Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

427 - Are Drummers Just Different? With Ed Best (Dojo Conversations Episode 97) Oct 28, 2024

Is Scottish snare drumming really that different from other kinds of drumming... or from piping? This week, prolific drummer, judge and tutor Ed Best once again drops in to chat all things snare drumming with Andrew and Jim, covering whether rhythm is different between piping and drumming, how tempo affects drummers, why pipers and drummers should both learn each others’ parts, and how to get a better ensemble in your pipe band. Got a question or topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 Welcome to the Ed Best and Jim Show! 00:39 Bagpipes and Snare Drums: A Unique Musical Relationship 01:18 Transferring Skills Between Musical Styles 03:15 The Tool Belt Analogy for Musical Techniques 04:22 Communication Challenges in Pipe Bands 08:15 Understanding DCI and Its Influence 09:45 The Rhythm Problem in Bagpiping 16:21 The Importance of Communication in Ensemble Playing 22:10 Communication Between Pipers and Drummers 23:12 Tempo and Its Impact on Performance 24:28 Challenges in Maintaining Rhythmic Control 26:30 The Importance of Consistency in Tempo 27:41 Understanding Drum Scores and Their Role 33:15 The Role of Communication in Band Rehearsals 39:53 The Importance of Ensemble Judging 42:17 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

426 - Hot Cakes! (Hot Takes on Bagpipe Reddit Questions): (Dojo Conversations Episode 96) Oct 21, 2024

Anyone for some hot cakes?! Jim’s been diving into the bagpipe forums on Reddit again, so this week, he and Andrew offer advice to solve a bunch of bugbears bothering bagpipers from across the web, including: • How to get bandmates to show up to practice • Better ways to improve at sight-reading • How to be more welcoming to new band members • Improving stamina and recovering after a hiatus from piping • What’s been going on in the piping world for the last 15 years or so, in a nutshell! • Nicole Kidman, for some reason… Got a question you want answered on a future pod? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com! Here’s what we covered this week: 00:00 Cool T-Shirt Designs 01:51 Hot Takes for Hot Cakes 02:25 Solving Attendance Issues in Bands 08:18 Learning to Read Sheet Music for Bagpipes 19:10 Joining a New Pipe Band 20:14 Navigating Band Dynamics 20:33 Jumping In Without Making Waves 21:25 Earning Trust in Top Bands 22:16 Joining New Groups: A Universal Challenge 24:26 Tips for Maintaining Stamina Without Pipes 26:14 Returning to Highland Piping After 15 Years 26:51 The Evolution of Bagpipe Music 28:38 Challenges in the Modern Music Landscape 32:24 The Bandcamp Dilemma 37:38 The Allure of Fictional Drama 40:03 Conclusion and Sign-Off

425 - The Best Way To Build Stamina (Dojo Conversations Episode 95) Oct 14, 2024

After a piping hiatus, it can be exhausting to play for even a short time until your stamina builds again. So what's the best way to get your piping fitness back? This week, Andrew and Jim answer a reader question about how to build stamina after a break, focusing on the importance of finding joy and fun in playing – because enjoyable practice will naturally lead to improved stamina and skill. They also highlight the dangers of taking piping too seriously – because for many pipers, that might be why they took a hiatus in the first place... Here's what we cover in this episode: 00:00 Embarrassing Vocal Warm-Ups 01:07 Forming Season Two's Strategy 01:57 Stamina Advice for Returning Pipers 05:37 The Fun Factor in Bagpiping 09:34 Setting Up Your Bagpipes for Success 16:15 The Hard Reed Debate 21:40 Developing Stamina for Soccer and Bagpipes 22:04 The Importance of Enjoying Your Practice 23:11 Maintaining Motivation and Avoiding Burnout 27:29 Practical Tips for Improving Stamina 30:26 The Role of Fun in Mastery 33:47 Balancing Tradition and Modernity in Bagpiping 39:57 The Importance of Fun and Community in Piping 44:05 Final Thoughts and Reflections

424 - The Formula to Beat the Pipe Band Struggle (Dojo Conversations Episode 94) Oct 07, 2024

What does it really take to build a successful band? This week, Andrew and Jim discuss how much the skill of individual players contribute to pipe band success, exploring how focusing on individual improvement can elevate a band’s overall performance, the importance of balancing bandcraft and individual player development, alongside real challenges like tuning, practice routines, and overcoming performance anxieties. Here's what we discuss this week: 00:00 Season Two Kickoff 01:33 Exciting New Projects 02:14 Small Piping at the Dojo 03:09 Introducing Zeffen 04:02 Mark's Hypothesis 06:25 Band Improvement Strategies 10:30 The Role of Individual Skill 13:30 Challenges in Pipe Bands 24:10 Facing Uncontrollable Factors 24:40 The Algebraic Equation of Band Success 26:20 The Importance of Individual Skill 27:52 Bandcraft vs. Individual Excellence 28:34 The Evolution of Band Competitions 35:17 The Role of Adrenaline in Performance 39:39 The Key to Band Improvement 41:34 Expanding Your Band's Potential

423 - Solving the World's Piping Problems (Dojo Conversations Episode 93) Sep 30, 2024

It's another Reddit deep dive! This week, Andrew and Jim discuss questions pipers have posted to Reddit – about whether you should play standard settings in solo competitions, and how judges should treat you as a competitor if you don't; Andrew's personal recommendations for the best piping albums of all time; and when it's appropriate to share recordings of Grade 1 band sets on social media. Finally, they tackle the topic of maintaining lip strength without pipes, debunking some myths and suggesting practical approaches to practice. 00:00 Introduction and Today's Agenda 01:02 Judging Etiquette and Feedback 03:12 Playing Non-Standard Settings in Competitions 07:54 Cultural Nuances in Solo Competitions 08:59 Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned 14:02 Recommended Bagpipe Albums 20:47 Social Media Etiquette for Top Bands 26:19 Maintaining Lip Stamina Without Pipes 30:06 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

422 - Finding the Balance Between Perfect and Fun (Dojo Conversations Episode 92) Sep 23, 2024

This week, Andrew and Jim reunite after a six-week break to answer a listener’s question about dealing with bagpipe instructors who may be overly focused on perfection or do not make learning fun – along the way, they discuss self-reflection, teaching strategies, the importance of immersion, and whether or not you should "learn around" and see other teachers...

Here's what we cover this week:

00:00 Reunion and Catching Up

00:47 Haircuts and Clones

01:50 In-Person Episode Ideas

02:22 Highland Games in Utah

03:04 Mailbag: Anonymous Question

03:31 Balancing Fun and Perfection in Teaching

04:29 Parenting and Teaching Parallels

05:31 The Role of Fun in Learning

08:23 Adapting Teaching Methods

20:27 Immersion and Effective Teaching

30:15 Exploring Different Instructors

30:22 Conclusion: Finding the Balance

421 - Pipers of the Caribbean: An Insider's Guide to a Bagpiping Cruise (Dojo Conversations Episode 91) Sep 16, 2024

One of the mainstay in-person events for us at Dojo University is our semi-annual bagpiping cruise – and in 2024 we joined forces with Jack Lee and Piping Hot Summer Drummer to launch our first co-hosted cruise in Alaska! This week, Andrew and Jim recap the realities, the itineraries and the logistics of running a bagpiping cruise, and paint a picture of what a piping school on the high seas looks like. Want to join in on the action? We'll be back in the Caribbean next April for our next cruise - visit pipersdojo.com/cruise for more info! This week, we cover: 00:00 Warm-Up Shenanigans 00:45 Crush Confessions 01:26 Segway to Segues 02:16 Recording Breaks and Travel Plans 03:17 Cruise Recap: Piping in Alaska 04:55 Cruise Logistics and Experiences 06:34 Piping Classes and Activities 10:35 Playing Pipes on Land 14:49 Beginner Pipers on the Cruise 17:51 Piping School Styles 20:22 Group Activities and Instruction Methods 21:03 Exploring Alaska's Natural Wonders 21:21 Cruise Memories and Whale Watching 22:19 Port Excursions and Car Rentals 24:15 Social Dynamics and Friendships on Cruises 28:23 Upcoming Cruise Announcement 28:32 Details of the 2025 Caribbean Cruise 31:24 Piping Enthusiasm and Community Building 38:06 Concluding Thoughts and Final Remarks

Free Class with Andrew this Monday, September 16th! Sep 12, 2024

Do you feel like you're always struggling to learn tunes, with no time left over to actually improve your piping? Tune in for free on Monday the 16th at 8:00AM New York time to end this challenge for good!

--> Click Here to Register for Free

🇺🇸 New York Time (Eastern Time): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 8:00 AM
🇺🇸 Pacific Time (PDT): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 5:00 AM
🇬🇧 UK Time (BST): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 1:00 PM
🇦🇺 Eastern Australia Time (AEST): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 10:00 PM
🇦🇺 Western Australia Time (AWST): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 8:00 PM

https://pipersdojo.com/openhouse

420 - How To Embrace Failure (Dojo Conversations Episode 90) Sep 09, 2024

As in any pursuit, the best thing you can do is approach everything in piping with an open mind. Failure is a teacher. And we can always learn new and better ways to do things if we don't assume we know something absolutely... In this episode, Jim and Andrew dive into the final chapter of Finding Bagpipe Freedom, to reflect on how your mindset and approach to practice, piping, and improvement is the most powerful tool in your pipe case. They also offer some advice on maintaining steady progress, overcoming common setbacks, and the importance of creative personal expression in learning the bagpipe. In this episode, we cover: 00:00 Morning Banter and Book Discussion 01:38 Terry Pratchett's Wisdom 03:10 The D Throw Debate 05:44 Golf and Bagpipe Analogies 14:39 The Importance of Short Practice 21:22 Leverage in Bagpipe Practice 30:52 Understanding Failure in Learning 33:21 The Role of a Good Teacher 34:15 Embracing Failure for Improvement 38:56 The Importance of Simplification 46:02 The Value of Consistent Practice 51:28 Creativity and Personal Growth in Bagpiping 54:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

419 - The Story of the Dojo (Dojo Conversations Episode 89) Sep 02, 2024

This week, Andrew and Jim reflect on how the Dojo evolved from an idea about teaching a piping school in semesters online at the dawn of online classroom software, into what is now the world's largest and longest running online piping and drumming school. Andrew reflects on how he the journey from thinking of the idea on his honeymoon, the original in-person classes, initial skepticism, and the ultimate formation and evolution of the Piper's Dojo. This week, we cover: 00:00 Imagining Alternate Careers for Andrew 01:33 The Birth of Dojo University 02:29 Recreating the Piping School Experience Online 04:29 The Evolution of Dojo University 05:42 Subscription Models and Innovations 10:55 Technological Challenges and Solutions 14:09 Iterating Ideas and Overcoming Failures 18:11 Andrew's Journey and Dojo Methodology 20:20 Making Sense of Bagpiping 21:00 Diverse Perspectives in Piping 22:19 Challenges of Private Instruction 25:59 The Birth of Dojo University 26:51 The Anatomy of Bagpipe Learning 32:29 From In-Person to Online 36:49 The Dojo's Evolution and Future 37:11 The Dojo's Mission and Impact 40:31 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Insights

418 - How to Free Your Pipe Band (Dojo Conversations Episode 88) Aug 26, 2024

“Forget prizes. You’re out to be the best you can be, and that’s what you should aim for. Take care of that, and all your performances will improve.” ― Stuart Liddell, Pipe Major, Inveraray and District Pipe Band This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into Finding Bagpipe Freedom once again, this time focused on how to 'free' your pipe band using the bagpipe freedom process. They talk through how to simplify practice routines and focus on individual improvement to enhance band performance, using techniques like earning the right to play embellishments, setting freedom phase standards, and individualized training sessions. They also explore common resistances and misconceptions within pipe bands, highlighting real-world applications and success stories from both youth and adult bands, how to prioritize musical quality over competition, and practical tips for applying these principles to pipe bands of all levels. This week, we cover: 00:00 Introduction and Banter 00:48 Sweating Bullets and Bagpipes 02:07 Finding Bagpipe Freedom: Chapter 11 03:53 The Stuart Little Quote 04:49 The Importance of Self-Expression in Music 05:17 A Horrifying Story Involving Stuart Little 09:02 The Role of Competitions and Personal Bests 13:33 Teaching Young Bagpipers: A Case Study 22:18 Simplifying the Game for All Learners 25:46 Integrating Simplified Practice Techniques 26:56 Balancing Practice and Enjoyment 29:41 The Importance of Individual Practice 32:07 Challenges and Solutions in Band Practice 34:43 The Role of Individual Improvement in Band Success 36:05 Innovative Practice Techniques 41:55 Setting Standards and Expectations 52:47 Final Thoughts on Band and Individual Practice

417 - The Intensity Equation (Dojo Conversations Episode 87) Aug 19, 2024

Ever had a workout where you pushed it way too far? You may be surprised to learn you can do something similar when you’re playing your bagpipes… This week, Jim and Andrew discuss the consequences of overdoing physical activities and how it relates to playing bagpipes. Jim shares his recent experience with shoulder pain from felling trees and lifting weights, while Andrew introduces the concept of the 'intensity equation.' The conversation explores how to balance intensity without sacrificing form in various aspects of life, including workouts, bagpipe practice, and overall well-being. They also chat through the importance of proper warm-ups, calibrating pressure and strength in reed playing, and maintaining a healthy balance between intense practice and enjoyment. This week, we cover: 00:00 Workout Woes 00:34 The Overhead Press Incident 00:52 Strength Training Mishaps 05:10 The Intensity Equation Explained 07:26 Applying the Intensity Equation to Bagpiping 17:13 Balancing Practice and Life 24:42 Final Thoughts

416 - Q&A: Answering Reddit Questions (Dojo Conversations Episode 86) Aug 12, 2024

It’s another Q&A mailbag episode! But this time, we’re answering the many questions of the Reddit r/bagpipes community, who seem to be on to us checking them out… This week, Andrew and Jim answer questions ranging from technical difficulties with transitioning from practice chanters to full bagpipes to managing bagpipe posture problems for women (though they’d rather have someone with more personal experience to dive into that further!), as well as maintaining hide bags and the historical quirks of bagpipe accessories like the Glengarry pom. Topics we cover this week: 00:00 Reddit Mailbag: Frustrations with Bagpipes 02:23 Solutions and Advice for Bagpipe Challenges 09:33 Discussion on Bag Covers and Maintenance 14:10 Fun and Lighthearted Bagpipe Queries 15:46 Addressing Unique Challenges for Female Pipers 18:07 Conclusion and Sign-Off

415 - A North American Piper’s Guide to Scotland (Dojo Conversations Episode 85) Aug 05, 2024

Is it worth the cost and effort for North American pipers and drummers to visit Scotland? Do general Scottish people care about the World Pipe Band Championships? Will you be a social pariah if you play your bagpipes in public Scotland? This week, Jim and Andrew chat through some practical advice for North American bagpipers traveling to Scotland, including packing tips, overcoming jet lag, and must-visit destinations such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Highlands. Additionally, they discuss cultural differences, customs regarding bagpiping, the local busking scene, and the etiquette of bringing musical instruments like bagpipes. The conversation also touches on local Scotch whisky, Scottish candy, and what souvenirs you might want to bring home. By the end of this one, you’ll be ready to jetset off on your own Scottish adventure. 00:00: Introduction and Bagpipe Freedom Day 01:46: Parade Story 04:21: Discussing Scotland and Bagpipes 07:16: Travel Tips for North Americans Visiting Scotland 10:01: Experiences and Expectations in Scotland 12:46: Busking and Playing Bagpipes in Scotland 15:26: Packing Tips and Travel Advice 18:31: The Struggles of Sleeping on Planes 20:51: Gaming on Flights: A Fun but Exhausting Experience 22:31: Tips for Adjusting to a New Time Zone 25:01: Essential Travel Gadgets and Power Converters 27:46: Unique Travel Items and Gifts 30:31: Navigating Scotland: Must-Visit Places 34:11: Bringing Home Memories and Souvenirs 37:01: Final Thoughts on Traveling to Scotland

414 - How To Revive Your Stagnant Tunes (Dojo Conversations Episode 84) Jul 29, 2024

Do you have any tunes in your repertoire that you don’t play well anymore? Perhaps you learned them when you weren’t as experienced and practiced in bad technique. Perhaps you’ve been playing them for so long that your embellishments and rhythm have become less than ideal. Or perhaps you’ve been working on the same sets for so long that you just aren’t getting any better as a player! This week, Andrew and Jim answer a listener question: How do you stop your tunes from becoming stagnant? They explore how to expand your musical horizons rather than solely focusing on polishing individual tunes, because developing a broader skill set and playing a variety of tunes can lead to more significant improvement in the long run. We also take a quick detour into Jim’s borderline troubling candy sorting process, and then back to importance of balancing fun with delayed gratification in practice routines. Got a question you’d like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com! Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 Introduction and Theme Setup 00:15 Morning Greetings and Formalities 00:35 Listener Mailbag: Simplifying Tunes 01:32 The Lord of the Rings Analogy 03:03 Expanding Horizons with New Tunes 03:58 The Importance of General Skills 08:37 Polishing Tunes vs. Learning New Ones 23:58 The Role of Light Music in Piobaireachd 26:18 Personal Anecdotes and Final Thoughts

413 - How To Be A Great Piper on Autopilot (Dojo Conversations Episode 83) Jul 22, 2024

What if you could play your bagpipes without ever worrying about tuning or technique again? How much faster could you improve if you didn't have to think about every little step in your bagpipe practice? Couldn’t you then focus on being creative in your expression, rather than getting hung up on technicalities? This week, Jim and Andrew look at the importance of systematic practice, focusing on mastering fundamental skills like rhythmic accuracy, grace notes, and melody patterns. Andrew introduces the idea of 'defensive bagpiping,' drawing parallels to defensive driving, and the necessity of automating basic skills to free up mental bandwidth for creativity and expression. The conversation also touches on the value of short, uncomfortable practice sessions contrasted with enjoyable 'jam' sessions, and how incremental gains in fundamental skills can lead to exponential improvements in bagpipe playing over time. Got a question you’d like answered on a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com! Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 The Journey of Bagpipe Freedom 01:55 Understanding the Bagpipe Freedom Process 03:23 Fundamental Skills and Automation 04:37 Hierarchy of Competence 06:39 Tuning and Strategy 12:11 Systematizing for Artistic Expression 21:08 Practice and Temporary Discomfort 23:35 Analogies and Real-Life Applications 30:14 Reflecting on 'The Matrix' and Code Fluency 31:25 Understanding Math and Secondary Benefits 32:54 Skill-Based Learning vs. Tune-Based Learning 34:42 The Importance of Rhythmic and Melodic Systems 37:31 Memorization and the Role of Immersion 46:01 Go Slow to Play Fast: Counterintuitive Practice 49:49 Resurrecting and Reinvigorating Tunes 53:34 Effective Practice: Short, Focused, and Uncomfortable

412 - Portant Parade Principles (Dojo Conversations Episode 82) Jul 15, 2024

Like death and taxes, parades are an inevitable part of life for a piper. They can be long, hot, and exhausting. But they can also be a lot of fun if you approach them the right way! So how do you set yourself up for the best possible parade gigs? This week, Andrew and Jim cover crucial tips for a successful parade, including proper bagpipe maintenance, organized tuning routines, and short, manageable sets. They also discuss practical logistics like meet-up points, dealing with detours or delays, hydration, strategic placement within the parade, dealing with parade frustrations. Got a question you’d like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com This week, we’re discussing… 00:00 Halloween Greetings and Colorblindness 01:56 Parade Season Begins 03:10 The Importance of Parade Preparation 08:14 Bagpipe Maintenance for Parades 12:29 Tuning Techniques for Parades 19:14 Tuning and Parade Preparation 19:55 Parade Position Preferences 20:36 Marching and Deportment Tips 22:44 Band Formation and Flair 24:46 Handling Parade Stops 25:38 Portent Parade Principles 29:54 Making Parades Fun 33:13 Hydration and Final Thoughts

411 - The Bagpiping AI Revolution (Dojo Conversations Episode 81) Jul 08, 2024

Could AI ever replace bagpipers? This week, Andrew and Jim dive into the potential impact of AI on the bagpiping community and creativity in general, and AI's capabilities and limitations in generating music, writing, and other tasks. Is there a possible future where AI could assist or even fully automate a musician's workflow? Can AI compose, mix and master music, create visual art, or write your band's social media strategy? Would that be a good or a bad thing? Got a topic you'd like covered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com This week's highlights: 00:00 AI-Generated Backgrounds and Podcast Hosts 00:47 Exploring AI's Role in Bagpipe Music 02:12 AI Composing Bagpipe Tunes: Successes and Failures 03:08 AI's Potential in Music and Beyond 05:35 The Future of AI in Creative Fields 09:23 AI's Impact on Creative Industries 12:21 Existential Questions: Are We Real?

