One of highlights was a visit to The National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. This fascinating museum exists to promote the study of the music and history of the Great Highland Bagpipe.

During the tour of The National Piping Centre, IHA students charted the history of piping through the center’s vast collection. “Throughout our tour, we each took turns trying to play different pipes, which is not a simple feat,” Ms. Echeverría, Europe Trip moderator and IHA World Languages teacher said. “We learned that the bagpipe is an instrument of great antiquity, one that has its origins in the Middle East. It traveled through Europe and evolved alongside the diffusion of early civilization.”

The early “Dudel-Sack” gave rise to a number of European, Asian, and African folk bagpipes, namely, the Volynka (U.S.S.R.), the Bock (Germany), the Zukra (North Africa), the Gaita (Portugal and Spain), the Zampogna (Italy), the Cornemuse (France), the Moshug (India), the Zumarah (Egypt), and other Flemish, Polish, Greek, and Hungarian examples. “Who knew that Roman coins depict Nero playing the bagpipe, not the fiddle?” Ms. Echeverría said. “And who knew that the bagpipe is the regional instrument of Galicia, Spain?”

The IHA group, which worked with ACIS - The Leader in Quality Education Travel to plan this European adventure, was met by a bagpiper outside of the museum. He serenaded the group with a beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace. After the tour ended, our students were escorted to the dining room for a delicious dinner—the perfect conclusion to their time in Scotland.