About the first dozen or so times you essay the first line or two of the song, you're likely to feel very frustrated. "This doesn't sound anything remotely like the tape!" will be your constant thought.
I remember my thoughts the first time I tried to play the first bar (first line? Are you kidding? I'm out of breath long before that). This is impossible! I'll never be able to do this. Et cetera, et cetera. Only thing I can say is to never give up, persevere, play the tune very slowly. Keep telling yourself "this is not a musical performance; this is an exercise." If your experience is like mine, you'll play the first note, then fumble your way to the next note.
You'll repeat this experience when you try the next bar.
To avoid feeling an utter idiot (even if you are in absolute privacy, many musicians are extremely self-critical), do a "dry run." Determine the finger position for the first note, then for each note after that. Practice transitioning from note to note (again, repeated ad nauseum, VERY SLOWLY). Finally, try blowing while doing this. After several repetitions, you'll find you can play the first bar.
Repeat this process for each bar. When you feel you are proficient on each individual bar, play the first line. At first, you'll find you only have breath for one line at a time. (This is because you are playing so slowly, you see.)
Never be in a hurry to advance. Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. You don't want to be practicing incorrect technique and laying down all those mistakes to be unlearned later.
If you can find a pipe band, you'll find (at the very least), moral support for your endeavors. Maybe even a teacher.
I'll resume a discussion of the rest of "Scot's Wha Hae" next time. Until then, practice, practice, practice.
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