410 - The Dangers of Solo Competing (Dojo Conversations Episode 80) Jul 01, 2024

Would you rather perform at a wedding, or compete solo in front of a judge?

This week, Andrew and Jim look at the world of solo bagpipe competing, focusing on both the fun and the potential challenges involved. They also touch upon practical tips for enhancing one's solo performance experience, like the benefits of having expert help in tuning on competition day, and how competing can improve your skills, personal repertoire, and offer satisfaction in other ways you may not have considered…

Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes

01:17 Discussing Solo Competing

03:25 The Appeal of Solo Competing

05:39 Challenges and Dangers of Solo Competing

08:36 Maintaining Motivation and Enjoyment

14:15 Judges and Competitors Dynamics

24:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

409 - What To Expect at Band and Solo Competitions (Dojo Conversations Episode 79) Jun 24, 2024

How should you prepare for your first solo competition? What should you do the night before? On the day? And what can you expect when you arrive, during, and after you compete in both band and solo contests? This week, Andrew and Jim do a blow-by-blow walk through of a typical day at a highland games, including how and when to start preparing, and what to expect when you get there. They cover the detailed preparation routines for both solo competitors and band members, including travel plans, warm-up strategies, final tuning, competition etiquette, checking in with stewards, tactics for managing nerves, and the logistics of navigating through multiple events in a day. This is the ultimate comprehensive guide for anyone curious about what goes on during an average day at a highland games. Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com. Here's what we cover this week: 00:00 Training Montage: Preparing for Competition Day 02:21 A Day at the Highland Games: Solos and Bands 03:00 Morning Routine: Getting Ready for the Games 03:33 Arriving at the Games: Timing and Check-In 06:57 Warm-Up Strategies: Preparing Your Pipes 11:23 Competition Etiquette: Checking In and Tuning 15:40 On Deck: Final Preparations Before Performance 30:07 Judging and Competitor Etiquette 30:30 Tuning and Warm-Up Techniques 31:36 Choosing the Right Warm-Up Tunes 35:51 Post-Performance Etiquette 37:45 Managing Multiple Events 42:15 Band Competitions and Mass Bands 50:20 Final Tuning and Entering the Circle 57:45 Exiting the Circle and Post-Competition 01:00:09 End of the Day: Mass Bands and Results

408 - The Secret to Learning New Tunes Is... Fun! (Dojo Conversations Episode 78) Jun 17, 2024

Do you struggle to learn new tunes? Get stressed trying to get all those band sets ready for the circle? The solution could lie in… making it fun!

This week, Andrew and Jim look at how to find fun in the process of learning new tunes - how to make the learning process enjoyable, push away stress, and improve your overall musical ability. The also look at the impact of pressure and competition on learning, and the benefits of playing in a band versus solo.

Got a topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com.

On this episode, we're talking about...

00:00 The Importance of Fun in Learning Tunes
03:26 Using Technology to Enhance Practice
05:35 Overcoming Challenges in Music Practice
07:27 The Role of Enjoyment in Memorization
10:56 Balancing Band and Solo Practice
14:43 The Collaborative Process in Band Medleys
21:05 Maintaining Enjoyment in Piping
31:22 Reflecting on Life and Music

How To Play Embellishments Like You Mean It (Episode 77) Jun 10, 2024

Do your embellishments enhance your playing, or detract from it?

This week, in Part 2 of their deep dive into Chapter 9 of Andrew's book Finding Bagpipe Freedom, Andrew and Jim explore the contrast between technical proficiency and audience appreciation in bagpipe embellishments. They look at the importance of playing with intention, the balance between tradition and creativity, and the importance of purposeful practice.

Got a topic you’d like to see covered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we covered this week:

00:00 Introduction: The Bagpipe Experience

01:09 Understanding the General Public's Perception

02:01 The Complexity of Bagpipe Embellishments

05:09 Intentionality in Bagpipe Playing

07:34 The Value of Traditional Techniques

12:32 Practical Exercises for Improvement

16:46 The Joy of Progress and Overcoming Challenges

27:25 Conclusion: Embracing Creativity and Fun

406 - Do You Need To Play Tunes With All The Embellishments? (Dojo Conversations Ep 76) Jun 03, 2024

Why do pipers at all levels obsess over embellishments and deep-and-meaningful expression, when they can’t play to the beat, or without crossing noises? This week, Andrew and Jim jump back into Andrew’s book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, to discuss Chapter 9, which is all about the importance of mastering the basics before delving into embellishments. Because as Leo Burnett says, it’s better to do the obvious, simple thing, but to do it uncommonly well. Got a question you’d like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to us via support@pipersdojo.com. This week we cover: 00:00 Introduction 01:08 Keeping It Simple 01:26 Simple Pleasures 02:24 Story Time: Ghosts of Piping Past 02:49 Andrew Wright and Frank Sinatra 03:52 The Art of Simplifying Music 08:12 Scoffing and Musical Authenticity 09:22 Creativity and Understanding Basics 15:42 Analogies in Art and Music 29:31 Final Thoughts on Basics and Embellishments

405 - What If There Were NO Bagpipes? (Dojo Conversations Episode 75) May 27, 2024

What would your life look like if bagpipes had never been a part of them? Pipers (and drummers) are a passionate bunch – so have you ever considered how different your life would be if you'd never picked up the pipes? This week, Andrew and Jim explore a fun "what-if" scenario, reflecting on the personal impact of bagpipes on their social interactions, artistic expression, career paths – but even more shockingly, they consider how the absence of bagpipes could have altered history and popular music. So tell us – how would your life be different if there were NO bagpipes? Leave a comment or send us an email: support@pipersdojo.com This week, we cover 00:00 Thinking through the unthinkable 00:41 Discovering Bagpipes in Family History 03:02 The Ripple Effect of Bagpipes on Personal Life 04:42 Exploring Alternative Careers Without Bagpipes 07:18 The Impact of Bagpipes on Social Connections 08:23 Speculating on a World Without Bagpipes 10:23 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Creativity 17:46 Concluding Thoughts and Audience Engagement

404 - Reddit Q&A: What's The Hardest Tune Ever Written and much more (Dojo Conversations Ep 74) May 20, 2024

What's the hardest tune ever written? What's the best pipe band performance ever? How should you travel with pipes? How do you choose tunes for your MSR? And what's the best way to fix a funky-sounding high G?

What do all these questions have in common? They're burning questions Reddit users wanted answered!

This week, Jim poses some of the most commonly requested questions from the r/bagpipes forum on Reddit to Andrew. They discuss chanter reeds' inconsistencies, the preference for modern vs. older bagpipes, and methods for learning and playing tunes by ear.

Got a question of your own? Leave a comment or send it to us at support@pipersdojo.com to see it answered in a future episode!

Here's what we cover this week:

00:00 Introduction to Dojo U Insider: The Ultimate Bagpipe Education
02:38 Exploring Reddit's Bagpipe Community
03:34 Deep Dive into MSR Competitions and Bagpipe Music Nuances
09:49 The Debate: Old vs. New Bagpipes
14:55 Navigating Sheet Music and Learning by Ear
21:13 Addressing a Piping Conundrum: The Flat High G Mystery
21:50 Decoding the Mystery of Bagpipe Tuning
23:09 The Art of Trial and Error in Tuning
24:30 Understanding the Unique Tuning of Bagpipes
25:03 Navigating Bagpipe Tuning with Digital Tuners
29:56 Travel Tips for Bagpipers: Carrying Pipes on Planes
33:35 Solving the Bass Drone Tuning Puzzle
37:03 Simplifying Bagpipe Tunes: A Hot Take
40:02 Celebrating the Best in Pipe Band Performances

403 - How To Find Your Ideal Chanter Reed Strength (Dojo Conversations Episode 73) May 13, 2024

Chanter reeds are often sent from the manufacturer labelled as "easy", "hard", or anything in between – but how do you know which one is going to be right for you?

This week, Andrew and Jim are putting chanter reeds under pressure, first focusing on understanding reed strength through the measurement of 'inches of water', a method used by reed makers to indicate required blowing pressure. They discuss the variability of reeds, finding the right reed strength for individual players, the importance of steady blowing and different types if manometers.

Got a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or send it to support@pipersdojo.com.

This week, we cover:

01:58 Music's Emotional Influence

04:40 Understanding Bagpipe Reeds

08:06 The Variability of Reed Strength

11:10 Personalizing Reed Selection

13:39 Exploring Manometer Use in Bagpipe Practice

17:43 Advantages of Tube Style Manometers

26:07 Concluding Thoughts and Podcast Wrap-up

402 - 10 Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks (Dojo Conversations Episode 72) May 06, 2024

Pipe band can be a source of joy, fun, and fulfilment. But the person in charge matters… and it can be really demotivating when weaknesses in their leadership start to affect your enjoyment of this hobby we all know and love… This week, we’re revisiting an article Andrew wrote in 2020 called, you guessed it, “10 Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks”. Despite the clickbait title, the point is really about leadership – in a pipe band setting, or any other. Andrew and Jim dive into their own experiences playing under various pipe majors, good and bad, and the importance of leadership quality, fostering talent, and creating a positive band culture. But it can be easier said than done – and a good leader also needs good followers… Want to sign up for Dojo U Insider - your daily dose of bagpiping education, delivered right to your pocket? Check it out: https://pipersdojo.com/insider Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at support@pipersdojo.com! This week, we cover: 01:15 The Allure of Hip New Pipe Majors and Band Dynamics 03:58 Addressing the Challenges of Suboptimal Pipe Majors 05:46 Exploring the 'Ten Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks' Article 06:25 Big Fish Syndrome and Leadership Flaws 14:10 The Problem with a Suffocating Repertoire 16:16 Disrespecting Band Members' Time 17:39 Cutting Down Emerging Talent 18:02 Navigating Talent and Leadership in Bands 18:35 The Challenges of Being Musically Gifted in School 19:25 The Power Dynamics in Teaching and Leadership 19:51 Fostering Talent vs. Resentment in Leadership 20:16 Personal Reflections on Supporting New Talent 20:55 The Joy and Frustration of Repetitive Practice 21:36 Recognizing and Avoiding Leadership Pitfalls 23:29 The Importance of Delegation and Trust in Leadership 26:41 Understanding the Bigger Picture in Leadership 29:53 Setting Realistic Expectations and Fostering Growth 33:22 Reflections on Leadership and Followership ____ Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world. We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world. We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late. And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U. At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around! Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

401 - Is Bass Drone Tuning "Hard"? (Dojo Conversations Episode 71) Apr 29, 2024

Pipers around the world find bagpipe tuning one of the hardest skills to master. Why? This week, we're using the physics of sound to explain why, as we look in-depth at how the harmonics of bagpipe chanter and drone reeds relate to each other. Brace yourself, dear listener – this is the sound nerd deep dive to rule them all! If you're listening to the audio version of this podcast, you may want to check out the version on YouTube or Facebook for some of the visual references, too – we promise they'll blow your mind too... Want to dive even deeper on the physics and practical tips for bagpipe tuning? You can check out our full Bagpipe Tuning Algorithm Course with Premium Dojo U Membership – visit pipersdojo.com to check it out today! Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to us at support@pipersdojo.com. Here's what we're covering this week: 00:00 Unlocking the Mysteries of Bass Tuning 00:26 Morning Banter: Compliments and Podcast Dynamics 02:06 Exploring the Evolution of the Bagpipe 06:09 The Great Highland Bagpipe: History and Evolution 12:32 The Challenge of Tuning the Bass Drone 24:13 Harmonics and the Richness of Bagpipes 28:13 Exploring the Harmonics of Bagpipes 29:17 The Physics of Reeded Instruments 31:45 Harmonic Differences Among Instruments 37:08 Advanced Harmonics and Instrument Tuning Insights 37:53 The Art of Tuning: Practical Tips and Tricks 42:45 The Beauty of Dissonance in Music 48:38 The Complexity of Harmonics in Pipe Bands 57:16 Concluding Thoughts on Harmonics and Tuning ____ Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world. We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world. We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late. And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U. At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around! Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

400 - Play It Like You Sing It (Dojo Conversations Episode 70) Apr 22, 2024

Learning tunes can be hard, especially if you struggle with sight-reading. But there's a step that makes it much easier – and helps speed up a bunch of other skills too, including your ability to play the right rhythm and melody.

This week, we're discussing the concept of 'playing it like you sing it'. While some people can feel a bit silly or uncomfortable singing a tune out loud, there's a profound connection between singing and playing an instrument. And when you combine multiple senses and physical movements – like foot tapping, head nodding, and visually following the music – it can actually help you memorize and internalize the music much faster and more powerfully.

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at support@pipersdojo.com.

Here's what we cover this week:

00:00 Unlocking the Secret Sauce of Musical Expression
00:26 The Power of Singing in Music Memorization
05:51 Exploring the Mind-Music Connection
09:53 The Evolution of Musical Ideas
18:30 Singing vs. Playing: The Internal Melody
20:21 Exploring the Origins and Meaning of 'Chanter'
21:14 The Art of Singing and Playing: A Creative Convergence
21:51 Practical Musings on Musical Practice and Improvement
23:58 The Mental Model of Music: From Mind to Reality
27:26 Sharing Music: The Power and Limitations of Performance
28:46 AI and the Future of Music: A Philosophical Dive
34:47 The Evolution of Musical Ideas and Traditions
38:12 Balancing Creativity and Rules in Music Education

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world. We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world. We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late. And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U. At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

399 - The Sticky Truth About Chanter Tape (Dojo Conversations Episode 69) Apr 15, 2024

Why don't they just make bagpipe chanters that don't need tape? This week, we delve into why – the physics behind why all chanters inevitably require tape, misconceptions about tape usage, and detailed instructions for applying tape correctly. Plus, we look at how recent an innovation tape really is, and why it's such an important part of getting your pipes singing. Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at support@pipersdojo.com. This week, we cover: 00:00 The Great Tape Debate: Unraveling the Sticky Questions 00:40 A Sticky Situation: The Tale of a Funeral Performance 04:28 The Science of Tape: Why All Bagpipers Need It 13:28 Tape Techniques and Tales from the Field 22:29 Choosing the Right Tape: A Pipers' Guide 23:31 Cleaning Up: Tips for Maintaining Your Chanter Tape 28:16 The Evolution of Chanter Tuning: From Wax to Tape

398 - The Ultimate Secret To Being a Better Bagpiper (Or Drummer) (Episode 68) Apr 08, 2024

You're stuck on a desert island. Would you rather have your practice chanter, or an endless playlist of great pipe band tunes? If you didn't say the latter, you're missing the number one secret ingredient to being a better musician – immersion! This week, we're discussing why certain families and geographies seem to foster world class players. Is it just boundless talent passed along in their bloodlines... or is it the world-class piping and drumming they've been absorbing since before they could talk? Immersion in the best of your craft is the single greatest correlate to ongoing success in anything. So how can you replicate that if you're not living in a hive of pipe band activity, or surrounded by top class pipers everyday? We have some ideas for you... Got a question you want us to discuss on a future episode? Leave a comment or send it to support@pipersdojo.com. Highlights of this week's episode: 00:00 Have you heard of a little podcast called 'Droning On'? 01:29 Diving into the World of Bagpiping Podcasts and Media 02:08 The Essence and Importance of Immersion in Bagpiping 09:13 Exploring Various Avenues for Bagpipe Immersion 20:49 The Power of Immersion in Learning and Creativity 25:23 Wrapping Up with Reflections and a Desert Island Dilemma

397 - Has Bagpipe Pitch Gone Too High? (Dojo Conversations Ep 67) Apr 01, 2024

Do bagpipes seem sharper in pitch than they used to be? That's because they are... This week, Andrew and Jim answer a listener question about why bagpipes have become sharper over time. We look at the history of pitch, how it affects tuning to mix and match old chanters and new reeds, and also at before a left turn into the implications of rising pitch for competitions (for better or worse). Plus, will we ever figure out the magic pitch that will help us make first contact with aliens? Listen in to find out! This week, we cover: 00:00 Opening Thoughts on Competition and Aliens 00:21 A Morning Chat: From Sickness to Bagpipes 01:09 Listener's Query: The Sharpness of Bagpipes 02:31 Exploring Bagpipe History and Pitch Evolution 07:50 The Science and History of Musical Pitch 16:17 The Bagpipe Pitch Debate: Tradition vs. Modernity 20:51 Judging Bagpipe Competitions: Pitch Preferences 28:54 Concluding Thoughts on Bagpipe Pitch and Future Directions

396 - Finding Your Perfect Drone Reed Setup (Dojo Conversations Ep 66) Mar 25, 2024

Should you use cane or synthetic drone reeds? Is it good or bad to mix and match them? Does ‘perfect bagpipe tone’ exist? Can you achieve it if your band plays different reed setups? And does a bit of imperfection in your sound actually make your tone better? This week, we’re talking all things drone reeds! Drone reeds are an integral part of our instrument’s sound, stability, and tone, and yet knowing how and when to use the different makes and materials is something most pipers don’t understand. Cane or synthetic? Inverted or standard? Uniformity or mix and match? Join us as we delve into the details on drone reeds… Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at support@pipersdojo.com! Here’s a summary of what we cover this episode: 00:00 Pumpkin’s Fancy Shirt 00:40 The Journey from Synthetic to Mixed Material Drone Reeds 01:30 Exploring the Nuances of Drone Reeds 04:12 The Quest for the Perfect Drone Reed Combination 09:32 The Superiority of Cane Drone Reeds Explored 16:48 Rethinking Band Uniformity: Drone Reeds and Chanters 24:29 The Philosophy of Bagpipe Sound: Complexity and Preference

395 - Have You Tried The "Set and Forget" Method? (Dojo Conversations Ep 65) Mar 18, 2024

Do you struggle to get your pipes into tune when you first start to play? You may be trying to tune too soon... This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into the 'set and forget' method of warming up your pipes. While most of us know that it's important to get some air, heat and moisture into the pipes when we first get started, letting your pipes adjust to their environment before getting down to the serious business of tuning and playing can make a huge difference to how easy it is to tune your pipes. And sometimes, NOT playing can be an important part of the warm-up process too... Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at support@pipersdojo.com! Here's what we cover this week: 00:44 The Quest for Memory Validation and the Pitfalls of Digital Permanence 01:28 Embracing the Art of Patience in Bagpipe Tuning 02:04 Learning from the Masters: Observations from the World's Best Pipe Bands 04:38 The Philosophy of Mastery: From Bagpipes to Birding 07:47 The Bagpipe's Environment: Understanding Humidity and Temperature 11:55 The Practice of Acclimatization: A Strategy for Bagpipe Tuning 17:38 Exploring the Impact of Reed Materials on Bagpipe Performance ____ Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world. We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world. We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late. And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U. At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around! Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

394 - Listener Q&A: Tiny Pipers, Moving Tunes Onto Pipes, and Finding A Kiwi Tutor (Dojo Conversations Ep 64) Mar 11, 2024

This week, we're diving into the mailbag to answer your submitted questions!

