

But I wasn't born a confident performer. I was a fearful, nervous introvert. The kind of guy who got physically sick before performing in front of people. I literally threw up before my first solo competition.

The thing that changed me was a system of bagpipe competitions run by the Pacific Coast Pipe Band Association. When I realized that they actually wanted to help me and not berate my performance, I started to perform with ease. A little later in life, I had a boss named Dan who gave me an ultimatum; kicked my ass and told me I could be fired for being disrespectful or read "How to Win Friends and Influence People". The combination of these two things changed my life. Over time, I went from someone who couldn't make eye contact to a performer who does more than 100 gigs a year, including weddings, funerals, parties and corporate events.

And along the way, I built something I didn't expect: a teaching system that takes complete beginners, people who've never played a single instrument, and turns them into independent musicians who can pick up a book of a thousand tunes and play any one of them.

I don't just teach bagpipes. I teach you how to read music, understand rhythm, and become musically self-sufficient. That's the difference. My students don't need me forever. But most of them stay for six, seven, eight years anyway. Because there's always something new to learn.

30+

Years Teaching

100+

Gigs Per Year

6-8

Avg. Student Years

1,000+

Tunes in the Library

What Makes This Different

The Three Pillars of The Pipers Circle

Pillar One

Rocket Rhythm: The Skill That Unlocks 1,000+ Tunes

Here's what most people don't know, most bagpipers can't read rhythm. They learn tunes by imitation, copying what someone else plays. That means they get stuck. I once worked with a pipe band that had 20 pipers, 20 tunes, and was 20 years old, with zero original members. People learned their 20 tunes, got bored, and left.

Rhythm is my specialty. It's what students come to me to learn after failing with other teachers. I've spent decades refining a system that turns rhythm into a language you can understand. So instead of memorizing five songs and hitting a wall, you can open any book of music and play what's on the page.

"I had a student from Sydney, Australia. Came to me after studying with another teacher for two years. His biggest issue? Lack of rhythm training. Within weeks of learning my system, he was sight-reading better and developing tunes faster."

Pillar Two

The Venus Flytrap: A Curriculum Engineered to Keep You Going

90% of bagpipe students quit within six months. Not because they lack talent. Because traditional teaching gives them nothing to hold onto. You grind through exercises for months and never feel like a bagpiper.

I built my entire curriculum around psychological checkpoints, moments designed to get you hooked on this instrument.

Your first tune is a real song. Not an exercise. The moment you finish it, something clicks: "I just played a song on the bagpipes." Endorphins hit. You want more. Then comes Amazing Grace, probably the most recognized melody in the world. You play it for your spouse. His/her eyes light up. That's when I know I've got you.

By tune seven, Scotland the Brave, you've learned 99% of the technique you need to play just about any tune in the repertoire. You realize you're actually a bagpiper now. You're not dependent on me anymore, but you want to stay.

"My students don't stay for months. They stay for six, seven, eight years. I'm teaching the sons of my original students."

Pillar Three

The Weekly Prescription: Your Buddy Who Won't Let You Quit

The number one reason adult learners fail isn't talent, time, or age. It's confusing. They don't know what to practice. They don't know if they're doing it right. They feel lost and alone.

That's why I don't teach you "bagpipes for the next five years." My job is to teach you how to practice in the coming week!

Every week, you get a specific assignment: which exercise, how many times, what to focus on, and when to post a video for feedback. Zero confusion. You know exactly what to do.

And I become your buddy. If you disappear for a week, I'm texting you. If you miss two weeks, I'm calling you. If you're struggling, we figure it out together. I also have an ejector seat. If you're not practicing and not committed, I'll tell you. I have a moral code. I won't keep taking your money if you're not doing the work.

"I tell my students: set your alarm 30 minutes early each morning. Practice before work. Tell your family: this 30 minutes is sacred practice time. That's all you need. Anything you do at night is a bonus that gets you to your goal sooner!"

Inside The Pipers Circle

Everything You Need to Go from Complete Beginner to Confident Piper

The Complete Video Curriculum

We offer pre-recorded lessons you can progress through at your own pace. Pause, rewind, rewatch as many times as you need. See fingerings up close, hear demonstrations, and follow a structured path from your first note to playing full Highland bagpipes.

