"For again, I hear you are piping, for I knew the tune so well, you rouse the heart to wander and be free."

With Wild beaches, deep lochs, romantic castles, and tunes playing on the bagpipe, Scotland is truly breathtaking. The British Royals, especially the Queen, wake up on tunes of bagpipes. The Piper of the Sovereign has filled the position in the royal household since 1843. 

King Edward VIII was a proficient player of the Highland bagpipe. He frequently played a tune around the table after dinner until his later years, sometimes wearing a white kilt. 

The mystic and romantic beauty of Scotland cannot complete without tunes on bagpipes. The music lovers' and students' love for bagpipes comes eventually and naturally. 

Often, Scottish bagpipes are nevertheless an integral part of England, Ireland, France, and different forms throughout Europe and some parts of the Asian continent. 

An Overview Of Bagpipes

Bagpipes emerged as a pastoral instrument. It's because of material availability (wood, reeds, and animal skin) in the countryside to shepherds and herders. We found many references to the bagpipes in art and literature since the ancient period. 

Today bagpipes have become an integral part of the martial tradition. It also associates with marching bands of specific military units. Certain military groups have pipers. 

Apart from bands belonging to the armed forces, bagpipes are in groups of schools and bands belonging to other academic institutions. 

Now let's see the 4 best colleges which are one of the best in the world to learn bagpiper:

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University offered a study program, a bachelor's degree in music. You can get a complete grounding in music as well as specific instructions on the instrument like bagpiping. 

Students interested in learning to play the bagpipes could enroll in this degree program. Aspiring and skilled students worldwide get allured to Carnegie Mellon. This is because of its extraordinary well-regarded program in fine arts. 

It is a perfect home for students who get drawn to this Scottish heritage and are willing to continue playing in a pipe band throughout their undergraduate years.

Carnegie Mellon has its own Pipes and Drums band comprises current students and alumni. 

Bagpiping has been an integral part of the campus life at Carnegie Mellon University since 1939. That's quite a period if you ask me. 

The University of Glasgow

The University of Glasgow provides a unique opportunity for Scottish music/piping students to study Scottish Culture and heritage combined with an exploration of Scottish music.

It gives access to fantastic teaching and a unique chance to experience backstage working with the Piping Live Festival. The National Piping Centre delivers the experience. 

Additionally, it allows students to continue their academic work and gain transferable credits to their partner educational institutions and obtain undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. 

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland offers a full-length four-year BA (Scottish Music-Piping) and postgraduate Diploma, Masters, and Ph.D. qualifications. It is also one of the 15 best music schools in the world.

But there are a couple of other Universities abroad which have a partnership arrangement with the Scottish Universities.

The RCS partners with the National Piping Center to offer piping programs, allowing interested students to pursue a degree in bagpiping. 

It is in line with the Scottish tradition, which still adores the music culture. With this degree, students can focus on studying all piping forms depending on what they select when joining the University. 

Additionally, you will also develop and enhance your skills under some of the institution's best players. The best of all is that you will have the chance to attend workshops to learn more in small groups.

Besides knowing the art of bagpiping, you will also learn some history, traditions, contexts, repertoire, which will help you become an expert in what you do. 

Finally, you will also have a chance to learn and appreciate other traditions. 

You can find out more about Undergraduate BMus with Honours here. Likewise, you can find out more about the Master of Music (MMus) through this link.

University of Edinburgh

Upon joining the University of Edinburgh, you will introduce the history of the Great Highland Bagpipe. Additionally, you will have a chance to learn the essential playing hacks that you can implement fast.

This learning will get conducted in weekly sessions, tuition sessions. It is also important to note that you will learn the exodus of bagpiping in its culture, as well as its international setting. 

Undergraduate Course: The Highland Bagpipe: History, Context, and Performance. Check out this to find out more.

Bottom Line

Bagpipers occupy a somewhat sophisticated world, inhabited by devotees and specialists, as well as practitioners. Perhaps not surprisingly, the passion for bagpiping shows no sign of fading and has got globalized in today's world than before. 

We can probably put forth like it is a fine whiskey, with a tiny taste, that may hook for life. If you have a passion for bagpiping, follow your "personal legend" by pursuing it. 

Don't blame yourself later for not following your dream when you have the opportunity today. And because it's something that relies on your interest, there is no doubt that you will succeed. Go for it, mate.