First up, we talk through how to help a young piper's transition to pipes, and how to adapt the instrument for small pipers.

Next - transitioning tunes from the practice chanter to the bagpipes, and the challenge of mastering 'Scotland the Brave'.

And finally - a letter from a New Zealand listener outlines their journey and challenges in learning bagpipes, expressing a desire for more tailored feedback and the obstacles posed by time zone differences for live classes.

Got a question for a future episode? Send it to us at support@pipersdojo.com or leave a comment wherever you're listening to this podcast!

This week's highlights:
00:00 Introduction and Appreciation for Listener Engagement
00:49 Mailbag Segment Introduction
01:44 First Mailbag Question: Helping Young Pipers
04:49 Second Mailbag Question: Progressing a Tune
05:52 Deep Dive into the Art of Bagpiping
12:04 The Journey of Learning Bagpipes
20:36 Discussing the Difficulty of Common Tunes
21:05 Appreciation for Listener Questions
21:46 Reading Listener Mail
22:36 Analyzing Listener's Piping Journey
27:49 Addressing Listener's Desire for Critique
28:23 Challenges of Learning Piping in New Zealand
30:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

393 - How To Construct a Winning Medley (Dojo Conversations Episode 63) Mar 04, 2024

Pipe band medley sets are the perfect chance to showcase your band's musical range and creativity. But why do some medleys sound more musical than others? Should you use harmonies in every tune, or is less more? Plus, what do judges actually listen for... and is that more important that putting together a creative set that an audience enjoys and players love to play? This week, Andrew and Jim delve into what decisions and strategies you might want to consider when constructing a medley for your band, looking at how to balance the judge's expectation, the audience's enjoyment, and the performer's preference for tunes. They discuss the importance of tune selection, changes, harmonies, and how music theory ties in, and the practicalities of introducing and changing tunes mid-season... Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com! This week we cover: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Medley Construction 01:01 The Art of Building Medleys 02:11 The Role of Key Changes in Medleys 03:05 The Strategy of Starting a Medley 04:03 Balancing Judge, Audience, and Personal Preferences 11:49 The Role of Harmonies 14:06 The Impact of Tune Selection on Performance 17:20 The Secret Ingredient: Nostalgia 19:22 The Importance of Timing 19:43 The Challenge of Changing Tunes 20:10 The Value of Testing and Refining 20:49 The Influence of Popular Culture 21:02 The Art of Recycling Old Medleys 21:47 The Balance Between Creativity and Audience Expectations 22:12 Get Professional Help 22:34 The Importance of Mentorship 23:41 The Creative Process in Music 30:07 The Evolution of Harmonies 31:42 The Impact of Music Theory on Medleys 35:50 The Importance of Enjoyment 37:45 The Role of Tempo ____ Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world. We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world. We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late. And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U. At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around! Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

Unlock Your Bagpipe Tuning May 31st Feb 28, 2024

Rescue Your Bagpipe Sound May 31 - June 2, 2024 in Troy, New York at our Tuning Clinic! You don't have to be "that person" who loves bagpipes but can't figure out how to make them sound good. Make May 31st the last day you ever worry about tuning your pipes by joining us at the world's only tuning-centric bagpipe workshop.

379 - Are Your Bagpipes Playing You? (Dojo Conversations Episode 49) Nov 27, 2023

Do your bagpipes fit your body – or do you make your body fit to your bagpipes? Continuing last week's conversation about posture, this time Andrew and Jim challenge the idea that bagpipes are hard to play – according to Andrew they should be easy to play, always, but we all know that's often easier said than done... especially for newer players. So they follow up with some great tips on how to work on your posture, whether you could 'wear your bagpipes to outer space', and how to improve your maintenance systems to make sure you never have to worry about playing a 'hard' instrument ever again. Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

378 - Does Multitasking Work For Bagpipers? (Dojo Conversations Episode 48) Nov 21, 2023

"Multitasking is a way of fooling ourselves that we’re being exceptionally efficient." Did you learn to play exclusively on a practice chanter, have to get a few tunes (with all embellishments included) memorized, and only then transition to the bagpipes – where you then had to juggle posture, blowing steadily, and many other skills at once? Like in every other walk of life – for bagpipers, multitasking doesn't work. So is there a better way to transition from practice chanter to bagpipes? In this first instalment of a two-parter, we explore how many traditional methods can be overwhelmingly complex for beginners, and how a singular focus can help actually help pipers speed up their progress – without ingraining bad habits. We also look at how the mystical Joe Brady helped with the missing piece of the puzzle, and try not to get too bummed that we'll never be as happy looking in a mirror as Lincoln Hilton... Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

377 - Got Crossing Noises? The Problem is Not What You Think... (Dojo Conversations Episode 47) Nov 13, 2023

Pipers everywhere struggle with seemingly perpetual problems like crossing noises, often doing 'reps' to fix them. But they're not even close to working out the actual cause of their issues... This week, we dived into the ups and downs of scale navigation (see what we did there?) – and along the way, took some wild turns into the history of gracenotes, the frustrations of teaching, how to progress from parade piping, and even Oprah... Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

376 - Why do bagpipe tunes go "viral"? (Dojo Conversations Episode 46) Nov 06, 2023

Ever noticed there are certain bagpipe tunes that seem to become – and stay – wildly popular? This week, we're chatting about "viral" bagpipe tunes and trends. Where do they come from, what causes them, and why do certain tunes become so popular when there are other arguably "better" tunes out there? Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

375 - How To Triage Your Performance Killers (Dojo Conversations Episode 45) Oct 30, 2023

Playing the bagpipes is a complex thing – so when figuring out where to focus on for improvement, maybe we can learn some lessons from the emergency room... This week, we're discussing how to triage your "performance killers", by diagnosing the most fundamental issues in your playing and prioritising what to work on in iterative rounds of improvement. Pssst – we’ve recently launched our new, comprehensive bagpipe tuning course, “The Great Bagpipe Tuning Algorithm”, which contains everything you need to know about the theory and practice of bagpipe tuning, as well as a 300+ page textbook, 90-day training plan, and 11+ hours with some of the world’s top players! Check it out here: pipersdojo.com/tuning Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

374 - How Do You Fall In Love With Tuning? (Dojo Conversations Episode 44) Oct 23, 2023

Frustrated at the neverending struggle to keep your bagpipes in tune? You’re not alone! But many pipers think that once you ‘solve’ tuning, you can move on… when really, even the best pipers in the world are still refining their approach to tuning. So how do you switch despair at the endless road to something you can not just live with, but enjoy doing? Changing how you think about tuning is the best way forward… This week, we're discussing how to “fall in love” with the process of bagpipe tuning, rather than hating the problem. Because bagpipe tuning isn’t a ‘set and forget’ skill – as any top pipers will tell you, it’s something they’re still working on, even after a lifetime of playing at the very top levels in the world… Interested to learn more? We’ve recently launched our new, comprehensive bagpipe tuning course, “The Great Bagpipe Tuning Algorithm”, which contains everything you need to know about the theory and practice of bagpipe tuning, as well as a 300+ page textbook, 90-day training plan, and 11+ hours with some of the world’s top players: http://pipersdojo.com/tuning Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

Lincoln Hilton on the frustrating trial and error of learning to tune Oct 19, 2023

Lincoln Hilton, founder of Modern Piping and online sensation, walks us through his trial and error tuning journey as a young piper coming up through the grades. This clip is an excerpt from Lincoln's hour-long interview, included as part of our new course on bagpipe tuning: "The Great Bagpipe Tuning Algorithm". Visit https://pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more!

Jim McGillivray on the "pressure variance test" for bagpipe tuning Oct 16, 2023

The great Jim McGillivray tells us a bit about his tuning process and how he uses a "pressure variance test" to check he's nailed his bagpipe tuning. This clip is an excerpt from Jim's hour-long interview, included as part of our new course on bagpipe tuning: "The Great Bagpipe Tuning Algorithm". Visit https://pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more!

P/M Robert Mathieson on stabilizing the tuning of our bagpipes Oct 15, 2023

How do we optimize the pitch of our pipes, and time it perfectly with the actual performance? P/M Robert Mathieson and I discuss in this interview clip. This clip is an excerpt from Robert's hour-long interview, included as part of the new course. Visit pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more!

Callum Beaumont on how environment affects your tuning Oct 15, 2023

Your surroundings – particularly temperature changes and humidity – are vital considerations for any tuning process. World champion piper Callum Beaumont explains how important these are for him to think about when preparing to play at high-level competitions. This clip is an excerpt from Callum's hour-long interview, included as part of our new course on bagpipe tuning, "The Great Bagpipe Tuning Algorithm". Visit https://pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more!

Jack Lee shares some of his top-level tuning secrets Oct 13, 2023

Do you find it harder to hear your bass drone than your tenors when you tune? As it turns out, so does Jack Lee! So how does he manage this and the rest of his tuning process, to get that trademark beautiful tone every time he plays? Jack is one of many world-leading pipers we’ve interviewed for our brand new Bagpipe Tuning Suite of online courses, designed to help you finally crack the code of bagpipe tuning! This clip is an excerpt from Jack's hour-long interview, included as part of the new course. Visit pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more.

Matt MacIsaac shares some of his tuning process (clip from longer interview) Oct 12, 2023

How would Matt MacIsaac teach you to tune? Matt’s one of many, many world-leading pipers we’ve interviewed for our brand new Bagpipe Tuning Suite of online courses, designed to help you finally crack the code of bagpipe tuning! Visit pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more. Inside the “Great Algorithm” Bagpipe Tuning Suite you’ll receive... In depth “Bagpipe Tuning in Theory” module, with quizzes to test your knowledge Comprehensive “Bagpipe Tuning in Practice” module 90-Day Tuning Training Plan 11 full-hour interviews with many of the world’s greatest pipers (including the one this clip is from!) 300+ Page Full Color Textbook “How to tune your pipe corps” expansion course Triple-your-money-back guarantee Course Details: ✅ Tuition: Just $169 until October 22nd. ✅ Payment Plans: 2- and 3-month payment plans available. ✅ Level: Beginner through Advanced (any piper on the full pipes needs to understand “the algorithm”). ✅ Setting: Online/Virtual ✅ Course Length: 15-20 Hours Visit pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more!

NEW Tuning Suite: Decoding the "Great Bagpipe Tuning Algoritm" Oct 11, 2023

Introducing the Bagpipe Tuning Suite that helps you finally crack the code of bagpipe tuning! Visit https://pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more. Inside the "Great Algorithm" Bagpipe Tuning Suite you'll receive... --In depth "Bagpipe Tuning in Theory" Module, with quizzes to test your knowledge --Comprehensive "Bagpipe Tuning in Practice" module --90-Day Tuning Training Plan --11 full-hour interviews with many of the world's greatest pipers (!!!) --300+ Page Full Color Textbook --"How to tune your pipe corps" expansion course. --Triple-your-money-back guarantee Course Details: --Tuition: Just $169 until October 22nd. --Payment Plans: 2- and 3-month payment plans available. --Level: Beginner through Advanced (any piper on the full pipes needs to understand "the algorithm"). --Setting: Online/Virtual --Course Length: 15-20 Hours Visit https://pipersdojo.com/tuning today to learn more

373 - Do REAL Pipers Use A Metronome? (Dojo Conversations Episode 43) Oct 02, 2023

Ever heard someone say "real pipers don't use a metronome"? This week, we're discussing how rhythm is the most foundational skill any musician – including bagpipers – needs to develop. But do some people just naturally have better rhythm? Can you develop it? And how do you know when you've got it right? Pssssst... We're launching our new, comprehensive bagpipe tuning course VERY soon at Dojo U, for everything you'll ever need to know about bagpipe (and band!) tuning – more info will be posted here very soon: http://pipersdojo.com/tuning Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

372 - Tuning Is An Algorithm (Episode 42) Sep 25, 2023

Feel like you're flying blind when you tune your pipes? We have so many variables to manage while we're listening to our tuning – and chances are, especially if you're just starting out, you're not entirely sure what you're actually listening for... This week, we're discussing how to think of bagpipe tuning as an 'algorithm' – and if maths or computers aren't your thing, don't worry! At its core, an algorithm is just a series or set of instructions that achieves an intended result – and having a uniform set of inputs and processes to follow could help you develop the skills needed to have a breakthrough with your tuning, once and for all... Interested to learn more? We're launching our new, comprehensive bagpipe tuning course very soon at Dojo U, for everything you'll ever need to know about bagpipe (and band!) tuning – more info will be posted here very soon: http://pipersdojo.com/tuning Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

371 - Are Your Pipes In Tune? Who Cares?! (Dojo Conversations Episode 41) Sep 18, 2023

Is your tenor drone sharp? Is your C flat compared to your drones? Are your drones flat or sharp compared to your low A? Who cares?! This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the "who cares" model of bagpipe tuning – where it doesn't matter whether you know instinctively whether your pipes are in tune, or even which way you need to shift a tuning pin or tape to fix the tuning. Instead, it's important to become comfortable with the *process* of testing, trial and error, and perfecting a system that you can replicate each time you play, and get faster and better at each time. Interested to learn more? We're launching our new, comprehensive bagpipe tuning course very soon at Dojo U, for everything you'll ever need to know about bagpipe (and band!) tuning – more info will be posted here very soon: http://pipersdojo.com/tuning Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

370 - Should You Throw Away Your Digital Tuner? (Dojo Conversations Episode 40) Sep 11, 2023

For better or worse, digital tuners are widely used in the piping world. They're easier than ever to access, with many smartphone apps now available. And they're a useful reference tool that can show you what pitch your reeds are sounding at. But most importantly – what CAN'T your digital tuner tell you? This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of bagpipe tuners, when they're good, when they're not, and when you need to "put down the ducky" if you want to be a better bagpiper... Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

369 - Are Some Practice Chanters Better Than Others? (Dojo Conversations Episode 39) Sep 04, 2023

It's the instrument we all started on, and a very different one to the full pipes... but for something that's mostly used for practice, does it actually matter if your practice chanter is blackwood or polypenco (plastic)? Long or short? Tuned or not? This week, Andrew and Jim discuss all things practice chanter, including what to look for and what to consider when you're buying your first, or in the market for a new one... Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

368 – Do You Know Where The Beat Goes?(Dojo Conversations Episode 38) Aug 28, 2023

While rushing and lack of control are huge problems for beginners and intermediates, if we roll it back a step further – do you actually know where the beat is supposed to go in the first place? Bagpipe music isn't always written in a way that makes that easy to answer. So this week, Andrew and Jim discuss where to place the beat in bagpipe music, how embellishments likely developed, and whether we should be prescribing where to place the beat at all... Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

367 - How Do You Fix a Progress Plateau? (Dojo Conversations Episode 37) Aug 14, 2023

Have you ever hit a wall in your piping? It could be because your foundations need fixing... This week, Andrew and Jim look at the root causes of player stagnation, which usually aren't fixed by doing more reps, or trying to play faster, or any of the many other ways we tell ourselves we'll get better if we just keep pushing. Often, the best way to progress is actually to take a step backwards – by methodically fixing fundamental gaps in skill, from the ground up. Think you're too far advanced to need this approach? You may be suffering from "bagpipe status disease" – and you're holding yourself back as a result... Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

366 – Surprising Salival Secrets: Is "Wet Blowing" a Myth?(Dojo Conversations Ep 36) Aug 07, 2023

Are you a "wet blower"? Many pipers seem to inexplicably have a bagpipe that accumulates WAY more moisture than their bandmates... but before you get too attached to that as part of your piping identity, you might want to hear what we have to say about the "myth" of wet blowing... On this week's episode, we explore some other variables that may be at play for "wet" blowers, like condensation, proper instrument maintenance, efficient setup, and environmental conditions, which can significantly impact moisture levels. Got a question or topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode? Leave us a comment or send an email to support@pipersdojo.com!

365 - Band vs Solo Chanters: What's the Difference? (Dojo Conversations Ep 35) Jul 31, 2023

Is there a difference between band and solo chanters? Does it matter if you choose an African blackwood or a polypenco (plastic) chanter? And does the hole size of a chanter make any real difference to the sound? This week, Andrew and Jim are busting every myth you've ever wondered about bagpipe chanters, and touch on the traumatic moment that so many pipers have experienced – that bone-chilling CRACK when you turn a blackwood chanter from the bottom... Got a question or topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

364 – Why won't my bagpipes EVER stay in tune?! (Dojo Conversations Ep 34) Jul 24, 2023

Ever heard of the pitch–time continuum? If you haven't, that's not surprising, because Andrew made it up... but it's a great way to visualize what happens inside your pipes as you play, what effect heat and moisture have on whether your reeds go sharp or flat, and why the darned things never seem to stay in tune! On this week's episode of Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss bagpipe tuning – one of the (if not the single) most frustrating topics for any beginning or intermediate piper. We'll look at how your pipes change over time, what causes this, and some suggestions for ways to prepare for and solve these issues when you're playing. Interested to learn more about tuning? We can't say too much yet, but we're developing something HUGE and very exciting that is coming soon – and we think it will have an enormous effect on your ability to tune your own bagpipes. Watch this space... Got a question or topic you'd like covered in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you – leave us a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

363 - How To Plan The Perfect Practice Session (Dojo Conversations Episode 33) Jul 17, 2023

How do you plan the perfect practice session? Should you practice more on the practice chanter or the full pipes? And would the formula change depending on whether you're a complete beginner or have been playing for a while? This week on Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim dive into a listener question from Brad, all about how to structure a practice session for optimal improvement. They dive so deep they go all the way through to how you'd teach a beginner to get started on the bagpipes in general, among many other tangents (just for something different)...

362 - Your Ultimate Bagpipe Shopping List (Dojo Conversations Episode 32) Jul 10, 2023

Is there a better feeling in the world than buying new stuff for your piping obsession? So what should every piper be adding to that list? Should you stick to the maintenance essentials? Stock up on the latest gadgets and gimmicks? Or is there more to consider before you get out your wallet and rush to the closest supply store? This week on Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss in detail the joys and pitfalls of bagpipe retail therapy, including a list of must-haves for every piper – but you might be more surprised at what's NOT on the list... Got a question that you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave us a comment on this video, or email it to us at support@pipersdojo.com.

