Preparing to Play the Bag Pipes for the 84th Annual MMA Evensong

The following article was written by Cadet James Aldendifer ‘28.

Before enrolling in the bagpipes class at MMA, I did not know the instrument existed.

On December 13, 2025, at Evensong, I will perform "Little Drummer Boy” on the bagpipes, accompanied by drums. Feature photo: Aldendifer on the bagpipes during practice for 2025 Evensong.

In my bagpipes class, I learned the first notes, how to memorize, and rhythm beats. To be the best pipes player possible, I practiced with my chandler every day. If you don’t practice daily, and you go to play a song, you will get lightheaded and run out of breath. A chandler is a practice tool that you just blow into. The bottom part has about eight holes that your fingers cover to make different sounds.

Cadet Aldendifer practices the bagpipes in a stairwell at Mexico United Methodist Church during an Evensong rehearsal on Dec. 12, 2025.

After playing with the chandler for a couple of months, I moved to practice with the goose. A goose is a chandler and a bag that is filled with air. That bag is squeezed to continue the sound as you catch up on air. It’s not the whole set of pipes. It helps you learn how to squeeze the bag when a breath of air is needed.

The songs that we practiced were “Scotland the Brave,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “When the Saints,” and “America the Beautiful.” These songs are usually performed at an MMA review.

Once I memorized the songs and played them perfectly in class, I got a complete set of pipes. After I got them, there was a lot of confusion in my brain, “How do I set this up?”

My first bagpipe teacher, Stuart Mackenzie, helped me focus and learn how to play. I took the pipes home for more practice and to show my parents my progress.

In preparation for Evensong, I am focused on staying calm and bettering myself. I try to play while watching a funny video.  This is to prevent me from laughing or messing up. I am afraid that my peers or friends will laugh at me while I am performing.  By focusing, I will provide an excellent rendition of “Little Drummer Boy” for Evensong.

Photo from 2024 Evensong

As I perform “Little Drummer Boy” during Evensong, I will be dressed in a full Scottish bagpipe uniform. It consists of a kilt, which is a wrap- around, pleated woolen garment.

There is a purse known as sporran. The kilt does not have pockets. The sporran is for carrying various items. The sporran can be simple or elaborate. It will often feature tassels and clan insignia.

Cadet Aldendifer, center, plays the bagpipes in a military review during the 2024-25 academic year.

Kilt hose are long, knee-high woolen socks.  The socks are designed to be folded over garter flashes. The kilt hose normally feature clan tartans or argyle patterns.

Scottish flashes or kilt flashes are decorative fabric ties which are worn with the kilt hose. The flashes include a garter that secures the sock cuff. The flashes I wear have a red-and-white pattern. 

My shoes will be Ghillie Brogues, the traditional formal shoes when wearing a kilt. These shoes have long laces which wrap around the ankle. The shoes do not have a tongue. The design was intended to promote drainage.

The Glengarry is the type of hat which I will wear.  My Glengarry is all black; the same as my shoes. There is a silver MMA hat brass on the side and a little red ball in the top of the center of the Glengarry.

I am going to go out and to perform as the best bagpipe player I can be.

This article was written for the Journalism and Media Production class, fall 2025, taught by George Davison '68. Cadet Aldendifer is a sophomore from Lincoln, Nebraska.