I currently live in Franklin, TN (before that, in Seattle WA...before that, in Scottsdale, AZ.).  I'm about 25% Scottish (my maternal grandmother was a Montgomery), and I suppose this played some role in inspiring me to pick up the pipes.  Mainly, I love music (I played a lot of piano and trombone growing up and in college: classical, orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz band, small combo jazz), love learning to play instruments well ("picking" away at banjo a bit now too, but bagpipes have the priority slot), love a good challenge, and love the sound of the pipes and drums!  I have been working on the pipes since May 2020,  taking lessons and chipping away.  After moving to the Nashville area, I recently joined the Nashville Pipes and Drums.  As a new grade 5 player, I'm happily standing on the bottom rung of the band -- and thoroughly enjoying myself!  I'm here at Dojo U just to soak up all the info that I can on how to improve on this captivating, strange, octopus-like, insanely loud instrument.