361 - Enjoy the CALM Before Winter Storm(Dojo Conversations Episode 31) Jul 03, 2023

Enjoy the CALM Before Winter Storm ❄️ Dojo University is the largest and longest running online bagpiping and drumming school, but sometimes it's fun to meet up IRL (in real life) too... This week, Andrew and Jim chat about some upcoming Dojo in-person events, all timed to tie into some of the biggest events on the piping calendar around the world. The first is a three-day workshop running just before "Winter Storm", one of North America's most popular piping and drumming events. Tailored for beginner and intermediate pipers, CALM (Come And Learn Music) Before Winter Storm offers full-group workshops and lectures, small group breakout sessions, and dedicated practice time. Want to learn more or register? Places are strictly limited, so don't miss out – visit: pipersdojo.com/calm We're also running an International School in Edinburgh next August designed to put you in prime timing to maximize your piping with some of Scotland's best instructors, as well as seeing the Edinburgh Tattoo and World Pipe Band Championships. To register, and to learn more about all upcoming in-person events, visit: http://pipersdojo.com/events/

360 - Memorization, 11 Commandments, Foot Tapping, Reed Balancing - Friday Strike In - 06.30.2023 Jun 30, 2023

Catch up with Andrew and Carl during this week's "Friday Strike In."

359 - How Fast Should You Play A Strathspey? (Dojo Conversations Episode 30) Jun 26, 2023

Do you rush to play your strathspeys at breakneck speed, regardless of the grade you play in? You're not alone. Many pipers believe you 'lose the strathspey feel' if you play these tunes too slow... but does that mean that pipers in lower grades should still aim for the same speeds as the pros? This week on Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss a reader question about strathspey tempos, and what judges (and audiences) REALLY want to hear... and whether that's actually the best thing for the player, or for the continuing health of the piping community at large. Got a question of your own that you'd like answered? Leave a comment or email it to us at support@pipersdojo.com.

358 - What Do Bob Ross and Bagpipes Have In Common? (Dojo Conversations Ep 29) Jun 19, 2023

Bob Ross was a wholesome TV personality who taught viewers to paint beautiful landscapes along with him. But what does painting (even when coached by a vocal equivalent of a lava lamp) have to do with bagpiping? This week on Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss Bob's approach to painting – to start with the broad strokes, adding complexity and detail over time – and how the very same approach applies to every creative pursuit... including (and perhaps especially) bagpiping! Got a question you'd like us to cover in future episodes? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com! ____ Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world. We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world. We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late. And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U. At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around! Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

357 - How To "Fail" Like A Champion (Dojo Conversations Ep 29) Jun 12, 2023

If you compete and don't win, have you failed? Failure is something we all fear – but putting yourself out there really is the only way to learn and grow as a piper. And the cool thing about failure is that it moves the needle towards a future success. This week on Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss the idea of "failure" in bagpiping and pipe bands – and how different piping is as a "subjective" art form to some other more objective pursuits, like basketball and other sports. Let's rethink "failure" as what it really is – progress towards incremental improvement! Got a topic you'd like us to discuss on a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com! #bagpipes #bagpipers #pipeband #pipebandlife

356 - A Simple Equation For Joyful Bagpiping (Dojo Conversations Ep 28) Jun 05, 2023

Though many pipers struggle, it doesn't have to be this way. Finding true joy in your bagpiping all really boils down to one simple equation... but you'll have to tune in to find out what it is! This week on Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss another chapter of Andrew's book Finding Bagpipe Freedom, this time looking at the simple equation that guarantees a way to finding joy in the process of learning to become a better bagpipers. Because if you can't enjoy the process... you're not gonna make it as a bagpiper! Got a topic you'd like us to discuss on a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

355 - How to be a world-class bagpiper... in 100 words (Dojo Conversations Ep 27) May 29, 2023

Becoming a great player is clearly possible, as many pipers achieve it. But it's easy to feel like we're getting stagnant or plateauing in our progress. So could becoming a world-class piper really be simple enough to boil down into 100 words? Absolutely! Here they are: ~~~~~~~~~~ "Every day: listen to masterful bagpipe music, interact with bagpipers better than you, play at least one tune on full bagpipes. ‌ Most days: hone essential fundamentals, in this order of priority: 1. Rhythmic Accuracy 2. Scale Navigation 3. Gracenote Quality 4. Blowing Mechanics/Posture 5. Tuning drones together 6. Maintaining optimal blowing pressure. 7. Tuning drones to chanter 8. Avoiding “Mental Blowing Anomalies” 9. Embellishment 10. “Expression” Technique ‌ Practice as wide an array of tunes as humanly possible. Be wary of routine! Keep practice very short, singularly focused, and objective. Afterwards, play strictly for enjoyment. ‌ Regularly put yourself in new, challenging musical situations. Play for self-expression, never for accolades. ~~~~~~~~~~ This week on Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss Andrew's 100-word blueprint for improving at bagpipes. It's at the heart of his personal experience and piping philosophy, and forms the core of Dojo University's approach to teaching (the "Five Phases to Bagpipe Freedom"). So could you adopt this blueprint to become a world-class piper yourself? Tune in to find out...

354 - How To Get A Grade 1 Band Attitude (Dojo Conversations Ep 26) May 22, 2023

Does your band care more about dressing up than the sound they produce? Would you rather be in a Grade 5 band focused on improvement, or a Grade 2 band obsessed more with status? How do you get a top grade attitude in a lower grade band – even if you don't compete? In this week's episode of Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss a reader question about a band's attitude, and how it can make or break the success or failure of your organisation. As Lao Tzu once said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” So how do you set your band up to have a great, "Grade 1" culture and attitude? Tune in to find out... Got a question you'd like Andrew and Jim to discuss on the show? Add your comment here or send it to support@pipersdojo.com.

353 - How To Get Great Bagpipe Technique on Autopilot (Dojo Conversations Ep 25) May 15, 2023

Ever watched an expert make something look so easy you think you could do it? It's a phenomenon every learner experiences – because you don't know what you don't know. Then as you learn more and do more, even though you're getting better, you start to realize there's a gaping chasm between your current skill level and where you want to be. In this week's episode, Andrew and Jim dive into more of the ideas from Finding Bagpipe Freedom, including a cool way of conceptualizing learning called the hierarchy of competence...

352 - Are you making music, or just mimicking? (Dojo Conversations Ep 24) May 08, 2023

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, as Oscar Wilde's old saying goes... but people often forget the second half of that quote: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.” In other words, if you're truly great, the mediocre will imitate you. So when you're creating something, like music, should you be aiming to simply copy what your instructors or great pipers play? Or should you want to create your own unique sound? In this week's episode, Andrew and Jim dive into more of the ideas Andrew explored in his first book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, including how to use the bagpipes as a form of technology like any other – one that you can use as a tool to express yourself, rather than just copying what others have written or done before you. After all, isn't that the true definition of Bagpipe Freedom?

351 - Is Piobaireachd Just For Nerds? With Special Guest Dan Nevans (Dojo Conversations Ep 23) May 03, 2023

Many pipers dismiss piobaireachd – classical piping – as too nerdy, obscure, hard, or just plain boring to learn... but this couldn't be further from the truth! In this week's episode, Jim and Andrew chat with one of piobaireachd's most enthusiastic champion, Dan Nevans, who's a passionate advocate that piobaireachd is for everyone (coincidentally, also the title of his popular book). • Check out Dan's book "Piobaireachd is for Everyone" here: https://dnpiping.com/book • Join us for a piobaireachd-themed takeover of the Dojo in May 2023 – kicks off Friday 5 May: https://dojouniversity.com/theme • Learn more about Dojo University and how to join: https://pipersdojo.com

350 - The Dojo Origin Story (Dojo Conversations Ep 22) Apr 24, 2023

Ever wondered how two guys running a piping class in a New York church basement turned into the world's longest running and largest online piping school? Over more than 10 years in business, the Piper's Dojo (and now Dojo University) has grown into a cross-continental online juggernaut of piping and drumming education – but it certainly didn't start that way. In this week's episode, Jim (Heritage Bagpipes, Droning On podcast) and Andrew jump in the Delorean for a quick tour back to Dojo's origins, and look at how it's evolved over the past decade. _____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

349 - Are You Free to Play What You Want? (Dojo Conversations Ep 21) Apr 17, 2023

Do you consider yourself a musician – not "just" a piper? Do you feel like you can express yourself freely through your bagpipes? Unfortunately, for most pipers, the answer is no. In 2021, Andrew published his first book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, which explored the process any piper can follow to achieve musical "freedom", and how to break bad habits to do it. This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the introduction of the book, looking at the main reasons we want to play the bagpipes in the first place, and how we can fix the fundamentals that make those goals possible. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

348 - How Do I Find and Charge for Gigs? (Dojo Conversations Ep 20) Apr 10, 2023

How do you know when you're ready and capable of playing gigs for money? How much should you charge? How do you find gigs and put yourself out there? How should you plan for and charge clients? Andrew and Jim delve into the pennies and dimes of putting yourself out there as a piper for hire on this week's episode of Dojo Conversations.

347 - Does Marching Help You Play in Time?(Dojo Conversations Ep 19) Apr 04, 2023

Can you play a march properly without actually marching? Does marching as you play actually help? Do you need to dance to play a strathspey in time? ...and what happened that one time Andrew tried to dance? On this week's episode of Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim dive into the art of marching, its benefits and drawbacks, and how moving as we play affects our rhythm and the groove of the tune. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

346 - Are You Taping Your Chanter "Wrong"? (Dojo Conversations Ep 18) Mar 27, 2023

Why do we use tape on bagpipe chanters? What's the 'right' way to use tape? Can you do tape 'wrong'? Can you have too much? What did they use before tape existed? On this week's episode, Andrew and Jim (Heritage Bagpipes, Droning On Podcast) delve into the sticky subject of bagpipe chanter tape, looking at its many uses, what to do, what NOT to do, and much more.

345 - How Do I Make My Pipes Air Efficient? (Dojo Conversations Ep 17) Mar 20, 2023

So you've checked your chanter reed is the right strength, your bag's airtight, and as far as you can tell, you're not leaking air anywhere else. Then why are you still struggling to maintain pressure and tone?! Calibrating your drones is the fourth step in setting up your pipes to be completely air-efficient – and therefore comfortable to play. But do you know how to calibrate your drone reeds properly? On this week's episode, Andrew and Jim (Heritage Bagpipes, Droning On Podcast) talk you through our "drone reed calibration" process, from making sure your drones are set up to perfectly complement your chanter reed, to matching drone reeds, plus how marriage counselling could help your pipe band (believe it or not!) and much more. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

344 - Is Your Bag Airtight? Or Do You Just THINK It Is...? (Dojo Conversations Ep 16) Mar 13, 2023

An airtight bag is step 1 for a bagpipe that's easy to play. But do you know how to check if your bag is airtight? Does it matter that much whether you play hide or synthetic? Does duct tape work as a stopgap solution? And what should you do when you think you've done "everything right" and STILL can't get it to hold air properly? Andrew and Jim delve into all of these, plus 3D printed bagpipes, hemp compressors, and much more in this week's episode of Dojo Conversations. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

343 - This Recording May Be Used For Training Purposes(Dojo Conversations Ep 15) Mar 06, 2023

Do you record yourself when you practice and perform? So many of us are daunted just by the idea of it, but recording is a must if you want to improve at anything. In this week's episode of Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim discuss the many, many benefits of recording yourself, as well as a few practical tips about what gear works best, and how to use it for optimal sound on your recordings. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://learn.dojouniversity.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

342 - Birling Around (Dojo Conversations Ep 14) Feb 27, 2023

What kind of birl do you play? Do you know all the ways you can execute one? Is there a "best" way? On this week's episode of Dojo Conversations, Andrew and Jim delve into everything you want to know about birls – including how pipers in the distant future will play, and the rare and mysterious "birl on B"... ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://dojouniversity.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

341 – Should You Lick Your Chanter Reed? (Dojo Conversations Ep 13) Feb 20, 2023

Should you ever lick your reed? Why do pipers lick (or shave, or poke, or manipulate in any way whatsover) their reeds in the first place? Andrew and Jim (Heritage Bagpipes / Droning On Podcast) delve into the dos and don'ts of reed manipulation on this week's episode of Dojo Conversations. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://learn.dojouniversity.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

340 - Are You Holding Your Chanter "Wrong"? (Dojo Conversations Ep 12) Feb 12, 2023

Is there a "right" or "wrong" way to hold your chanter? Why do some of the world's best pipers seem to hold their chanters the "wrong" way to how most of us are taught? Andrew and Jim (Heritage Bagpipes, Droning On Podcast) do a deep dive on finger position, posture, and much more in this week's episode of Dojo Conversations. Note: A few of the descriptions in this episode relate to visuals in the video version of this interview – visit our Facebook page or YouTube channel to see the on-screen prompts as well. ____ While we've got you – do you ever get frustrated, dizzy or out of breath when you play your pipes? Far too many pipers struggle in "bagpipe hell" with an instrument that's way too hard to play, and no idea how to fix it. So join us in March 2023 for "make your bagpipes easy" month at Dojo U. We're taking over our entire online bagpipe school for the whole month of March this year to focus on making your bagpipes easy to play. Join us for: – 3 months of premium membership for the price of 1 – Live online workshops with piping legends Jack Lee and Richard Parkes – 10+ of our regular weekly live classes will be dedicated to making over your bagpipes – Optional 1:1 lessons with Dojo instructors to help target issues you're working on – Dedicated workbook to help guide you through the process Visit dojouniversity.com/theme for all the details! __________________

339 - How to clean up your embellishments (Dojo Conversations Ep 11) Feb 06, 2023

Where do embellishments come from? What can go wrong with a grace note? Do you need to play tunes exactly as they're written? Does the way we write embellishments negatively impact our playing? Andrew and Jim (Heritage Bagpipes, Droning On Podcast) dive into these questions and much more in this week's show as they discuss the best ways you can diagnose and then "clean up" your embellishments. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://learn.dojouniversity.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

338 - Does it matter which grace notes you play? (Dojo Conversations Ep 10) Jan 26, 2023

Can anyone actually tell if you play the wrong grace note? And does it really matter which grace note you play on different notes and embellishments? Andrew and James Moyar (Heritage Bagpipes, Droning On Podcast) delve into the grace note system, how experienced players can 'compress' tunes and embellishments into their memory, and how grace notes likely evolved in the first place.

337 - Can Hard Reeds Be Good For You? (Dojo Conversations Ep 9) Jan 23, 2023

The piping world has an epidemic of bagpipes that are hard to play. But can playing a hard reed ever be good for you? In this week's episode of Dojo Conversations, Andrew and James get to the bottom of 'piper's snot' and whether 'majoring in the minors' with a hard reed is a good idea for most players... ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: pipersdojo.com Facebook: facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

336 - What a Judge Wants (Dojo Conversations Ep 8) Jan 12, 2023

Can a judge actually tell if you aren't playing all your drones? Should you use all of the tuning time you're allowed? How much does tune selection REALLY matter? James Moyar(Droning On Podcast, BagpipeSwag.com, Heritage Bagpipes)quizzes Andrew for a judge's perspective on what they look for when you're competing. ____ The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

335 - Crossing Noise Secrets (Dojo Conversations Episode 7) Dec 18, 2022

Pipers at all levels of ability and experience can find pesky crossing noises creeping into our playing. Do you know the different kinds, how to eliminate them, and what causes them? The answer, especially to the last one, may surprise you... __________________ The Piper’s Dojo Weekly Show, Dojo Conversations, brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. This episode was first livestreamed on Facebook – so like our Facebook page (The Piper's Dojo, linked below) to tune in live to our weekly streams, subscribe to our YouTube channel, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://learn.dojouniversity.com Piper's Dojo Bagpipe Supply Store: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

334 - To fix your embellishments... stop playing embellishments (Dojo Conversations Ep 6) Dec 09, 2022

Did you know that embellishments aren't just a collection of grace notes mashed together? They may look that way when they're written out in sheet music, but there's a bit more to them than that. They're actually rapid-fire combinations of melody notes and grace notes used to embellish a bagpipe tune. And to get anywhere near close to playing them well, there are three key things you're going to want to master... __________________ The Piper’s Dojo Weekly Show, Dojo Conversations, brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. This episode was first livestreamed on Facebook – so like our Facebook page (The Piper's Dojo, linked below) to tune in live to our weekly streams, subscribe to our YouTube channel, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes. This channel is our way of providing as much value as possible to the bagpipe world by sharing knowledge, taking your questions, interviewing pipers at all stages of development, and just generally talking bagpipes with the e-world. We hope you'll subscribe and join us on our mission to help the world play this great instrument as a true extension of their Selves. Andrew is also a prolific "real world" teacher and bagpipe performer. You can watch several of his performances and workshops on this channel. Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here: Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://learn.dojouniversity.com Piper's Dojo Bagpipe Supply Store: http://pipersdojo.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo SnapChat: pipersdojo

333 - Sight-read any bagpipe tune effortlessly (Dojo Conversations Ep 5) Dec 01, 2022

Sight-reading is something a lot of pipers struggle with, especially if you didn't learn how to read music before you started learning to play bagpipes. But it doesn't have to be hard. This is my simple, straightforward approach to sight-reading. It's a bit like juggling – you can quickly master it, if you just tackle it one ball at a time. ____ The Piper’s Dojo Weekly Show, Dojo Conversations, brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. This episode was first livestreamed on Facebook, so like our Facebook page to receive notifications when our weekly streams go live; subscribe to our YouTube channel; or follow, rate and review wherever you tune in to your favorite podcasts!

332 - How to "hemp edit" your bagpipes (Dojo Conversations Ep 4) Nov 17, 2022

Hemp is finicky. Day to day, your joints' tightness can change quite a bit, so when it comes to technique, my golden rule: it has to be fast. Watch as I demonstrate how to wrap hemp on your drone or reed seats for a ‘hemp edit’ – when your pipes are already hemped, but just need a little tune up to get them nice and tight to play again. ____ The Piper’s Dojo Weekly Show, Dojo Conversations, brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. This episode was first livestreamed on Facebook, so like our Facebook page to receive notifications when our weekly streams go live; subscribe to our YouTube channel; or follow, rate and review wherever you tune in to your favorite podcasts!

331 - The #1, foolproof, top-secret reed manipulation trick (Dojo Conversations Ep 3) Nov 10, 2022

Licking, poking, pinching... what's the best way to sound absolutely incredible every time you choose a new reed? In this video, Andrew steps you through how to deal with challenging reeds, and the best way to manipulate them to sound incredible... The Piper's Dojo brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. Like our Facebook page to receive notifications when our weekly streams go live; subscribe to our YouTube channel; or follow, rate and review wherever you tune in to your favorite podcasts!

330 Extras - Q&A Wrap Up on Moisture and Reed Strength (Dojo Conversations Ep 2.1) Nov 08, 2022

We had some great questions submitted about our last two podcasts in the Dojo Conversations series, a new weekly show where we do a quick dive into some tips on a different piping topic each week. Andrew held a quick follow up Q&A session to answer these, as the submitters probably aren't the only ones curious about these... Got a question for us? Want us to cover a specific topic in future? Add a comment to this podcast, or send it to us on any of our social channels! __________________________________ The Piper's Dojo brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. Like our Facebook page to receive notifications when our weekly streams go live; subscribe to our YouTube channel; or follow, rate and review wherever you tune in to your favorite podcasts!

330 - Got Moisture Problems? You Might Be Overlooking These 3 Things(Dojo Conversations Ep 2) Nov 03, 2022

We need a certain amount of moisture in our bagpipes. But too much can be a major problem. Too many players reach straight for moisture control systems and fancy gadgets to manage it, but that's treating the symptom, and not the cause. Let's delve into the real causes of moisture issues, including the stuff we need to do when we’re NOT playing... The Piper's Dojo brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. Like our Facebook page to receive notifications when our weekly streams go live; subscribe to our YouTube channel; or follow, rate and review wherever you tune in to your favorite podcasts!

