Inspiration

The EBelaire is the result of a 10 year effort to help a dear friend recover his ability to play the highland bagpipe.  David comes from a family of pipers. His father served in the British Army, for several years,  piping around the world before emigrating to the United States. His two sons, David and Ian, became excellent players in their own right under their father's tutelage.  I met these inseparable brothers in 1994 and have counted them friends ever since.  When David was diagnosed with a life threatening cancer in 2011 we all knew it would permanently end his piping career.  Well, at least as he had known it.   I remember sitting with David's wife Liz at the hospital and saying to her that we will somehow see him play again.

It took 10 years but finally the technology, manufacturing tools and insights came to together and allowed me to assemble this solution that now allows David to once again make music on his beloved pipes with his brother and friends.   In April of 2021 David and I played together once again.  The smile on his face tells the whole story!

But that is not the end of the story.  Insights lead to additional improvements.  Eventually a complete redesign emerged that is more powerful, lighter, quieter, controllable and adaptable. As I have worked on the EBelaire I realized that it has much more general utility, in a post COVID world.  We all have become more cognizant of hygiene over the past two years.   The EBelaire facilitates, Reed Selection,  Drone reed calibration and transition from practice chanter to pipes without risk to either student or instructor.   The EBelaire has become an essential tool in my practice as a player and instructor.

The EBelaire is in use today by players with an amazing variety of skill levels and needs.   From David's complete reliance, to those who need an assist to extend their endurance and to those who need to reduce the strain on their bodies due to a medical condition.    All these people are continuing to, I sincerely hope, have fun... and play music!  

- Bruce Lazaroff