PennWest Edinboro will offer a two-day virtual beginner’s boot camp in January designed to introduce students, employees and community members to one of the campus’s most cherished traditions: the sound of the bagpipes.

The boot camp will be held January 12 and 13 from 7:30–8:30 p.m. Participants should plan to attend both one-hour sessions. Open to ages 10 and up, the program requires no musical experience, and all instructional music will be provided free of charge. Participants will need to purchase an entry-level practice instrument, typically costing around $80.

Led by Palmer Shonk, director of Edinboro Pipes and Drums, the boot camp is designed to make bagpiping approachable, fun and rooted in strong fundamentals. Attendees will learn essential skills such as how to hold the instrument, play the scale and begin developing core bagpipe technique.

For Shonk, who began playing the bagpipes at age 10 after attending the Highland Games near his hometown of Ligonier, offering opportunities for beginners is a meaningful part of building the next generation of pipers.

“What drives me to keep teaching is the joy of seeing my students master some new concept or piece of music,” he said. “Once they have good fundamentals, learning and mastering new music comes more quickly.”

Shonk, an internationally experienced performer and instructor, joined PennWest Edinboro in fall 2024 with a commitment to strengthening the campus pipe band and expanding opportunities for new learners. The band plays an essential role in Edinboro’s Scottish heritage, performing at major campus events including orientation, convocation and commencement.

“The pipe band at the Edinboro campus helps to facilitate that Fighting Scot mentality by bringing tradition to big events on campus,” Shonk said. “Many students end up thinking about the pipes after they graduate in a nostalgic way.”

The virtual boot camp invites anyone – students, faculty, staff or members of the broader community – to become part of that tradition.

To sign up or request additional information, contact Palmer Shonk at shonk_p@pennwest.edu