329 - Finding the Right Chanter Reed: The Scotland The Brave Test (Dojo Conversations Ep 1) Nov 03, 2022

How do you know if your bagpipe chanter reed is the right strength for you? This simple test is a pretty foolproof way to find out... listen as we step you through how to do it, some of the factors that contribute to the the reed strength you need, and some of the pros and cons of easy vs hard chanter reeds. _________________________________ The Piper's Dojo brings you weekly advice about how to be a better bagpiper. Like our Facebook page to receive notifications when our weekly streams go live; subscribe to our YouTube channel; or follow, rate and review wherever you tune in to your favorite podcasts!

328 - Metronomes And Simplified Settings - Don't Take My Word For It - 04.28.2022 Apr 28, 2022

Real bagpipers play with all the embellishments in. And they sure as heck never use metronomes, that's just ridiculous. Ok... but what about real MUSICIANS?

Free Workshop at Australia-friendly time! 11 Reasons Pipers Fail Redux Jan 19, 2022

In case you weren't aware, I've been putting together some free workshops for anyone who'd like to attend over the long, cold winter here in New York. I ran the first of these in November last year and had huge interest – around 400 pipers from across the US and Canada (plus a few from the UK as well!) tuned in to learn more about the "11 Reasons Pipers Fail." Given how much great feedback we had about the content, I wanted to make it more accessible to pipers in other parts of the world. To that end, I've scheduled a second session, still entirely free, that I'll be hosting at: USA: Saturday, January 29 @ 7PM (New York / EST) New Zealand: Sunday, January 30 @ 1pm Australia: Sunday, January 30 @ 11am (Syd / Melb),10am (Bris), 8am (Perth) In the workshop, I'll take you through a number of core concepts that illustrate how most pipers are already on a collision course with bagpiping disappointment and failure. But, it's not all doom and gloom – understanding the 11 deadly pitfalls in attempting to master any skill will give you a clear road map to making the rest of 2022 the best piping year you've ever had. We'll set up key next actions for you to take to inject some rocket-fuel into your piping aspirations! To read more about the workshop and to sign up visit https://DojoUniversity.com/workshop

326 - Tube vs. Gauge Style Manometer - Will I Ever "Get" Rhythm (Weekly Strike-in) - 01.14.2022 Jan 14, 2022

01:20 - Why is a tube-style manometer better than a gauge? 24:25 - Will I ever "get" rhythm "down"? 33:53 - Is Piobaireachd required to become a "real" piper? --> What IS a real piper? If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today!

325 - How much "brain room" is needed to memorize tunes? (Weekly Strike-in) - 01.07.2022 Jan 10, 2022

Amongst other Q&A today, we discuss the problem of memorization. Is it possible for a 71-year-old to memorize more than a few tunes? Is the bagpipe freedom process for beginners? How to transcribe the rhythm of a tune you heard on YouTube. Embellishment discussion. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today!

Free Online Workshop this Sunday Nov 14 - 11 Reasons Pipers Fail Nov 09, 2021

Register now at https://dojouniversity.com/workshop ___ As you may have heard, I am putting together some free workshops this winter for anyone who'd like to attend. The first one will be this November 14th, at 1pm New York Time, called "11 Reasons Pipers Fail." So, what's this workshop all about? Frankly, it's been a tough one to put into words. Have you ever achieved a goal, but still felt empty? Have you powered through to the finish line, just to realize (usually immediately) that you were wrong about where the real finish line actually was? Cramming for a big test in high school comes to mind. Usually, a good solid all-nighter would suffice to get me that "A" I needed to "keep my grades up." But it was an empty victory. Next week there was going to be another test, and because I "crammed" for the previous test, I never actually learned the material! So, from there I was stuck in a perpetual cramming cycle. Did I get my "A"? Yep. Was I happy during or after the process? Hell no. And by the way, I remember nothing from any of those classes looking back as an adult. I took nothing away from those experiences. I see the piping world (yes, basically the whole piping world!) stuck in a similar pattern. We set goals. Assuming we meet these goals (and, let's face it, most of us don't), we realize we aren't any happier (or musically satisfied) than we were beforehand... and what do we decide to do to fill the void? Set another goal! 11 Reasons Pipers Fail is going to explore why happiness doesn't live on the other side of success and where we might actually look to find "happiness" (or fulfillment, or whatever it is you're looking for). Fascinatingly, NONE of the 11 Reasons Pipers Fail have anything to do with technique, talent, a great ear, a great teacher, etc. etc. It all has to do with mindset and it all has to do with behavior. During the workshop, we're going to evaluate our mindset and behavior and I guarantee you'll walk away with several huge insights into what's been missing so far in your musical journey, and you'll have a great sense of what you can do starting NOW to begin rocketing yourself forward towards bagpiping success... whatever that means for you. To read more about the workshop and to sign up, click here now. I hope to see you there! Andrew Douglas from the Piper's Dojo

324 - Is the Bagpipe Freedom Process for Beginners? (Weekly Strike-in) - 10.08.2021 Oct 11, 2021

Is the bagpipe freedom process for beginners? How to transcribe the rhythm of a tune you heard on YouTube. Embellishment discussion. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

323 - Team Dojo? Gannaway Seasoning. Bagpipe Freedom - 07.09.2021 Jul 13, 2021

It's been a while since we behaved ourselves long enough to release a Friday Strike-in as a podcast! Enjoy some piping chatter. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

New Book! "Finding Bagpipe Freedom" - Order it Today Jun 02, 2021

The book is now OUT of pre-order and ready for regular purchase. Order at http://BagpipeFreedom.com The book is focused on fully exploring what you might recognize is the "Dojo U method," detailing our approach from the ground up. But, it's not a text book or an exercise book. It's a "big picture" exploration about how to learn, and how to apply these basic learning concepts to one of the world's most difficult instruments. I wanted to ensure that the book wasn't just educational, but that it also flowed well, and was entertaining. This is a book you should be able to sit down with after a long day of work and actually enjoy reading. At least, we think so. The book INCLUDES an audio version for those who prefer that. Other exciting extras also await in your "book extras" portal. I would be honored if you purchased a copy of the book. Head to http://BagpipeFreedom.com today to pre-order your copy. All the best!

321 - Long Form Chat with Dr. Matthew Welch - 05.10.2021 May 10, 2021

Matthew Welch studied traditional Highland Bagpipe music with Gold Medalist masters such as James McIntosh M.B.E., Colin MacLellan, Mike Cusack, Jack Lee, Pipe Major Angus MacLellan, Andrew Wright and celebrated, repeat World-Champion Pipe Majors Terry Lee and Iain McLellan B.E.M. Mr. Welch was a member of one of the most internationally acclaimed bagpipe bands of the last two decades: the six-time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, and played with the band for their World Pipe Band Championship wins of 1999 and 2001 in Glasgow. As Musical Director for the New York Metro Pipe Band, his unique way of teaching pipe music, musical ensemble cohesion and cultivating a bright, rich pipe corps sound helped steer NY Metro to their 2011 and 2012, 2014 wins at the World Pipe Band Championships, the North American Pipe Band Championships and the American Pipe Band Championships respectively. He is also in demand as a private bagpipe instructor. Beyond the traditional repertoire, Welch has pioneered new techniques and materials in his own works that include the bagpipe and has premiered a number of new compositions written for bagpipes by living composers such as Julia Wolfe, Anthony Braxton, Alvin Lucier, Paula Matthusen, Zeena Parkins, David Watson, Michael O’Neill and Lainie Fefferman. As a classically trained composer, he holds degrees in Music Composition from Simon Fraser University (BFA), Wesleyan University (MA), and Yale University (DMA), writing his dissertation in the form of a treatise on the structures of musical composition for the Highland Bagpipe. He has been giving world class recitals of traditional, contemporary and original works for over 20 years. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

320 - Long Form Chat with Robert Mathieson - 05.06.2021 May 06, 2021

Robert won the worlds 5 times as Pipe Major of the Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

319 - Long Form Chat with Ross Miller - 04.30.2021 Apr 30, 2021

Ross hails from Linlithgow, West Lothian where he is the official Town Piper. He studied Bagpipes, Scots Song and Whistles at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In July 2017 he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Traditional Music - Piping. Ross was a finalist in the 2019 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition. A World Champion piper, Ross began piping aged 7 and was the Pipe Major of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. He competed with the world famous Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band for many years. He is now a member the Grade 1 Inveraray and District Pipe Band. Also a successful solo piper, he competes regularly around the Highland Games in Scotland and further afield. Ross has performed in many countries such as: New Zealand, Australia, USA, Ghana, Russia and all over central Europe as well as appearing on BBC Hogmanay Live and performing solo on the roof of Murrayfield Stadium. A Grade 8 Trombonist, Ross has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the Usher Hall. A keen theatre performer he has appeared in many amateur musical productions throughout Scotland. Ross was the recipient of the Young Scot of the Year award for heritage at the age of 12 (in 2007). If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

318 - Long Form Chat with Greig Canning - 04.28.2021 Apr 28, 2021

Greig Canning is a piper with the two-time grade 1 World Champions, Inveraray and District Pipe Band. He is a regular prize winner and ‘A grade’ competitor on the highland games circuit, regularly competing at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting. Greig is a full-time bagpipe instructor for West Lothian Council, and the pipe major and instructor of the West Lothian Schools Pipe Band. _____ If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

317 - Long Form Chat with "The Captain" Ken Eller - 04.26.2021 Apr 26, 2021

Ken is one of the most prolific pipers in North American history. Be sure to visit thecaptainscorner.com to learn all about his career, his teaching, and his works. _____ If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

316 - The Bagpiping World's Destructive Negative Feedback Loop - 03.12.2021 Mar 12, 2021

Most bagpipe world has trapped itself in a destructive negative feedback loop that essentially guarantees its decline (and failure for the vast majority of enthusiasts...). Can you summon the strength to break free from the gravitational pull of the mainstream bagpiping world to "succeed" with your own piping? If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

315 - Forget Practicing Slowly! Get Better By.... Going Fast? - 10.09.2020 Oct 13, 2020

A student shared this: Here's a very interesting article/podcast about why learning difficult tunes or passages by starting slowly and gradually increasing practice speed has some inherent limitations, and offers a research-based rationale for different strategy. There's also a fascinating bit about why you should use a metronome that can randomly skip beats. https://bulletproofmusician.com/jason-sulliman-on-why-fast-practice-can-be-more-efficient-and-effective-than-slow-practice/ Is there anything to this? If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

314 - The Hard Reed Fallacy and other FAQs - 09.25.2020 Sep 29, 2020

This week we have a lot of great questions and some good banter. Question of the week is: Why should you NOT be playing a hard reed? The answer may open your eyes... If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

313 - The Best Way to Transition to the Full Bagpipes (And More) - 08.03.2020 Aug 04, 2020

In this class we have a great end-of-week Q&A for our Premium Members, beginning with a great review of the BEST way to transition from the practice chanter to the full bagpipes. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

Introducing the Pipe Major's Symposium - Stuart Liddell, Robert Mathieson, Alan Bevan Jul 29, 2020

Supercharge Your Leadership! A 2-Day Intensive Workshop for Pipe Corps Leaders - September 12-13, 2020 - Featuring World Champions Stuart Liddell, Robert Mathieson, and Alan Bevan Unparalleled knowledge and worldwide support specifically curated for pipe corps leaders to drastically improve your pipe band, guaranteed. Go to https://dojouniversity.com/lead today to learn more.

312 - Are You Prepared for a Long-Lasting COVID Bagpipe World? - 07.24.2020 Jul 27, 2020

It's becoming clearer and clearer that the bagpipe world may take a long time to return to anything that even remotely looks like normal. Are you prepared to adapt? If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

311 - Become "Unconsciously Competent" as You Learn a Tune - 07.15.2020 Jul 16, 2020

When you learn a new tune, you should be breaking it into bite-sized segments. Each bite size segment should be on auto-pilot before you move on to the next one. This is also referred to as reaching "unconscious competence" stage of the hierarchy of competence. Let's dive in. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

310 - Learning Tunes Is Easy (If You Do It Right) - 07.07.2020 Jul 14, 2020

In this hands-on class, Andrew dives deep down the rabbit-hole of tune learning. Why does it seem so hard for me, when others seem to do it easily? The answer might be so simple it surprises you! If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

307 - The Best Placement for Your Pipe Bag - 07.08.20 Jul 08, 2020

How far back should you push the pipe bag under your arm? Should the drones be all the way against your shoulder or should you be squeezing more toward the back of the bag? Andrew and Carl explain proper pipe bag placement for efficient playing and the best sound projection. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

309 - Fix Any Bagpipe Problem with the Fundamentals (with Carl Donley) - 06.23.2020 Jul 07, 2020

Carl shows us how the Dojo Fundamentals aren't just talking points. They show us how to solve literally any problem we are having! If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

306 - What is the Equivalent to an Extended Small Size in a Hide Bag? - 07.01.20 Jul 01, 2020

Do you play an extended small hybrid bag, but thinking about moving to a hide bag? What size should you get? Are the sizes standard and equivalent? Carl and Andrew give some suggestions on how to choose the correct size hide bag for you. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

305 - How to Tie in a Hide Bag With a Loose Neck - 06.24.20 Jun 24, 2020

What happens when you go to tie in a bag and the neck it much larger than the chanter stock? How do you ensure that you tie it in so it is airtight? Carl, Dojo U’s resident bag tying expert, explains how to handle this issue and get you playing soon! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

304 - Zen and the Art of Bagpipe Practice - 06.17.20 Jun 17, 2020

What does a productive practice feel like? How can you have that awesome moment more often? Andrew and Carl highlight what makes a successful practice and how you can replicate that yourself. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

303 - Best MP3 Recorder for Recording Bagpipes - 06.10.20 Jun 10, 2020

You know that recording yourself playing bagpipes is incredibly beneficial for self evaluation and working with an instructor, but your bagpipes are too loud for your computer recorder. What is the best recorder to buy? Is there a program you can use to easily record and upload your weekly recording to Dojo U? Andrew simplifies this issue and helps you find the best solution to get a great recording. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

302 - My Drones Tune Too High - 06.03.20 Jun 03, 2020

Do your drones tune very high on the tuning pins? Have you adjusted the drone reed pins and still not been able to fix the issue? Carl and Andrew make some practical suggestions to address this problem. Listen in to hear a couple ideas you may not have heard before. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

301 - I Got 99 Problems and My Bass Drone is One - 05.27.20 May 27, 2020

Does your bass drone work best when you tune it lower on the tuning pin? You adjust the bridle while calibrating, but the tuning pin location makes a big difference. Why is this? Andrew and Carl discuss the many issues involved with the bass drone and some of the ways you can adjust it to make it play better. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

308 - Chanter Tuning Essentials - 05.19.2020 May 21, 2020

In this class, we entertain a variety of great bagpiping questions, and then dig deep regarding how to balance the chanter, and resolve common chanter tuning issues. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

300 - Can You Fix a Collapsing F? - 05.20.20 May 20, 2020

Will a pinch fix a super flat or collapsing F? What causes this? Is the reed salvageable? Carl and Andrew give you a simple solution to this issue. Don’t waste any more time with this problem and start playing! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

299 - Tempo Wars - 05.14.20 May 14, 2020

How slowly can you play your grade 3 march in solo competition before the judge penalizes you for it? Andrew and Carl discuss this difficult but common question with a practical point of view. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

298 - Should Your Focus Be a Mile Wide or Mile Deep? - 04.06.20 May 06, 2020

Do you have a huge list of tunes you would like to learn? How do you decide which to work on in depth? Andrew helps you dial in your focus using the 6 Months to the Next Level plan. Success is not always playing a large amount of tunes! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!   Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

297 - What is the Correct Position for the Right Thumb? - 04.29.20 Apr 29, 2020

Do you have hole coverage issues on the bottom hand? Is your thumb position affecting the clarity of your bottom hand notes? Do you have these issues only on the full pipes, but not your chanter? Andrew explains how this is an overall posture issue not just hand position. Don’t let these basics prevent you from having successful Fingerwork technique. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

296 - The Case of the Cock-eyed Chanter! - 04.22.20 Apr 22, 2020

Does your chanter rotate to one side while you're playing? Could this be causing your notes to sound messy? Can you fix it? Andrew and Carl clarifies how this is a posture issue and why you should avoid this. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

295 - Q&A Show - Sharp High G's, Tone Protector Fundamentals, and More - 4.17.20 Apr 20, 2020

In today's Q&A show, we cover a wide range of topics. Highlights include: How to deal with "screamin sharp" High G's, and Tone Protector fundamentals. Enjoy!

294 - Where Should That Left Little Finger Go? - 4.18.20 Apr 15, 2020

Do you struggle with where to put that useless little finger on the left hand? Do you stick it out as if you’re having tea? Do you tuck it in so it doesn’t interfere with your D gracenotes? What placement is best? Carl and Andrew describe the best finger position solution that allows you to play your best. Believe it or not, there is a correct answer here! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

293 - Is Your Chanter Failing You? - 04.10.20 Apr 10, 2020

How old is your chanter? Do you struggle with balancing the tuning? Would an upgraded chanter improve your sound? Carl and Andrew explain how the age of your chanter may have a great impact on your sound. Watch to see if you are getting the best sound out of your chanter. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

292 - Tying On Bags with Grommets - 04.07.20 Apr 07, 2020

You’re putting on a new pipe bag and see the grooves in the stocks. Where exactly do those go? Should grommets be above or in the groove? Carl and Andrew explain what the groove is for and how to get the best placement when installing your new bag. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

291 -The Best Seasoning for a Sheepskin Bag - 04.01.20 Apr 01, 2020

You’ve just purchased a sheepskin bag, and you’re excited to tie it in and get playing. You’ve gotten suggestions for different types of seasonings including glycerine based solutions. Should you try it? Andrew and Carl will clear the confusion. Check in to hear what they have learning from experience and success. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

290 - Foolproof Reed Selection for Beginners - 03.25.20 Mar 26, 2020

How do you know what reed to chose when you are a brand new piper? Your instructor said the reed was easy, but is it right for you? What do you do if the reed squeals, gurgles, or doesn’t make a sound at all? Andrew explains a foolproof way to choose your very first reed and every one after that. Stop struggling and start playing your new pipes! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

289 - Chanter Reed Strength, Part II - 03.24.20 Mar 24, 2020

Does it take you a long time to chose a reed? Do you often end up with a reed that is too difficult or too easy for you? What if there was a way to check easily and quickly? Andrew explains why the chanter reed litmus test works so well. Use this technique to ensure you choose the right strength every time. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

288 - Help! My Ganaway Bag Isn't Airtight! - 03.18.20 Mar 18, 2020

Have you found that your Gannaway bag does not stay completely airtight? Should there be some flexibility with hide bags? What are the major fail points for pipe bags? Andrew and Carl explain how airtight a bag should be and how to check for it. Hint: It’s a non-negotiable for pipers! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

287 - The Best Tune to Play for Your First Competition - 03.11.20 Mar 11, 2020

Are you planning to compete as a soloist for the first time this year? What tune should you play? What are the good standard tunes that work best for beginning soloists? Andrew makes this decision simple. Stop stressing about your tune choice and start preparing for that competition! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

283 - Are Some Drone Reeds Less Efficient Than Others? - 02.05.20 Mar 05, 2020

Have you changed drone reeds and found one set takes more air? Is it the drone reed or are there other factors? How can we test our drone reeds? Andrew demonstrates the suction test that he uses to check his drone reeds when they are acting poorly. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

