Whistle Workshop with Ollie Rigg

Ollie Rigg hails from a rich highland piping background. Learning from aged 9 in Dumfries and Galloway, Ollie collected prizes in the Open Highland Games circuits as a teenager. While studying in Glasgow, he played with the Scottish Power Pipe Band from 2011-2013, during which time the band was consistently ranked in the top 3 bands in the World Championships. He has taught both large groups and provided 1-on-1 tuition at the College of Piping in Glasgow, where his attention was switched from competitive drive to playful and constructive learning. He takes pride in teaching in a meaningful way, helping students learn the music they enjoy with the least fuss. Ollie currently teaches a dozen students at the Scots Music Group in Edinburgh, where beginners are able to develop session and performance skills and confidence.
 
Although still playing highland and border pipes to a high standard, Ollie’s main focus is now mastering the Tin Whistle and Uilleann Pipes. This has generated greater musical diversity and capability in his tunes while maintaining a high technical ability. He worked part-time as a whistle-maker in the MK Whistle factory in Glasgow last summer. In the workshop, Ollie was mentored closely by Misha Somerville as he assembled, finished and quality-checked the Low D, F, G, and A MK-whistles. A regular on the Edinburgh session scene, Ollie also enjoys playing any of his wind instruments with various ceilidh bands.