Make your own Hebridean Feadan
The National Piping Centre, Glasgow, 11–12 August — part of Piping Live! 2026
Craft a Highland practice chanter using natural materials that cost next-to-nothing with Barnaby Brown.
Day 1 (Tuesday 10am – 12 noon) make reeds from narrow straws and get them sounding well in a jumbo straw.
Day 2 (Wednesday 10am – 12 noon) make eight fingerholes and a protective case.
Organised by the Pibroch Network
This workshop continues a Hebridean tradition consistent with ancient Egyptian pipes buried 1400 BCE. Join us working with nature using thatching reed and straws of ancient grains you can harvest in the wild, grow from seed, or order online (the “eco” drinking straws that replace plastic).
All materials will be provided for you to take away a working chanter with spare reeds. Age 8+ (under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult). Suitable for families and music teachers. The make-your-own process, learning to cover one hole at a time, is ideal for beginners.
If you can’t attend both days, come along anyway! If you run out of time, you can finish your chanter at home. Two days gives you time to make mistakes and to learn the art of getting straw reeds to sound as good as this:
Decker Forrest was taught to make thatching reed practice chanters and barley straw chanter reeds by Calum Beaton (Calum Eairdsidh Choinnich) of Stoneybridge, South Uist. Barnaby Brown and Marco Sciascia have reconstructed ancient pipes in the Turin Egyptian Museum which were made using the same materials and techniques 3,400 years ago. Read more here.
Barnaby Brown
Barnaby Brown is a performer-researcher whose work bridges scholarship, instrument reconstruction, and creative practice. Internationally recognised for reviving the ancient polyphonic pipes of Celtic, Mediterranean, and Mesopotamian civilizations, he combines deep historical knowledge with a passion for performance and vocabelizing (how to “sing” the pipes). His collaborations span universities, conservatoires, Early Music ensembles, intercultural ensembles, and all-age workshops in museums. A co-founder of Lotos Lab, he brings ancient evidence to life, balancing rigorous research with imaginative artistry.
Sign up here
Got a question? Contact us at:
Lotos Lab: +44 78 1000 1377 • events@lotos-lab.com
If you would like to hear about future events like this:
If you would like to support us developing opportunities, widening access, and publishing resources, please consider joining our Patreon. Every little helps!