286 -The Real Reason Your Pipe Bag Slips - 03.03.2020 Mar 03, 2020

Does your bag slip down as you are playing? Do you struggle keeping it in place under your arm? Is it the bag cover or is it you? Andrew and Carl address the key techniques you must know to keep your bag in place while you play. Warning: a non-slip patch may not cut it. Check out the new Transitioning to the Bagpipes Course: https://pipersdojo.lpages.co/transitioning-to-the-bagpipes-v2-course-flash/ Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

282 - Calling Poly Piping Peeps! - 02.03.20 Mar 03, 2020

Do you have a set of poly pipes? What is the best set up if they are your primary set or your backups? Listen in as Andrew and Carl discuss their recommendations for poly piping peeps! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

285-Transitioning to the Pipes Without Frustration-2.27.20 Feb 27, 2020

Are you a new piper just starting bagpipes? Do you feel like you are going to pass out every time you play? Should transitioning to the bagpipes be so hard? Andrew and Carl assuage your fears with a simple process to make your transition a success. Spend less time frustrated and more time playing pipes. Check out the new Transitioning to the Bagpipes Course: https://pipersdojo.lpages.co/transitioning-to-the-bagpipes-v2-course-flash/ Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

284 - One Simple Tweak to Learn a Tune Successfully - 2.19.20 Feb 20, 2020

Do you have issues with basic rhythm, scale navigation, or gracenote quality? Do you play embellishments because everyone else does? Could playing the simplified version of a tune help you get better as a piper? Andrew explains why playing a simplified version of a tune is a very good idea. Using the reel, Ca’ the Ewes, he demonstrates the process all pipers should use to learn and play tunes starting with a simplified version. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

281 - Are Your Bagpipes a Money Pit? - 01.30.20 Jan 30, 2020

If you are serious about playing pipes, how much should you consider spending on piping? Chanters, reeds, pipe bags, and private instruction all add up. Is the cost reasonable? Andrew shares how he thinks about his bagpipe expenditures. He explains what is worth the money and when it’s not. Frugal pipers (aren’t we all) need to hear this! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

280 - Bridging the Gap Between Old and New Chanters - 01.29.20 Jan 29, 2020

Do you need to buy a new chanter to play with a band? Can your old chanter match the new poly band chanters? Can a band sound amazing with all different chanters? Andrew has a surprising answer to this question. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

279 -Is Circular Breathing Necessary? - 01.28.20 Jan 28, 2020

Have you tried circular breathing? Do you need to know how to circular breathe to become a better piper? Carl and Andrew discuss the advantages of circular breathing and whether it is important for pipers. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

278 - Bagpipes Are Not For The Faint of Heart - 01.10.20 Jan 22, 2020

Why do you play bagpipes? Is it because they draw a crowd? Is it for the mental challenge? What do two professional pipers think about this? Andrew and Carl discuss what draws them to play bagpipes. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

277 - Is it You or Your Pipes? - 01.17.20 Jan 20, 2020

Have you been off your pipes for a while? Are your pipes now hard to play? How do you know whether the struggle is because of your pipes or because of you? Andrew explains the chanter reed litmus test to be sure your reed is the correct strength. Carl addresses how best to check your bag for airtightness. These guys will help you get back on your pipes no matter how long it has been. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

276 - Which Comes First, The Solo Tune or The Band Set? - 01.10.20 Jan 15, 2020

Overwhelmed with many piping projects? Are you trying to balance solo tunes, band sets, Dojo tunes, and life? How do you prioritize what’s most important? Carl and Andrew address this common issue with suggestions that can help all pipers get focused to work on what is most important. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

275 - Solar Eclipse That Thang - 01.07.20 Jan 08, 2020

Are you hitting the beat accurately? Are you like most pipers who struggle with this piping fundamental? Can you easily identify what exactly should be on the beat? Andrew uses a jig to demonstrate how to identify what should be on the beat and how that should sound. Learn the two simple steps to playing with great rhythmic accuracy. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

274 - Tick Tick of the Met is Painful. All Sane and Logical. - 12.31.19 Jan 01, 2020

The metronome lies, right? Or are we frustrated with our inability to accurately play on the beat? How should that sound? How does this affect our ability to play great dotted rhythms? Andrew clearly diagrams how we should be playing to the metronome beat and how this can be applied to dotted rhythms using ALAP/ASAP. Stop rushing, rounding, and getting frustrated. Start finding the value in your steady friend, the metronome. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

273 - Don't Listen to This. Bagpipe Math - 12.23.19 Dec 26, 2019

Do you struggle with dot and cut notes? Did you play another instrument and think you understood how to play dotted rhythms until you played bagpipes? What is ALAP/ASAP anyway? Andrew decodes dotted rhythms using the ALAP/ASAP terminology and makes sense of bagpipe math. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

272 - Finding Fundamentals in the Fluff - 12.17-19 Dec 18, 2019

Have you struggled to understand comments from judges? Does improvement seem overwhelming when described in subjective terms? What does the judge really mean? Andrew describes how most judges comments can be translated into objective fundamentals you can practice and improve. Stop being confused by the fluff and start targeting the fundamentals that can make a difference in your piping. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

271 - How to Find Your Perfect Practice Tempo - 12.10.19 Dec 11, 2019

Do you play your tunes so fast you can’t hear your mistakes? Or maybe you always keep the metronome at the same easy tempo for every practice session? How do you know what tempo to choose to improve your playing? Andrew walks you through why choosing the correct tempo for practice is a major factor in your ability to improve. While the perfect practice tempo is not the same for everyone, finding the right tempo for you is a simple process everyone can use. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

270 - Blair Chanter Update - 12.10.19 Dec 10, 2019

Are you considering a Blair Digital Chanter? Want to know more about how it works? Andrew shares the inside scoop from Murray Blair about the Blair Digital Chanter. This includes some more of the technical details on how it works and how it can be adjusted for many different types of pipers. Hint: it’s not all just magic! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

269 - Do I (Actually) Want a Blair Digital Chanter? - 12.03.19 Dec 04, 2019

Do you have a Digital Chanter on your wish list this year? Not sure if the Blair Digital Chanter is the right one? What makes it different from the other electronic chanters out there? Is it worth it? Andrew not only explains how the Blair Digital Chanter works, but also shares his experience adjusting the sensitivity to make it even more useful. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat... wherever you do your social media!

268 -What NOT To Do When Piping in the Cold - 11.26.19 Nov 27, 2019

Scheduled to play a parade in November? In Canada? Preparing for that graveside memorial and the temperature takes a nosedive? How do you play in cold temperatures and stay in tune? Most pipers have been given the wrong advice! Andrew discusses how best to prepare and play your pipes for events in the cold temperatures. Be warned! The answer may not be what you think! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

267 - Target Practice - 11.19.19 Nov 20, 2019

Struggling with a section of a tune or a particular note progression? Do you spend a lot of time browsing through exercise books to find the right exercise and it still doesn’t help? How do you break down and target an issue in a way that is fun and effective? Carl uses arpeggios to demonstrate how to create our own exercises to target and practice those trouble areas in our music and fingerwork. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

266 - One Simple Issue That Makes Your Bagpipe Playing Sound Mushy - 11.12.2019 Nov 13, 2019

You are playing the right notes, you’ve worked on eliminating crossing noises, you play with a metronome, and you accurately play all rhythms, but your tune still doesn’t sound crisp and clean. And you can’t bring your tunes up to band tempo. What’s wrong? Andrew articulates the one fundamental that could be holding you back from reaching that next level of playing. It may surprise you that this tiny issue has been around almost since you started learning pipes. Take a few minutes to allow Andrew to show you how to make mushy music a thing of the past. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

265 - Why You Can’t Just “Blow Tone” - 11.05.19 Nov 06, 2019

Have you been told to blow tone or blow steady? Does your chanter reed cut out or squeal? Is it hard for you to tune your drones to your chanter? Does this whole concept of great tone seem ambiguous? In this recording, Andrew defines tonal quality and explains how to get it in simple, easy to follow steps. Imagine not just blowing tone but actually producing great tonal quality on your bagpipes! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

264 -The Primary Key To Making a Tune a Joy to Play - 10.29.2019 Oct 31, 2019

Did you enjoy your last bagpipe performance? Was it meaningful to you as well as the audience? Did you have complete control over the delivery of that tune and your instrument? Andrew describes how having control over the basic fingerwork fundamentals will lead to a gratifying performance. He will also explain how using a metronome can take you there. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

263 - Why Tuning Is Not Enough - Foundations of Great Bagpipe Sound - 10.15.19 Oct 16, 2019

Don’t you just love the sound of a beautifully tuned bagpipe? The full harmonic sound of the drones blended perfectly with the chanter notes. Are you amazed how professional pipers seem to tune easily and get that steady full sound? What if I told you that it’s not just about good tuning? Andrew walks us through the 13 steps of achieving great bagpipe sound. Tuning is only one part of this process. Without the foundational steps outlined here, your bagpipe tuning will haphazard at best. Visit DojoUniversity.com today to become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat...wherever you get your social media!

262 - Dot-Cut Rhythms: From Muddled to Music Oct 09, 2019

Ever been told you are playing too "round"? Do your doublings turn to mush when after cut notes? Does your grip fall apart when it comes from a sixteenth note? Why do two sequential cut notes cause pipers so many issues? Andrew breaks down this common issue into two fundamentals that we can easily see. He explains why it is so difficult, and what you can do to stop playing mush and start playing music. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, snapchat... wherever you do your social media!

261 - Why Can't I Memorize My Bagpipe Tune?! - 10.01.19 Oct 03, 2019

How long does it take you to learn a tune? Do you work on it for weeks without much progress? Does it take you months to memorize a new tune and still have parts that cause your fingers to stumble? Join us as Andrew walks you through a simple process to learn a tune. Practicing is not enough. You need to know how to practice to make your time worthwhile. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, You Tube, Instagram, Twitter... wherever you get your social media!

261 - Glenn Brown Returns - Long Form Chat - 09.24.2019 Sep 24, 2019

Today Glenn Brown is in town hanging out, and we get a podcast in. Enjoy this long form chat!

260 - One Technique That Could Solve Sloppy Playing Forever? - 2019.09.23 Sep 23, 2019

Do you work really hard on your crossing noises but they still seem to creep in at the worst moments? Do you have trouble with sloppy gracenotes and embellishments, and nothing you do seems to fix them? How about rushing key phrases in your tunes? Struggling to stay “tight” with the rest of the pipers in your band? Well, this lesson could be eye-opening for you. Andrew shows us ONE key aspect of finger work fundamentals we all may have overlooked that could produce significant improvement and consistency across all of these common sore-spots for pipers. Check it out! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

259 - Battling Condensation - 09.12.2019 Sep 12, 2019

A great discussion was had in a recent class in regards to reducing condensation in your instrument. Do you think you're a "wet blower?" (Hint: You're not!) Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!

258 - Actually Improving Your Bagpiping with the "Seinfeld Method" - 9.10.19 Sep 10, 2019

What is the common denominator of bagpipe success? Well, let's think about this for a few moments together.

256 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Rory MacLeod (All Parts) - 5.10.19 May 10, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Rory MacLeod! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!

255 - Long-Form Chat with Andy Fusco - 5/07/2019 May 07, 2019

Sometimes known as the co-host of the Chanter Rant podcast, Andy is also a great teacher and member of the Dojo U community. Join us as we have a wide-reaching conversation about... well... bagpipe stuff. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

254 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Lucy Cassidy (Parts 3 & 4) - 4.26.19 Apr 26, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Lucy Cassidy (Parts 3 and 4)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!

253 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Lucy Cassidy (Parts 1 & 2) - 4.12.19 Apr 20, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Lucy Cassidy (Parts 1 and 2)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!

252 - Long-Form Chat with Jim Dillahey - 4/12/2019 Apr 15, 2019

Jim is a fellow judge and current president of the EUSPBA. We sat down for a long-form chat before the New Hampshire indoor this past weekend. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

251 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of All The Blue Bonnets Are Over The Border (Parts 3 & 4) - 4.12.19 Apr 12, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: All the Blue Bonnets are Over the Border (Parts 3 and 4)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!

250 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Alick C MacGregor (Parts 3 & 4) - 3.29.19 Mar 29, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Alick C MacGreggor (Parts 3 and 4)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!

249 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Alick C MacGregor (Parts 1 & 2) - 3.22.19 Mar 22, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Alick C MacGregor (Parts 1 and 2)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!

248 - Long-Form Chat with Donald Lindsay - 3/14/2019 Mar 15, 2019

Donald is arguably the most influential American bagpiper. At least, I think he is! He also has been my teacher over the past 25 years so it's always great to get together and talk piping. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

247 - Long-Form Chat with Gordie Peters - 2/27/2019 Feb 28, 2019

Gordie Peters is a famous pipe major, adjudicator, and teacher from the Northeast of the USA. Enjoy this long-form conversation recording in late February. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

246 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of MacKenzie Highlanders (Parts 1 & 2) - 2.22.19 Feb 22, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: The MacKenzie Highlanders! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!

245 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Banjo Breakdown (Parts 3 & 4) - 2.15.19 Feb 15, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Banjo Breakdown (Parts 3 and 4). Join our community today, and get your piping on the right track! Visit http://DojoUniversity.com

244 - Long-Form Chat with Pat Sweet - 2/8/2019 Feb 12, 2019

Pat Sweet is a long-time well-known pipe major from the Albany, NY area. Enjoy this long-form chat that we had together! To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

243 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Banjo Breakdown (Parts 1 & 2) - 2.8.19 Feb 09, 2019

Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Banjo Breakdown (Parts 1 and 2). Visit DojoUniversity.com today to become a member!

240 - Long-Form Chat with Glenn Brown - 1.19.19 Feb 05, 2019

Glenn is a great friend of mine beginning all the way back to our amateur piping days where we were big rivals! Enjoy this conversation that we had together in Kansas City (2019). To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

242 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Donald MacLeod (Parts 3 & 4) - 2.1.19 Feb 02, 2019

Today we are critiquing student performances of Donald MacLeod (Parts 3 and 4). Tune in to check it out! To become a member, visit http://DojoUniversity.com today.

239 - Long-Form Chat with Andrew Donlon (MacMillan Pipe Band) - 1.19.19 Jan 29, 2019

Today Andrew sits down with Andrew Donlon, Pipe Major of the MacMillan Pipe Band and ultra-successful American soloist. We talk about the ins and outs of pipe band life and generally have a great time. To become a Dojo University member, visit DojoUniversity.com today.

241 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Donald MacLeod (Parts 1 & 2) - 1.25.19 Jan 25, 2019

Today we're critiquing the first two parts of the famous hornpipe "Donald MacLeod" - tune in to the support the Dojo U students in their performances! To become a member of Dojo U, visit http://DojoUniversity.com today!

238 - Long-Form Chat with Joe Brady of Wake and District Pipe Band - 1.17.19 Jan 22, 2019

Today Andrew sits down with Joe Brady of Wake and District Pipe Band (USA) to discuss the ins and outs of pipe band life. What is the relationship of competing bands with service bands? To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today.

237 - Dojo U Live! Critiques Of Blackberry Bush And Sweet Maid of Mull - 1.11.19 Jan 11, 2019

Today we're critiquing Dojo U Students' performances of Blackberry Bush and Sweet Maid of Mull! Tune in! To Join Dojo U, visit http://DojoUniversity.com today!

236 - Long-Form Chat with Blair Brown - 01.04.2019 Jan 07, 2019

Today I sat down with Blair Brown for an experimental "long form" chat. Just having fun chatting with the microphones turned on. Blair is one of the world's most prolific Snare Drummers. He played for years with the great Jim Kilpatrick, and has placed in the top three at the World Solo Drumming Championships many times. His brothers (Glenn and Graham) are also famous in the piping scene. In addition to being a great player, he is an ultra-experienced drumming teacher as well. Together we discuss: - Jack Lee's sleep craft. - Awesome TV shows. - Will the great Titans of piping regret not doing more to "legitimize" our competition systems? - Should there be a bagpipe band Olympics? If so, who would be the leaders of the various countries?

235 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Dorrator Bridge (Parts 3 and 4) - 12.21.2018 Dec 21, 2018

Join us as we critique student performances of the week! This week's tune: Dorrator Bridge (parts 3 and 4) To join Dojo U - visit DojoUniversity.com today.

234 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering (Parts 3 and 4) - 12.7.2018 Dec 07, 2018

Join Carl and Andrew as they review student performances from the week at Dojo University! This week's challenging tune - Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering (Parts 3 and 4). To join Dojo U, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

233 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Atholl & Breadalbane Gathering (Parts 1 and 2) - 11.30.2018 Nov 30, 2018

Today we review student performances from the week! This week's tune is Atholl and Breadalbane Gathering. To become a member here at Dojo U - visit www.DojoUniversity.com today!

232 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Cork Hill (Parts 1 and 2) - 11.16.2018 Nov 16, 2018

Today students have prepared Cork Hill, Parts 1 and 2, for critique. Let's celebrate their achievements together! To become a member of Dojo U, visit DojoUniversity.com today.

231 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Calum Beag (Parts 3 and 4) - 11.09.2018 Nov 09, 2018

Join us today as we review highlights of the student performances of the week! This week's challenge was the 3rd and 4th parts of Callum Beag. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!

230 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Calum Beag (Parts 1 and 2) - 11.02.2018 Nov 02, 2018

We're on today with a slight variant of our past shows. Come listen to highlights of the past week at Dojo U, as we discuss the first two parts of the Hornpipe Calum Beag, with a special focus on embellishment quality and tuning. Learn more about us and sign up for a Dojo U Membership at DojoUniversity.com !

229 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Brown Haired Maid (Part 2) - 10.11.2018 Oct 12, 2018

Today we critique students on the latter half of this challenging reel. Visit DojoUniversity.com today to become a member!

228 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Brown Haired Maid (Part 1) - 10.04.2018 Oct 05, 2018

Today we critique students on the first half of this challenging reel. Visit DojoUniversity.com today to become a member!

228 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Arniston Castle (Part 2) - 09.27.2018 Sep 28, 2018

Today we critique students on the latter half of this challenging strathspey. Visit DojoUniversity.com today to become a member!

228 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Arniston Castle - 09.20.2018 Sep 21, 2018

Today we critique the students on this challenging strathspey.

227 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of 25th KOSB's Farewell to Meerut (Part 2) - 09.13.2018 Sep 14, 2018

Today we dig deep and evaluate 10 student performances of the 25th KOSBs Farewell to Meerut.

226 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of 25th KOSB's Farewell to Meerut - 09.06.2018 Sep 06, 2018

Today we dig deep and evaluate 10 student performances of the 25th KOSBs Farewell to Meerut.

225 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Keel Row Strathspey - 08.30.2018 Aug 30, 2018

Students submit recordings of this challenging strathspey for critique by Andrew and Carl. Tune in!

224 - Dojo U Live! Critiques of Robin Adair - 07.26.2018 Jul 26, 2018

Today the Dojo U students prepare recordings of Robin Adair for critique! Tune in and enjoy the process of evaluating our performances for individual improvement.

223 - Dojo U Live Pilot Episode - 07.19.2018 Jul 19, 2018

We go live today in the new "Dojo U Live!" format, and do some critiques of some of our students performing Wings on the full pipes! Should we do this again next week?

222 - Teaching Beginning Bagpipers (Interview For The Big Rab Show) - 09.23.2017 Dec 20, 2017

Andrew connects with Big Rab for an interview mainly focused on the art of teaching beginners how to play the bagpipes! Enjoy!

