Life @ EA

Welcome to our new blog series, where we shine a spotlight on the work and lives of some of our Accies. Each blog will look at each Accies journey having left the Academy, and will provide a little insight into their work now and their memories of their time at school.

This blog features James Carnegie, who is a current bagpipe instructor in Cambridge. After working in London for several years, James has followed his passion in piping, and hopes to expand the piping community in Cambridge!
 

Can you tell us about your piping background? Where did your passion of piping stem from?

In my boyish mind the pipes, along with Robert the Bruce and the Scottish rugby team, seemed to be the epitome of Scotland.  Whatever warrior and rugby dreams I might have had never quite came to fruition. However, I was able to learn the pipes thanks to James Burnet, who started me off in Prep V at Arboretum Road.  He was a vital catalyst in initiating the journey that resulted in me becoming a teacher of the pipes at the age of 49, even if the route here was rather circuitous! 

What are some of your fondest memories at your time piping at the EA?

Beating the Retreat on the Castle Esplanade was special, particularly when I did so one year with two of my cousins (one at Loretto, the other at Glenalmond) with our grandparents watching.  We still occasionally play together at family occasions.  I also have very fond memories of lessons in the CCF’s REME room behind the biology labs with Pipey Pride (Pipe Major Jimmy Pryde).  He would sit there smoking and telling me outrageous stories about his own life as a piper.  Additionally, two years running, thanks to Peter Wilmshurst, Rob Burnet (James’s son) and I were invited to play at Redford Barracks for a regimental dinner.  I remember raucous applause and the presentation of a regimental tie which I still have.  Rob was a much better piper than I was, but was an immensely helpful benchmark for me as I stumbled up the learning curve.

Competing in the Scottish Schools Competition each year was a little bitter-sweet as we came fourth each of the four years I was involved - but that was always the highlight of the season.

How long have you been teaching bagpipes, and why did you want to begin teaching?

I started three years ago, rather by accident when a parent at my children’s school got in touch through the Director of Music and asked if I would be interested in teaching their son.  Lochie is still a pupil and his playing is developing very well. My interest in teaching goes back to my experience leading Geits and Thirds at Blair House.  I worked with kids outdoors in Australia and in America but took a different career path after university and ended up working in Risk Management in the City of London.  However, the desire to teach in some shape or form never faded completely.

I combine my teaching with being the primary carer for our three children, something that my wife and I agreed I would take over the responsibility for three years ago when our nanny of nine years moved on.  I was looking for a career that provided the flexibility to look after the children and allow her to focus more on her own career.  She is a Public Health Consultant and has been incredibly busy since before the Covid pandemic hit the UK in a big way last year.  I feel truly fortunate to be able to combine looking after our children with teaching the pipes.  It’s a different career path to the one that would have been deemed the norm for an Edinburgh Accie when I was at the School!

You are now based in Cambridgeshire. Is there much of a piping community in the East Region of England?

There are pipers pretty much wherever you go in the world and there are several bands in and around the East Region.  However, Cambridge itself does not have much in the way of a piping scene.  Although it is still early days, I am hoping to develop something of a piping community in Cambridge, across the three schools that I teach in.  I know several ex-pipers locally who I am trying to coax out of retirement!

Who are some of your piping inspirations?

I’ve mentioned James Burnet and Pipey Pryde already.  My inspiration comes from so many sources.  There’s the likes of John Burgess (another Accie and one of the finest exponents of the pipe) and Donald Macpherson, but there are many more contemporary influences like Breabach and Bridgde Chaimbeul.  I am in regular contact with Douglas Gardiner (EA 1977-85) and Gordon Hislop (EA 1981-90) whom I piped with at school and have gone on to greater things in the piping world.

What do you enjoy most about piping and teaching the bagpipes?

The most satisfying thing is watching a young person who comes along aged maybe eight or nine with no knowledge or experience of the instrument and within two or three years he or she is playing a full set of pipes.  I also like the fact that I am breaking new ground here in Cambridge. 

I still love playing the pipes.  It wasn’t until I took up the pipes again in my forties that I began to appreciate the wonderful things that happens to the human mind, body and soul when we make music.  There is nothing lovelier than playing an instrument and a tune that has been around for hundreds of years but still has relevance and impact today.

For more on James please visit: www.cambridgebapipes.com

Do you want to share your story? Email accies@edinburghacademy.org.uk