Welcome to the website of John R. Recknagel in Atlanta Georgia.

Piper for hire for all occasions for Weddings, Funerals, plus Corporate and Private Functions and parties:

The pipes add a special quality and dimension to any occasion. The sound can be both joyous and sad, but it adds a special touch to your occasion; nonetheless, the pipe sound makes the occasion so much more memorable.

What the piper plays is just as important. There are many traditional tunes used for weddings and funerals, so I have written a book of music on them.

You may have a special tune in mind that you want to hear played. If it is do-able on the pipes, I can usually work it out. Recently I had a request for “As Time Goes By” for a funeral. With a bit of forethought I was able to do it for the children of the deceased.

I also offer the service for a fee, of writing your own special tune for your occasion, and will present the manuscript to you as a memento of the occasion.

Not only have I played hundreds of weddings, funerals and events, but even a Bar Mitzvah! Therefore, you do not have to be Scottish or Irish to love pipes for that special event of yours.

Picking a piper for your special occasion:

Many pipers make themselves available for gigs and things. However, be aware that you want to hire the best that you can. As in anything else, price should not be your sole determining factor.

Does the piper you have contacted have any experience? It does not mean that the piper has been playing a long time either. It is important to have the proper experience and training to do a good job for you.

Someone who refers to themselves as a “professional musician”, and has taught themselves to play, is usually an indicator they are not necessarily  a good piper who is properly trained and plays in the correct manner and ‘playing in the correct manner’ is one who has taken lessons and reached a high level of proficiency on the instrument.

Ask the piper if they play in competition for soloists and bands. If they do not, then there has to be some reason why.

If the person is a competitive piper, then the piper should have reached a good level of playing. Ask the potential piper what the level of competition they have attained. The highest is the open or professional level, then moving down in proficiency to grade 1, 2, 3, 4 - with 4 being the lowest level of player. In addition, competition judges grade pipe bands in the same manner.

The highest level for bands is Grade 1 and again going down in proficiency to 2, 3, 4, and 5. If they play in a higher-grade band (i.e.: 1, 2 or 3), then the piper is probably a very decent player.

My credentials:

I am the Pipe Major Emeritus of the Atlanta Pipe Band, which is the Premier pipe band in the Atlanta area with three units within the band - grades 3, 4 and 5. I've just retired after 20 years with the band and 15 years as the Pipe Major - the musical leader for the pipe band and lead the Grade 3 unit.

Personally, I have been playing pipes for more than 48 years. I have played in both solo and band contests, and reached the level of Open Professional piper in solos, until I retired from solo competitions. I have played with pipe bands at a grade 1 level in Ontario, Canada, and have competed at the Worlds Pipe Band Championships many times over the years, held annually in Glasgow, Scotland in August.

Currently besides playing with the band, I am an accredited adjudicator for both solo and band competitions, and serve on both the Eastern U.S. Pipe Band Association and the Pipers Pipe Band Society of Ontario judge’s panels.

I have been a teacher of piping for about 35 years and have numerous students who have gone on to success at the various levels of piping competition; and at one time, I was the director of piping and drumming at the Ohio Scottish Arts School held at the end of June at Oberlin College. Unfortunately, I had to give it up due to work commitments. If you hire me for your occasion, I will give you the best that you can get!

Feel free to browse the site to find information for special occasions, published teaching materials, playing for dancers, judging, CDs, photos, biographical data - plus links to other sites.

Site updated January 2012

Copyright 2005 JRR

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