221 - The King's Taxes - 10.26.2017 Oct 25, 2017

A final run of the King's Taxes before the London Competition

220 - The Desperate Battle (Chanter 2) - 10.09.2017 Oct 09, 2017

Early run of this iconic Piobaireachd.

219 - The Kings Taxes - 10.05.2017 Oct 05, 2017

An early run of this classic Piobaireachd. Feedback welcomed!

218 - Lament For The Iolaire - 08.16.2017 Aug 16, 2017

Rehearsing this fairly contemportary tune by the great Donald MacLeod.

217 - Hail To My Country - 08.16.2017 Aug 16, 2017

Rehearsing this dramatic tune for the Silver Medal (next week!).

216 - Lord Berrisdale's Salute (Backup Chanter) - 08.15.2017 Aug 15, 2017

Lord Berrisdale's, on my back up chanter, just put in today!

215 - Lament For John Morrison Of Assynt House - 08.15.2017 Aug 15, 2017

First run through on the pipes since returning from the worlds. What are you thoughts???

214 - Hail To My Country - 07.06.2017 Jul 06, 2017

Run-through, hail to my country. Still added in some bl**dy extra g-gracenotes in cadences of taor & crun. Blech! Otherwise, a fun run!

213 - Lament For John Morrison Of Assynt House - 06.10.2017 Jun 10, 2017

A mock competition, where I pursposefully threw some curveballs at myself - it's my least confident tune, and I had less time than usual to warm up. How'd it come out?

212 - Lament For The Iolaire - 06.05.2017 Jun 05, 2017

A run-through of Donald MacLeod's "Lament for the Iolaire." This was a tune written to lament a ship returning from from WWI whose sinking on January 1st, 1919 in the Minch was one of the worst maritime disasters in United Kingdom history. At least 205 men perished of the 280 aboard.

211 - Lord Berisdale's Salute - Mock Competition - 05.31.2017 May 31, 2017

A "Mock Competition" is where I set a specific time (in this case 1045AM) to perform, and allow myself 4 minutes to tune up prior to the tune - just as if I were actually competing. Today's tune: Lord Berisdale's Salute. Be sure to follow @pipersdojo ... wherever social media is found :)

210 - Hail To My Country - Mock Competition - 05.30.2017 May 30, 2017

A "Mock Competition" is where I set a specific time (in this case 1045AM) to perform, and allow myself 4 minutes to tune up prior to the tune - just as if I were actually competing. Today's tune: Hail to My Country. Be sure to follow @pipersdojo ... wherever social media is found :)

209 - Focusing On Tonal Production Has To Come BEFORE YOU FOCUS ON TUNING - 4.21.2017 May 11, 2017

A second chunk of the Tuning Clinic we ran in April! In this session, we talked in extreme detail on how to produce a great bagpipe tone, and all of the components that come together to make it happen. A great listen for a rainy (or not so rainy) day. Psst - follow us on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter @pipersdojo!

208 - Practice An Inch Wide And A Mile Deep - 05.10.2017 May 10, 2017

What's the best way to practice? In the span of our session, we want to focus on something small, and really "go deep" on that topic, so that we actually improve. A few minutes from my morning class here where I elaborate on this idea. Follow us on Instagram/Snapchat/Facebook/YouTube @pipersdojo!

207 - Raw Uncut Piobaireachd Practice Session - 05.04.2017 May 04, 2017

Today's piobaireachd session, in preparation for the Silver Medals at Oban and Inverness. These are new tunes, likely to have mistakes and definitely areas where the musical phrasing could improve! First half - excerpts from Lament for the Iolaire (D MacLeod); Second Half - Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House (D MacLeod)

206 - Audio Lesson With Grade 3 Solo Competitor - 05.04.2017 May 04, 2017

A student of mine sent in several recordings to critique, and I recorded the session. Tune in if you'd like to hear some good playing, and my critique of the playing. Oh! And follow us on SnapchatYoutubeFacebookInsta and stuff.

205 - Live Commentary Of Andrew's Practice Session - 04.28.2017 Apr 28, 2017

Something new today; I recorded my practice session, and then I recorded some educational commentary over top. The best episode yet? I think it might be. Tunes played: Lament for John Morrison of Assynt House, Lament for the Iolaire.

204 - Andy Fusco (Las Vegas PB) Interviews Yours Truly - Recorded 09.30.2016 Apr 25, 2017

Had the great experience of sitting down with Andy Fusco and the Las Vegas Pipe Band's super-production-squad, and cranking out this interview. The vibe was great and the result was a great survey of my position in the wide world of piping. Enjoy! Follow us on FacebookTwitterSnapchatYouTubeInsta @pipersdojo

203 - Dojo U Tuning Clinic; Introduction and Part 1 - 04.21.2017 Apr 24, 2017

We hosted our first ever Dojo U Tuning clinic this past weekend, and exhaustively hammered into the concepts of bagpipe tuning with 8 enthusiastic bagpipe students! In Part 1 of this extended series, experience the raw, un-cut audio of the first hour of the clinic where we cover 4 of the 13 steps to building a great bagpipe sound! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube, and Instagram @pipersdojo

202 - Derek Midgely, 5th Place, Piobaireachd Conference Double-MSR - 04.01.2017 Apr 24, 2017

Derek plays: John MacDonald's Welcome to South Uist, The Clan MacColl, MacBeth's Strathspey, Inveraray Castle, Broadford Bay, Cockerel in the Creel.

201 - Dan Lyden, 4th Place, Piobaireachd Conference Double-MSR - 04.01.2017 Apr 24, 2017

Dan plays: PM John Stwart, Major Manson's Farewell to Clachantrushal, Lady Loudon, Mrs. Donald MacPherson, The Brown Haired Maid, Ca' the Ewes.

200 - Andrew Douglas, 3rd Place, Piobaireachd Conference Double-MSR - 04.01.2017 Apr 24, 2017

Andrew plays: Abercairny Highlanders, John MacDonald of Glencoe, John Roy Stewart, Atholl Comers, Little Cascade, Alick C. MacGreggor.

199 - Andrew Donlon, 2nd Place, Piobaireachd Conference Double-MSR - 04.01.2017 Apr 24, 2017

Andrew Plays: David Ross, Inveran, Delvinside, Islay Ball, Man from Glengarry, Pretty Marion.

198 - Ben McClamrock, 1st Place, Piobaireachd Conference Double-MSR - 04.01.2017 Apr 24, 2017

Ben plays: John MacFadyen of Melfort, Bonnie Ann, Tulloch Gorm, Blair Drummong, Stornoway Castle, McAllister's Dirk.

197 - Live Critiques July 26th - (#PipersDojoTV - 036) Apr 24, 2017

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there! --- Today we listen to two beginner recordings, and then a recording of a very good Grade 3 band. What sort of things should we be listening for? Where can these performances improve?

196 - Open Q&A July 21st 2016 - (#PipersDojoTV - 035) Apr 24, 2017

A great Q&A here! Topics covered: How to tune drones to the chanter; grade 3 pipe band tempos; loosening up fingers in embellishments; piobaireachd high g's; struggling with strength; making mistakes when nervous; seasoning technique; pipe bag hygene; plastic vs. blackwood pipe chanters; cane drone reed techniques; playing ahead of the beat; when to transition to the pipes; Andrew's super seasoning technique!!! --- Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

195 - High Altitude Bagpiping & Mythology - (#PipersDojoTV - 034) Apr 24, 2017

We're going to address a common bagpiping question today - how do I get my pipes to sound great at high altitude? The answer? You'll need to tune in! --- Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

194 - Glasgowlands 2016 Listening Session - (#PipersDojoTV - 033) Apr 24, 2017

(Manchester 5th Place, Scotia-Glenville 4th Place, Worcester 3rd Place, NY Metro 2nd Place, MacMillan 1st Place) - Today we listen through the Grade 2 Challenge Medley Contest from the Glasgowlands Games (July 16th, 2016). Well done to all the bands! --- Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

193 - Goat Skin Bags, Moisture Control Systems, Inveraray Prep - (#PipersDojoTV - 032) Apr 24, 2017

Today we have a live Q and A - Making Bagpipes Quieter, Goat Skin Bags, Moisture Control Systems, Inveraray Prep. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

192 - The Great Gracenote Debate - (#PipersDojoTV - 031) Apr 24, 2017

Let's talk about gracenotes - what are these things *exactly*, and *exactly* how do we think about and execute these musical devices? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

191 - Robbie Beaton Live Chat - (#PipersDojoTV - 030) Apr 24, 2017

Today we sit down with P/S Robbie Beaton (78 Frasers, Ontario) and recap their winning Grade 1 performance from the Kincardine games this past weekend. Then, we field some great questions from our live viewers. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

190 - Do Fast Tempo Tunes Take More Air than Slow Tunes? - (#PipersDojoTV - 029) Apr 24, 2017

In this episode, we answer what seems like an easy question - BUT! It opens up a great discussion about the two dimensions of steady blowing! Don't miss out. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

189 - Live Performance Critique with Student John McCain - (#PipersDojoTV - 028) Apr 24, 2017

Today, we work meet a Dojo Student John McCain and work through a submission of him playing "The Seagull" jig - Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

188 - Dojo U 3.0 Tour Live! - (#PipersDojoTV - 027) Apr 24, 2017

In this episode, we tour the all new Dojo U 3.0, live! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

184 - 3 Secret Technical Elements of Perfect Bagpipe Strike Ins - (#PipersDojoTV - 023) Apr 24, 2017

In this episode, we reveal 3 semi-secret techniques to protect against the dreaded early chanter in the bagpipe attack! Link to materials from the video: http://bit.ly/1N06GEL - Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

183 - 5 setup tips for perfect bagpipe strike-ins - (#PipersDojoTV - 022) Apr 24, 2017

In this episode, Andrew elaborates on the 5 key setup points to cover when it comes to mastering bagpipe strike-ins. Link to materials from video: http://bit.ly/1RF1OJk - Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

182 - Are my pipes too hard? New chanter reeds, chanter tape technique - (#PipersDojoTV - 021) Apr 24, 2017

In this episode - the final installment of our 3-part "Baffling Bagpipes" Q and A. We discuss how to tell if your pipes are too hard, putting in new chanter reeds, and how to properly tape your chanter. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

181 - Steady blowing in depth, chanter reed types, tuning drones - (#PipersDojoTV - 020) Apr 24, 2017

In this episode, we continue our "baffling bagpipes" Q & A and discuss steady blowing in depth, chanter reed types and considerations, and tips on becoming a better drone tuner. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

180 - Steady blowing, beginner advice, breaking in reeds - (#PipersDojoTV - 019) Apr 24, 2017

This episode was the result of a Facebook Live session where we asked: What baffles you the most about bagpipes? (Part 1) --- Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

179 - 5 essential Piobaireachd embellishments for beginners - (#PipersDojoTV - 018) Apr 24, 2017

Today we look at 5 essential Piobaireachd embellishments you'll need to get started down this transcendent musical pathway. Taorluaths, Edres, Crunluaths, Cadences, and "Hiharins." Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

178 - Flat high 'a's, bagpipe nerves, practice habits - (#PipersDojoTV - 017) Apr 24, 2017

Part 2 of our Facebook Live Q&A session from March 9th 2016. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

177 - Double-toning bass drones, flat 'f's, chanter reed sweet spots - (#PipersDojoTV - 016) Apr 24, 2017

Part 1 of our epic Facebook Live Q&A session. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

176 - Everything that can go wrong with embellishments - (#PipersDojoTV - 015) Apr 24, 2017

Everything that can go wrong with embellishments will eventually go wrong. The question is - can we diagnose the issues and not get "stuck" with bad embellishments? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

175 - Muscle memory vs. embellishments - (#PipersDojoTV - 014) Apr 24, 2017

Muscle memory is a GOOD thing right? Well... sort of. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

174 - Basline and global embellishment elements - (#PipersDojoTV - 013) Apr 24, 2017

Today we'll break down embellishments into their component parts, and instantly see what a huge tool this will be for improvement. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

173 - Gracenote size - the taorluath and grip killer - (#PipersDojoTV - 012) Apr 24, 2017

Are your gracenotes so big that they are "eclipsing" the substance of your grips and taorluaths? Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

172 - Rolling crossing noises in grips - (#PipersDojoTV - 011) Apr 24, 2017

If you ever have had issues with grips, there's a very high likelihood it was caused by this problem. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

171 - The tune-as-you-go process - (#PipersDojoTV - 010) Apr 24, 2017

In today's show, we cover the ultimate gig-playing discovery: the tune-as-you-go process. Never struggle to find a place to tune at a gig ever again! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

170 - On-the-day gig scheduling grid - (#PipersDojoTV - 009) Apr 24, 2017

On the day of the gig, it's important to time things out perfectly to guarantee the best possible sound, performance, and professionalism. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

169 - Your pre-gig checklist - (#PipersDojoTV - 008) Apr 24, 2017

Whenever you play a gig, it's all fun and games until you forget something major that can ruin the event for your (paying) client. Here's a pre-gig checklist to ensure nothing ever goes catastrophically wrong at your bagpipe gigs. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

168 - Missing the gig; a painful story - (#PipersDojoTV - 007) Apr 24, 2017

What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you at a bagpipe gig? Andrew shares his worst memory with you today. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

167 - Gig phone call protocol - (#PipersDojoTV - 006) Apr 24, 2017

Here's exactly what to say, how to say it, and why. When it comes to booking gigs over the phone - this is your guide! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

166 - Recording yourself habitually - (#PipersDojoTV - 005) Apr 24, 2017

In this episode, we talk about how to develop your playing (and perhaps more importantly: how to start to get over your NERVES) by recording yourself habitually. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

165 - The late-on-purpose expression technique - (#PipersDojoTV - 004) Apr 24, 2017

If you're ready for a great technique to "soop up" your expression, be sure to tune into today's episode outlining the "late on purpose" expression technique. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

164 - Rushing the beat - (#PipersDojoTV - 003) Apr 24, 2017

95% of bagpipers struggle with rushing the beat. If you think you're in the rare 5% - you NEED to listen carefully to this one! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

163 - Creating the perfect practice calendar - (#PipersDojoTV - 002) Apr 24, 2017

If you're serious about striving for the next grade level, you need to *reverse engineer* your success. To start with, let's draw out the perfect practice calendar to help us reach our goal. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

162 - How to get to the next grade level - (#PipersDojoTV - 001) Apr 24, 2017

Have you ever wondered why you're struggling to get to the next grade level? Sit in with Andrew today as we formulate a SPECIFIC PLAN for reaching your bagpiping goals. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - always username 'pipersdojo' - we'll see you there!

161 - Bagpipe Key-Performance-Indicators - 07.15.2015 Apr 24, 2017

Athletes, Businesses, Schools, and all sorts of other activities carefully track DATA (yep, number’s n stuff) in order to measure improved or lacking performance. Have you ever considered doing the same for your own improvement? July 15th, 2015.

160 - Man vs. Band Practice - 07.08.2015 Apr 24, 2017

In the attempt to actually do something useful, we’re going to talk about what Vin, Carl and I do each and every time we prepare for a band practice to make sure that we’re in tip top shape (and we avoid the pipe major’s wrath!) July 8th, 2015.

159 - World’s Predictions 2015 - 07.01.2015 Apr 24, 2017

Well, it’s time to throw down our predictions for 2015. Then, we’ll listen a bit to the lastest championship overseas. July 1st, 2015.

158 - Hot 2015 Grade 1 Medleys - 06.24.2015 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’ll listen to several great new medleys that Grade 1 Bands are playing this year over in the UK. What do you think about the arrangements, and the performances themselves? June 24th, 2015.

157 - Retro Pipe Band Hour - 06.17.2015 Apr 24, 2017

Vin has dug up some amazing recordings from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Let’s have a glimpse at just how far we’ve come!

156 - You be the Judge: British Championships - 06.03.2015 Apr 24, 2017

This past weekend, the first major event for grade 1 bands in the RSPBA occurred. You be the judge! Who wins? June 3rd, 2015.

155 - You be the Judge: Kingston Ontario - 05.27.2015 Apr 24, 2017

This past weekend, the first major event for grade 1 bands in the North Eastern sector of North America to get out and play. You be the judge! Who wins? May 27th, 2015.

153 - Creating Bagpipe Utopia - 05.20.2015 Apr 24, 2017

It’s been a while since we talked about the status of the piping world. How do we set up the perfect environment for our music to thrive? May 20th, 2015.

150 - Confucius Says… - 05.06.2015 Apr 24, 2017

A fun class this week, using old Confucius quotes and relating them to bagpipes! March 6th, 2015.

148 - Unanswered Questions - 04.01.2015 Apr 24, 2017

We’ve got some leftover great questions from last week, so we’ll start back in on them this week! April 3rd, 2015.

147 - Ask Us Anything - 03.25.2015 Apr 24, 2017

We’re overdue for an open session where you can ask us anything! March 25th, 2015.

146 - Music Theory for Bagpipers Part 2 - 03.18.2015 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’ll pick up with some more of the essential music theory for bagpipers. We’ll go into more depth about harmonies, and the simplicity of the bagpipe scale.

145 - Music Theory for Bagpipers - 03.11.2015 Apr 24, 2017

This week, let’s look at some basics of music theory, from bagpipers’ perspective. What sorts of things are going on in the world of bagpipe music that, once understood, can help us compose, harmonize, and even play with other instruments? March 11th, 2015.

144 - No B.S. Expression for Bagpipers - 03.04.2015 Apr 24, 2017

In this week’s show, we’re going to decode the mystical nature of bagpipe expression. At the end of the day, it’s all basic fundamentals skills, and NOT magic. Do we need to learn the skills associated with expression? Yes. But we don’t need “talent” or “enlightenment” to do so! March 4th, 2015.

144 - Metro Cup 2015 Recap - 02.25.2015 Apr 24, 2017

Last weekend, the world’s best hit the boards in New Jersey. Our very own Vince Janoski was there, and thus we’ll have a full review of the goings on! February 25th, 2015.

143 - Piobaireachd: Everything you ever wanted to know and then some - 02.18.2015 Apr 24, 2017

During this week’s Dojo Universe, we’re going to talk Piobaireachd! This ancient form of bagpipe music, once understood, stirs the soul like nothing else! February 18th, 2015.

141 - What Judges Want - 02.11.2015 Apr 24, 2017

Last week, a listener suggested we talk about what exactly it is that judges want. Sounds simple! Let’s do it. February 11th, 2015.

139 - How to Motivate Your Bandsmen - 01.28.2015 Apr 24, 2017

How do we motivate our fellow bandsmen (and women) to ante up to the task of working hard (and wanting to work hard) to make your band better? It can be tricky, but we have some great experience in the house to offer up some great advice. January 28th, 2015.

138 - Deep Winter Pipe Band Strategies & SMART Goals - 01.21.2015 Apr 24, 2017

This is a challenging time of year for most pipe bands, but it can also be the most important in the development of your group. Here, you can plant the seeds that will skyrocket your efforts forward this year. January 21st, 2015.

135 - A Piper’s Christmas - 12.03.2014 Apr 24, 2017

In this week’s episode, we’ll talk about everything a piper needs to know to have a great Christmas! Gift Ideas, great music, and more! December 3rd, 2014.

133 - “Systems,” Not Skills, will make you a piper - 11.12.2014 Apr 24, 2017

In some respects, you could say the Dojo method of learning pipes is all about systems. Let’s dive into what that means in today’s session. November 12th, 2014.

