Bagpipes · Theremins · Mad Science
ABOUT ME
Hallo,
My name is Penny and my hobby is making musical instruments.
Growing up, my parents instilled in us a spirit of exploration, of science, and a willingness to experiment and give things a try. When i was college age i discovered a love of folk music and instruments, and kind of realised that was what my life was really all about. I started playing the tinwhistle and eventually tried making my own. I mean, it was a tube with six holes - how hard could it be? Oh, i found out.
A few years later i tried making a set of Scottish smallpipes out of plumbing pipe, hobby shop brass tubing and lots and lots of epoxy. This all happened in my family's basement workshop, with no real tools fancier than a hacksaw and power drill. The pipes were super ugly but worked well enough. I was well and truly hooked, and i had aspirations of making fine instruments someday.
In 1996 i moved to Victoria BC, and i soon met an instrument maker and musical mad scientist named Rob Moore. Instantly i thought "i want to be this guy when i grow up," and i still think that today. He became a good friend and mentor, and taught me what i needed to know about machining and bagpipe making.
Today i make bagpipes of different kinds, theremins, and whatever other musical and mad science projects that need doing and seem like a good idea at the time.
