Bagpipes Driving You Nuts?--He’s Got a Mum Idea

GATESHEAD, England —  A British technology teacher said Friday he has invented a gadget that could stop bagpipe-players from driving their neighbors mad.

Brian Watchman-Atkinson of Gateshead in northeastern England said he got the idea while attending a Scottish wedding. Bagpipes have a distinctive sound that some people find annoying.

To use Atkinson’s device, the player does not blow pipes but rather fingers a chanter--the pipe on which the melody is played--and the notes are recorded. They can then be played back later using headphones.

“The machine reacts as bagpipes would but only the person playing can hear it. It is better than driving everyone else mad--very useful for practicing,” Atkinson said.