Bagpipelessons.com makes New York Times front-page
One of the most powerful newspapers in the world, The New York Times, this week featured piping on its front page when Jori Chisholm’s Bagpipelessons.com was included in a story on online music instruction. As a testament to the marketing power that such coverage can bring, Chisholm has since received inquiries from all over the world.
The article was featured on the front page of the first section of the print edition, as well as on the online version. The print edition has a daily circulation of nearly 1.2-million, with online getting about 350,000 readers each day.
The article profiled John McLure of Edina, Minnesota, one of Chisholm’s regular students, connecting live via Skype with Chisholm from his home in Seattle, more than 1,600 miles away.
“I was approached out of the blue by the reporter looking to do a story on music lessons via Skype,” Chisholm said. “She interviewed me, asked to contact a few of my students, scheduled the photo shoot at John’s place during our lesson, and went from there.”
Chisholm’s Bagpipelessons.com offering is just one of many distance learning services available. Organizations like the National Piping Centre and other leading pipers such as Bruce Gandy have also leveraged technology, bringing personal expert tuition to virtually anyone who wants it. Andrew Douglas of New York has structured an online multi-week curriculum via his “Dojo University.”
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer fellow!
Very cool! What a great opportunity to come Jori’s way! Could not ask for better advertising than a front-page story in the NY Times — it’s the kind of story publicists live for. And Skype is such an amazing tool for connecting people the world over.
The internet has given us so many exciting ways to connect with the instrument and music that we love: taking lessons from great instructors through Skype, listening to piping greats from the past on YouTube, connecting with pipers and drummers around the world on Facebook, watching the Worlds live on the BBC, reading the latest results on PipesDrums, joining in online competitions, and more… I’m thrilled with all the ways pipers and drummers can pursue their passion for the music and enjoy our way of life regardless of where they live in the world. It fills me with hope and excitement for what the future will bring.