Michael Heagy has been playing the bagpipe for about eight years,but considers himself a novice. Before transitioning to the investment and skill set for the bagpipe kit, he studied with a practice chanter for a year to gain fingering skills and double-reed experience. He then purchased Highland Bagpipes made in Scotland and attended the Jim Thomson School of Piping and Drumming in Flagstaff AZ for a week to learn pressure control, more advanced techniques, and instrument manipulation. The School's director is Bruce Hitchens; MBE, BEM, and Queen's piper for several years. At his prior university, New Mexico Tech, he instructed a beginner practice chanter course with enrollment of five students. He participated in the Shriner's Pipeband in Abq, NM for a number of years, before moving to ROC and joining Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes and Drums, the largest band in Rochester and band for RIT ceremonies and many other ROC parades.
