How can I develop an "ear" for piping?

Contact a vendor (check out the links page) and get recordings of bands and individuals who have recently won or played at "World Class" levels. After listening to recordings of excellent players, you will have a much better idea of the range of moods and expression that a well played bagpipe can achieve.  From that point on, when you listen to pipers, you will be readily be able to hear the differences between a good piper and a "marginal" player. Some of them are:

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