Bagpipes for Beginners: 23 foundational lessons
Rocket Rhythm: 9 modules taking you from zero to sight-reading
Systemic Progression: Stick → Practice Chanter → Kitchen Pipe → Full Pipes
Every tune demonstrated and explained, from Scots Wha Hae to Scotland the Brave and beyond
Equipment guides so you know exactly what to buy (and what to avoid)

Weekly Group Coaching with Gary

This is where the real magic happens. Every week, we get on a live call together. You bring your questions, your struggles, your progress, and I give you custom guidance right there. You'll also learn from other students' questions, which is invaluable.

Direct access to Gary every single week
Custom guidance for your specific situation
"My job is to teach you how to practice THIS WEEK"
Learn from other students at every level

The Private Community

You're not doing this alone. You're joining a group of people on the same journey, from complete beginners to advancing students. Post practice videos, get feedback, find accountability partners, and get support 24/7. To reiterate...

24/7 support from fellow students
Post videos and get real feedback
Accountability partners who keep you on track
Advanced students helping beginners, the buddy system in action

Equipment Guidance & Purchasing Support

I'll tell you exactly what to buy, when to buy it, and where to get it at the right price. I've been working with the same trusted supplier for 30 years. No cheap Amazon bagpipes. No wasted money on gear you don't need yet.

Phase-by-phase equipment recommendations
Access to wholesale pricing through Gary's 30-year supplier relationships
Know exactly when you're ready to upgrade

Common Questions

Straight Answers from Gary

"What if I'm too old?"

I have students in their 70s. One of my students, Ken, is 70 and practices four hours a day. Another couple, both 72, have been with me for six years. Age is not the issue. Commitment is. If you have a least 30 minutes a day, you have enough to make it happen.

"I've never played any instrument. Can I really do this?"

Most of my students have never played an instrument before. That's who this program was built for. You don't need to be "musical." You need to be willing to follow the system. I handle the rest.

"I don't have a lot of free time."

You need 30 minutes to an hour a day. Set your alarm 30 minutes earlier. Practice before work. Tell your family: this 30 minutes is sacred. If you genuinely don't have 30 minutes, you're not ready, and that's okay. Come back when you are.

"Can't I just learn from YouTube?"

You can try. But YouTube won't give you personal feedback. Won't correct your hand position. Won't give you The Weekly Prescription. Won't call you when you disappear. If you want cookie-cutter, go online. If you want results from a proven 28-year system with a real teacher, work with me.

"What if I fail like I've failed at other things?"

That's exactly why I built the Venus Flytrap. The psychological hooks at Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave keep you engaged. Plus, you'll have me as your buddy, and a whole community behind you. If you're doing the work, I won't let you fail.

Join The Pipers Circle

Choose Your Path

Two ways to join. One mission: get you playing.

Monthly Membership

$147/mo

Cancel anytime. No contract.

Weekly drip-fed video curriculum (new lessons each week)
Weekly group coaching calls
Private community access
Direct messaging for questions
Equipment guidance

Practice chanter + book available at checkout (~$99)

Join Monthly: $147/mo

Annual Membership

$1,497/yr

Just $125/month. Save over $260/year

Full access to entire curriculum immediately INSTANT
Weekly group coaching + private community
FREE Kitchen Pipes ($499 value) BONUS
All 3 Physical Books shipped to you (~$100 value) BONUS
Total bonuses: $600+ in free value

First 10 annual members get 1 FREE hour of private coaching with Gary ($150+ value)

Join Annual: $1,497/yr

Gary's Personal Guarantee

If you're not seeing progress, if my system isn't working for you, I'll work with you personally to fix it. My reputation is built on results. Your success is my success. I've been doing this for 28 years. I'll be here to help!

One More Thing

Your Bucket List Isn't Getting Any Shorter.

If you're 45 years-old right now and you wait five years, you'll be 50. If you're 55, you'll be 60. Time doesn't stop.

At some point, you'll look back and think: "I wish I'd started when I first thought about it."

I'm 68 years old. I don't know how much longer I'll be doing this at this level. But right now, I'm here. The system is built. The community is ready. And I'm looking for people who are serious about finally crossing this off their list.

If you're willing to commit to 30 minutes a day, I'll move heaven and earth to help you succeed.