PIPERS BRING HIGHLANDS TO HIGH DESERT.

Byline: Karen Thacker Special to the Daily News

The skirling of bagpipes is a sound more associated with craggy Scottish mountains than Antelope Valley desert, but the instrument has found a following in the Antelope Valley.

Mike Boyd of Lancaster and his 19-year-old son, Eric, both compete in year-round competitions. For Betsy Haflett of Palmdale, piping is more of a hobby. For all three, piping has strong cultural ties.

Mike Boyd's father, Robert, began the family involvement with the bagpipes. Although born in Los Angeles, Robert Boyd took up the instrument as part of his interest in the family's Scottish roots.

``He was just really interested in his heritage,'' Mike said.

As Robert Boyd carried the tradition to his son Mike, so has Mike tried passing it on to his children. Eric competes solo and with a band, and four siblings are learning. A younger brother plays the snare drum in a piper band.

Haflett's interest dates to a high school visit to Orange County's Highland Games, which highlight Scottish cultural activities, including piping. There is a lot of Scottish blood in her family tree.

``I would always kind of laugh at the guy in the skirt, but I always liked the weird-sounding instrument,'' she said.

Her interest kindled after college, when she made another visit to the games. She took a two-week course from a bagpipe school in 1987.

More recently she joined the Antelope Valley Folk Music Club, where she gets a chance to play monthly with friends.

``They are all involved in piping in one way or another,'' Mike Boyd said.

Learning the bagpipes takes work, Haflett and Boyd agree.

``It's a really difficult instrument to play,'' Boyd said. ``Once you stop, you lose it.''

Players need a strong set of lungs and some lip power too.

``I've always said that pipers are the best kissers because they have the best lips,'' Boyd said.

The Highland bagpipe, used by Haflett and the Boyds, is played by blowing through a pipe into a bag. Even while taking a breath, the player must keep up a constant flow of air from the bag to the chanter (where the chords are played) and drones (pipes that stick out the back).

``It takes some practice, but you learn to get it,'' Haflett said.

The Uilleann bagpipes, as used in the movie ``Braveheart,'' have a pump to fill the bag. They are better for indoor use and give off a softer tone, she said.

The Highland is best for outdoors or use in a large room.

Mike Boyd says he can make good money playing solo numbers at funerals and weddings. They are also commonly played at parades.

Haflett's favorite tune on bagpipes is ``Amazing Grace.'' She finds the best way to play it is to have a solo piper play through it once, have the rest of the piper band join in the second round and end with a solo.

``I find that it's a very stirring experience,'' she said.