About Us
Why “Carstairs” Bagpipes?
Well, that’s a good question. It started when my wife picked up my bagpipes and decided she was going to learn to play them. That was in 2014/2015 and 10 years later I still have not gotten them back.
It’s a family business and we live in Carstairs Alberta … I began by making protypes of things – including the GHBP and small-pipes and she would then test & demonstrate them… you get the idea. Another one of the “honey can you” requests was for a mouthpiece that was comfortable and stylish to compliment her (my) pipes that was not “black”..
She plays other instruments as well – clarinet, saxophone, guitar … the list is endless and I have become her “Band-Aide” insomuch as I do the bulk of the repairs and modifications to her instruments as well as clean up and overhaul any “new to her” instruments that she buys. Having the machinist and woodworking tools resulted in me making parts for her instruments and turning mouthpieces for her bagpipes as well as making and altering some of the pipe parts during repairs / restorations to suit her needs. That led to a few commissions to replicate vintage mouthpieces and other bagpipe parts for other pipers in the area and well… one thing led to another and soon a business was created so that you can get the same type of personal care and attention that is lovingly put into the work that I do for my wife.
Discover our Story
My wife – “The Stewart Piper” is a Stewart, born of Scottish parents and raised in the UK. She is the “Piper” and the professional musician in the family. I lost me pipes to her not long after we were married and while she is a fantastic Piper all I do is annoy the neighbors. We are both members of the Calgary St. Andrew’s Society and she is a member of The Alberta Society of Pipers & Drummers, competing at various events for 2 years now. She is also a member of a number of “other” pipe bands here in Canada as well as the UK and Europe.
My family lineage also includes Stewarts – as well as Gunn and Fraser and a few other clans. There has always been music in my life as well as working with my hands producing wood, steel and various other works of art. When my wife asked if I could repair a broken mouthpiece for her I said give me a while and let me see what I can come up with. What better way to show the clan tartan than by having a mouthpiece with the same colours.
I marched in parades and as part of a Drum Corps that won competitions back when I was a lad – I initially played the trumpet and later the Contra-bass – and I love live music of all types.
I not only make and repair bagpipes, I repair other instruments as well. Saxophones, clarinets, trumpets…. to name a few.
