The 2012 Summer Course will be held from 20 - 25 August 2012 in one of the most beautiful areas of England - the Cotswolds. Taking place at the Cotswold Conference Centre in Broadway, it is just over 20 miles from where bamboo pipes were first developed.
To quote from the Centre's website,
"Our dedicated conference venue, with 89 bedrooms, is set into the stunning Farncombe Estate, 370 acres of managed parkland with native woods, meadows and some of the best panoramas in the country. Our views over the Vale of Evesham and the Malverns to the Black Mountains of Wales will take your breath away."
Need we say more?
As well as the usual piping activities, there will be options in decoration, arranging music, and repairs. There is an early booking discount if a place is booked by 28 February 2012, and bursaries may be available to full Guild members. For further details, see the brochure.
And if you're coming from further away, why not stay a bit longer and make a proper holiday of it? The Centre offers bed & breakfast accommodation, so you could take time to visit the many beauty spots of the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills, or the historic cities of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick, Gloucester, Worcester, Banbury and Oxford. Or you could learn something new by taking a course at the Farncombe Estate.
It is easy to get to Broadway by road, and the Centre will collect from the nearby rail station upon request.
From 24-31 July 2011, the Guilde Française des Flûtes de Bambou hosted an International Course. Held at St Charles College in Athis Mons, the course will brought together pipers from all over the world. Photos can be seen here, and here, and here.
Halsway Playing Weekend
Late in October, when the leaves were at their peak, a baker's dozen of pipers gathered at Halsway Manor in Somerset for a playing weekend. This coincided with a playing weekend for a group of about 20 recorderists. One evening, the pipers played to the recorder group, and then we all played together. One of the recorderists filmed us while we played:
Not the best performance in the world, but not bad for only a day's preparation!
A good time was had by all, and the recorder players were very interested in our pipes.
A History of the Pipers' Guild
Who was Margaret James? Why did she start building bamboo pipes? What does this painting have to do with it? Where did it all begin? All these questions and more are answered in this new History. After 30 years of research, Shirley Drake's history of the Pipers' Guild is now available. With nearly 200 pages, including 12 pages of photographs, this A4 comb-bound book details the Guild's history from its very beginnings to the present day. The cost is £15 + £3 p&p. To order, contact Ted Drake. Read John Jordan's review here.
Forum
The Guild now runs a forum for anyone interested in chatting about pipes. Membership is free.
About Us
The Guild was founded in Britain in 1932. Its main aim is the threefold craft of making, playing and decorating bamboo pipes. Pipes are made for personal use, and are not sold - i.e. if you want to play one, you'll have to make one! The idea of making bamboo pipes has spread around the world, with groups and guilds in Great Britain, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, the U.S.A., and Japan. All of the guilds are members of a federation, which meets every five years at an international course.
What are Bamboo Pipes?
The bamboo pipe is a simple hand-made wind instrument, similar to a recorder but with a gentler tone. While looking for a recorder-type instrument to use with her schoolchildren, Margaret James stumbled across a Sicilian shepherd's pipe. After many experiments the simple treble pipe in D was perfected. Later a full quartet of pipes of alto in A & G, tenor in D and bass in G was developed. This range has since been extended to include sopranino in G, quartbass in D, and great bass in G. In addition, treble, alto, and tenor extended pipes with a range of an octave and a sixth or more are also made.
Why Bother?
Firstly, for the satisfaction: there is a special thrill in playing an instrument you have made yourself. Secondly, it makes you a craftsman as well as a musician. Thirdly, it is an ideal way of learning the rudiments of music. Pipes are made and tuned one note at a time; the complete beginner (of any age) learns to play their pipe as they make it. For more advanced players there is the pleasure of ensemble playing in trios, quartets and larger groups.
The 2012 Summer Course will be held from 20 - 25 August 2012 in one of the most beautiful areas of England - the Cotswolds. Taking place at the 
Who was Margaret James? Why did she start building bamboo pipes? What does this painting have to do with it? Where did it all begin? All these questions and more are answered in this new History. After 30 years of research, Shirley Drake's history of the Pipers' Guild is now available. With nearly 200 pages, including 12 pages of photographs, this A4 comb-bound book details the Guild's history from its very beginnings to the present day. The cost is £15 + £3 p&p. To order, contact