132 - “If You Can Tune A Radio You Can Tune Your Pipes” - 11.05.2014 Apr 24, 2017

If you can tune a radio, you can tune your pipes, and we’ll prove it! November 5th, 2014.

131 - Wash-Rinse-Repeat Drone Tuning - 10.29.2014 Apr 24, 2017

How do you tune your drones? Well, there are a lot of different techniques out there. What’s the best? Well, we’ll certainly share our opinion. It’s just a simple repeating process that we run a bunch of times. Super simple. Tune in today to learn about it! October 29th, 2014

128 - How to Blow Great Tone - 10.08.2014 Apr 24, 2017

This week, after talking a bit about strike ins last week, let’s review the basics of getting great sounding bagpipe. How do we “blow tone” like the greats? October 8th, 2014.

127 - Part III – Striking In, and More Essential Odds ‘n Ends! - 10.01.2014 Apr 24, 2017

This topic turned out surprisingly awesome the last 2 weeks, and we still have stuff left to discuss! Tune in for more great discussion. October 1st, 2014.

126 - Part II – Tempos, Beginner Psychology, and More! - 09.24.2014 Apr 24, 2017

This topic turned out surprisingly awesome last week, and we still have stuff left to discuss! Tune in for more great discussion. September 24th, 2014.

125 - Essential Odds ‘n Ends (Awesome Show Alert) - 09.17.2014 Apr 24, 2017

In this week’s episode, we’ll offer a bit of a variety-show of essential things pipers should know. September 17th, 2014.

124 - Planning for the 2015 Season - 09.10.2014 Apr 24, 2017

In this week’s episode, we’re going to go into all of the key elements of planning for the upcoming piping season. Let’s pick some repertoire, set some goals, and put ourselves on a track to really skyrocket forward! September 10th, 2014.

122 - Scotland 2014 Recap - 08.27.2014 Apr 24, 2017

We’re back! There’s lots to talk about from Scotland, and we will do so! Join us for our usual Wednesday spot, which will be getting back to normal again starting this week!

121 - Worlds Pre-Show - 07.30.2014 Apr 24, 2017

In about a week, many of the Dojo U staff will be headed over to participate in the World Pipe Band Championships, Piping Live!, the Piobaireachd Medals and more in Scotland! We’ll hop on, talk about the scene, and preview some of the awesome stuff that will be going on! July 20th, 2014

120 - Ask Us Anything - 07.23.2014 Apr 24, 2017

This week, as we often do, we’ll open up the floor to any and all questions from the audience. What’s on your mind as the summer months roll by? How have your piping schools been? July 23rd, 2014.

119 - Inside the “Underneath” Suite by Andrew Douglas - 07.16.2014 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’re going to listen to one of Andrew’s most involved compositions, and look into the written score for analysis! This should be super fun this week.

118 - How Bagpiping Can Enrich Your Life - 07.09.2014 Apr 24, 2017

We’ve been talking at the office lately of all the different ways bagpiping has enriched our lives! We think it’s time for a feel-good show about bagpipes! How have bagpipes made your life better? Let us count the ways! July 9th, 2014.

117 - How to Listen to Pipe Bands - 07.02.2014 Apr 24, 2017

After doing some “you be the judge” over the past couple of weeks, folks have been asking – what exacly am I listening for here? And, that’s a great question! Now that we’ve wet our beaks a bit, let’s talk about the way we listen to pipe bands! July 2nd, 2014.

116 - You Be the Judge: UK Championships Edition - 06.25.2014 Apr 24, 2017

It’s that time of year again! Let’s do a blind listening test of the past weeks’ championships, and see if we get the same result as the judges did! June 25th, 2014.

115 - You Be the Judge: British Championships Edition - 06.18.2014 Apr 24, 2017

It’s that time of year again! Let’s do a blind listening test of the past weeks’ championships, and see if we get the same result as the judges did! June 18th, 2014.

114 - Terry Lee Recap - 06.11.2014 Apr 24, 2017

After last week’s show with Terry Lee, there’s a lot to soak in. What did you think? June 11th, 2014.

113 - P/M Terry Lee (Dojo Universe 100th Episode) - 06.04.2014 Apr 24, 2017

It’s our 100th show here at Dojo Universe, and the winningest Pipe Major of North American history (and one of the winningest of all time) will join us! We’ll interview him a bit, and just generally hang out. Bring your questions! June 4th, 2014.

112 - 50 Ways to Die at the Games - 05.28.2014 Apr 24, 2017

Well, we don’t mean actual death of course, but there’s a lot of stuff that you should NOT do at the Games if you want to survive our crazy world. We’ll have some fun and go into it today! May 28th, 2014.

111 - The PipeHacker Review - 05.21.2014 Apr 24, 2017

Now that Vin is back in the mix, let’s catch up on what he’s been up to over at PipeHacker.com – it’s a great blog for pipers, and we’ll get an inside look today. May 21st, 2014.

109 - Make Some Money Playing Gigs - 05.07.2014 Apr 24, 2017

This week, let’s talk about how to get yourself set up to play gigs, and start to make a little bit of income! We’ll go through what tunes to play, how to pull off a great performance, and even how to get some promotional tools happening in your favor! May 7th, 2014.

108 - Open Q and A - 04.30.2014 Apr 24, 2017

Every few weeks, we like to open the floor to anything and everything about bagpipes! Sign in, type in a question, and we’ll rock and roll from there! April 30th, 2014.

107 - Where Chanter Reeds Go to Die - 04.23.2014 Apr 24, 2017

At the Dojo, we have a “dead reed bin” where we send all of our reeds when they die. It seems a bit morbid we know, but, it’s a great way to develop a collection of reeds to practice our manipulation skills! April 23rd, 2014.

106 - Guiding Principles for Improving Your Bagpiping - 04.16.2014 Apr 24, 2017

Just like in “real life,” bagpiping does have several key guiding principles that will help you develop into a good player. Discipline, problem solving, and even a sort of musical morality will guide us to become better players. Expecting instant gratification, however, will not help us achieve much at all…. April 16th, 2014

105 - Guide to Solo Competing 2014 - 04.09.2014 Apr 24, 2017

In this week’s show, we’re going to start by showing where all the games are this summer! Are there any that are worth travelling a bit to? Then, we’ll discuss how you might structure your practice/development rountine to realy make the most of your schedule! April 9th, 2014.

104 - Pipe Band Magicianship - 04.02.2014 Apr 24, 2017

We didn’t get around to talking about top secret magician stuff for pipe bands! To get a pipe band in tune, you really just need one thing: MAGIC. We’re just kidding actually – this show will cover a lot of the basics of getting a pipe band to sound great. April 2nd, 2014.

103 - Secret Bagpipe Tricks - 03.26.2014 Apr 24, 2017

We’re going to talk about some key tricks that pros use to master certain elements of their playng. From tuning, to practicing, to pipe bands, we’ll have lots of good stuff for you! March 26th, 2014.

100 - Bagpipe Rules, Regulations and Etiquette - 03.19.2014 Apr 24, 2017

We’ve been around the game a long time, and for us, the “rules” of piping are 2nd nature! But, that might not be the same for everyone, and so we’ll have a session this week to talk about it! March 19th, 2014.

099 - Drone Drys, Hemp Technique, and More - 03.12.2014 Apr 24, 2017

As a follow up to last week, we wanted to take some more time to address viewer questions about learning the pipes. Tune in today to ask anything you want! March 12th, 2014.

098 - Sleepless in G-H-Beattle - 03.05.2014 Apr 24, 2017

Do you ever get stuck with a bagpipe problem that you don’t know how to solve… to the point where you lose sleep over it? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. We can help. March 5th, 2014.

097 - Must-Have Bagpipe Music - 02.26.2014 Apr 24, 2017

Andrew, Vin, and Carl will go through their favorite must-have piping music. From albums, to DVDs, to YouTubes, to music books, we’ll cover it all! February 26th, 2014.

096 - St. Patrick’s Parade Day Preparation - 02.19.2014 Apr 24, 2017

St. Patrick’s month is almost upon us, and there’s no sign that our weather will be accommodating this year! How do pipers survive – nay, THRIVE! – this St. Patrick’s month? Carl, Andrew and Vin will explore all the ways in which pipers need to prepare for this super-charged month. February 19th, 2014.

095 - Redux: Practice Tips that Really Work - 02.12.2014 Apr 24, 2017

Last week we had a lot of snow up here in NY, so today we’ll re-discuss practice tips that really work! We’ll look into the short term, the long term, and some little tips too that will help you avoid certain key pit falls. February 12th, 2014.

094 - Let’s Talk Manometers - 01.29.2014 Apr 24, 2017

We’ll get together this week with Vin to discuss one of our favorite topics: Manometers! January 29th, 2014.

089 - Quick Q &A - 12.04.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Just a quick pre-Christmas Q & A. December 4th, 2013.

088 - Christmas Gifting Tips - 11.20.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Today, let’s talk about how to get the good bagpipe loot from your wife this Christmas season! Also, we want to know what’s on your list this year, and show you some cool things you never knew you wanted for Christmas. November 20th, 2013.

087 - Open Q and A - 11.13.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Today, we’ll open the floor to any and all questions out there. What sort of things are you dying to know, but never had the chance to ask? November 13th, 2013.

086 - Composing Tips, Tricks, and Materials - 11.06.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Whether we’re pipers or drumms (actually…ESPECIALLY if we’re drummers) there comes a time when we wish we had what it takes to compose something. Well, you do! Later tonight, Bruce starts his composing class, but we’re going to get the crowd fired up here with tips, tricks, and materals to get started composing. November 6th, 2013.

085 - Spoooky Bagpiping and Drumming Horror Stories - 10.30.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Halloween is tomorrow, so let’s talk about those nasty (and scary) moments in music when everything goes wrong! What’s your worst horror story? How do you deal with a crisis when it happens? October 30th, 2013.

084 - The Top 50 Tunes Everyone Should Know - 10.16.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’re going to try something different. We’re going to poll our presenters and audience members and figure out the following – what are the top 50 tunes every piper and drummer should know? Sure, maybe we don’t have all the tunes playable yet, but should at least be able to whistle them! October 16th, 2013.

083 - Composing, Arranging, and Drum Scores for Pipe Bands - 10.09.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, with the help of our drumming counterparts, we’re going to talk a little bit about composing, arranging, and drum scores for pipe bands. What are the things we need to consider? What do we need to be careful NOT to do? Also, where do we get our inspiration? October 9th, 2013.

081 - Pipe Band New-Year Resolutions - 09.25.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’re going to talk about several things you can do right now to make this year the best year your band has ever had. Tips, Tricks, and Strategy – don’t miss out! September 25th, 2013.

080 - Pipe Band Essentials - 09.18.2013 Apr 24, 2017

It’s all about Pipe Bands this week. How do we operate a successful band? How do we practice better? How do we increase our membership? September 18th, 2013.

079 - Practice Tricks and Tips - 09.11.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Today, we’ll reflect a little bit, and then move on to some tips and tricks regarding good practicing. Don’t miss out, if you want to make the most out of the upcoming year of piping. September 11th, 2013.

078 - Bagpipers’ New Year! - 09.04.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Well, for most of the piping world, we’ve reached the bagpipers’ New Year! That means, all of the major competitions are done (maybe there are one or two left….) and it’s time to start planning for the upcoming year. This show is all about strategic planning to make the most out of the upcoming season. September 4th, 2013.

077 - Ask Us Anything - 08.28.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’re simply going to open up the floor and talk about anything and everything! Come join us to kick back, relax, and talk shop! August 28th, 2013.

075 - Worlds Week – News and Scuttlebutt - 08.14.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’ll check in on the Scotland scene and see what’s happening over there – how are the bands sounding? Who’s going to win? What cool stuff has been happening at Piping Live! ? August 14th, 2013.

074 - Pipe Hacks, New Toys, and More! - 08.07.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’ll take a break from the you-be-the-judge season and look into some fun DIY bagpipe projects, some new techno toys we’ve discovered, and we’ll talk about how to avoid piper-stagnation during the summer season. August 7th, 2013.

073 - You Be the Judge – Grade 2 Worlds Hopefuls - 07.31.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, a you-be-the-judge special, highlighting bands hoping to be World Champions in Grade 2 in less than a month! July 31st, 2013.

072 - You Be the Judge – Worlds Ramp Up Edition - 07.24.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, a you-be-the-judge special, highlighting bands hoping to be World Champions in less than a month! July 24th, 2013.

071 - Open Q and A - 07.17.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, Andrew, Carl, and several other Oran Mor members will be in the house. Let’s just have an open session to see what things are out there to talk about! July 17th, 2013.

070 - How Oran Mor Operates - 07.10.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’re going to discuss how we built Oran Mor from the ground up, and how we currently operate. July 10th, 2013

069 - Amazing Technologies for Bagpipers - 07.03.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’re going to look at some awesome technologies you can use to help your piping. The Dojo uses a lot of technology, and we’ll share some of our tricks with you. July 3rd, 2013.

068 - Bagpipes Drawing & All About Beginning Pipers - 06.26.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week, we’re going to talk about the process of beginning the bagpipes. What to do and what not to do, both from the student perspective and the teacher’s perspective. June 26th, 2013.

066 - You be the judge – Top Secret Edition - 06.12.2013 Apr 24, 2017

This week we have some top secret recordings, and it’s your job to tell us who’s the best. Trust me – this’ll be a lot of fun! Only on Dojo Universe. June 12th, 2013.

065 - You be the judge – Kingston, Ontario Edition - 06.05.2013 Apr 24, 2017

At the same time the British Championships were going on (we judged them last week), the first big grade one contest in Ontario was happening. We’ll have some more fun judging in this week’s Dojo Universe. June 5th, 2013.

064 - You be the judge – British Championships Edition - 05.29.2013 Apr 24, 2017

The season is off and running in the RSPBA – let’s see if our results match that of the judges! We’ll use live polls and then match things up with the real results! May 29th, 2013.

063 - Playing Weddings and Funerals - 05.22.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Andrew’s away today, so Carl and Vin will play! Let’s talk about Weddings and Funerals. What’s the best way to plan for them? How do you tune up? And so on, and so forth. May 22nd, 2013.

062 - Adam Quinn & Top Secret Maintenance Tricks - 05.15.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Shh. We have some top secret maintenance tricks we’re going to share with you. But don’t tell anyone, because they are secret. Also, Adam Quinn co-stars with some awesome insight on composing (and a few funny anecdotes, too!). May 15th, 2013

061 - Chord Progressions in Bagpipe Music - 05.08.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Believe it or not, bagpipe music is quite similar to actual music! One of the things that a lot of pipers dont’ realize is – we follow chord progressions just like guitarists or orchestras. However, because we only ever play one line of music, we often loose site of what’s going on. Let’s dive in a little bit this week to check it out. May 8th, 2013.

060 - In Defense of Drumming - 05.01.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Last week, the show reached pure CONTROVERSY over the validity of drumming in general. Vin started it, and then many in the crowd piled on. Guest “Andrew” held his own valiantly, but he was outrageously outnumbered. This week, the Eagle has landed. Michael Eagle, drumming extraordinaire, will demonstrate to us (and “school” Vin, as it were) just what drumming is all about. We’re long overdue for a show about this anyways. Don’t miss the Mayhem. May 1st, 2013.

059 - How many bagpipe tunes are there in the universe? - 04.24.2013 Apr 24, 2017

No drummers were harmed in the production of this podcast. Repertoire expansion! How many bagpipe tunes are there in the universe? Well, you couldn’t possibly learn them all but, trying can certainly make one a more interesting musician. April 24th, 2013.

058 - Our Favorite Books About Music - 04.17.2013 Apr 24, 2017

There are tons of books out there about creating music, several of which have really inspired us here at the Dojo. We’ll talk about the brave new world of music literature! April 17th, 2013

057 - Derek Midgely - 04.10.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Scottish piping versus the rest of the world! What is it that makes piping out of Scotland so good? We’ll talk about this with special guest Derek Midgley, a local eastern U.S. piper who’s been burning up the solo boards in Scotland over the last few years. April 10th, 2013.

056 - Happy Birthday Dojo U – A Year in Review - 04.03.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Dojo University hits its first anniversary! It’s seems like we’ve always been here, but yes, Dojo U has been delivering the finest bagpipe instruction online for only 12 months. Over that time, we’ve amassed quite a bit of quality bagpiping content. April 3rd, 2013

055 - Sight Reading and Memorization Tips - 03.27.2013 Apr 24, 2017

The bagpipe is one of the few instruments where players do NOT watch their music scores while performing. We’ll talk about the challenges of memorizing long tunes and long lists of tunes as well as share tips for making the whole thing easier. Also, how do we conquer the initial challenge of learning a tune – sight reading? March 27th, 2013.

054 - Transitioning to the Bagpipes from the Practice Chanter - 03.20.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Transitioning to the Bagpipe. What are some of the tips and tricks to starting off on this “beast” of an instrument? We’ll talk about all the things that will get you up and running on the big pipe. March 20th, 2013.

053 - Springtime Development Tips and Tricks - 03.13.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Spring Training! It’s time to get into form for the coming performance season. Whether you’re an active competing soloist or do the gig circuit, the warmer months always bring a flurry of activity for the piper. March 13th, 2013.

052 - Putting the “bag” into bagpiping - 03.06.2013 Apr 24, 2017

The “bag” in bagpipes. The seasons are changing and it is a good time to start fresh with a new pipe bag. But where do you start?

050 - Metro Cup Review & Why the Greats are Great - 02.20.2013 Apr 24, 2017

The famous Metro Cup was this past weekend, and Vin was there first hand. How did it go? Vin and hopefully you (you know, the guests) will have some thoughts about the weekend!

049 - Bagpipe Maintenance is a Lifestyle Choice - 02.13.2013 Apr 24, 2017

When it comes to bagpipe sound – you’ve gotta start somewhere. And actually, it’s impossible to produce good tone or tuning without a foundation of maintenance. So, we’ll cover the basics at this week’s Dojo Universe show. February 13th, 2013.

048 - Allan MacKenzie’s new book of Cape Breton Music - 02.06.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Allan MacKenzie has compiled an excellent new collection of Cape Breton music for pipers called “Co-chruinneachadh MhicChoinnich,” which contains gems from many composers. He’ll be on the show, and we’ll play through some of the tunes in the book. February 6th, 2013.

047 - Getting your Bagpipe to Produce Dynamics - 01.30.2013 Apr 24, 2017

As pipers, we’re in a bit of a bind in that we only have one “volume” we can play, and that volume is best described as… well… loud. However, pipers across the centuries have been creating (or perhaps “simulating”) dynamics in extremely innovative ways. January 30th, 2013.

046 - How Bagpipe Sound Works – a Little Bit of Physics (w/ Matt Griffin)- 01.23.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Matt Griffin is joining us today, and we’re going to talk a lot about sound and how it works. He will be teaching an all-new class at Dojo U called “MusicWorks: The Physics and Psychoacoustics of Sound,” where we’ll talk about this stuff in depth. Come check it out if you’ve ever wondered what “harmonics” are, or if you’ve ever wondered how tuning really works scientifically!

045 - The Art of Art-iculation - 01.16.2013 Apr 24, 2017

Different instruments articulate notes and rhythms in different ways. We use gracenotes, and gracenote combinations called doublings. This week, we’ll talk about the art of producing great articulations on the pipes. January 16th, 2013.

044 - New Year’s Resolution: Banish Crossing Noises - 01.02.2013 Apr 24, 2017

We’re going to talk crossing noises this week. Believe it or not – you still have crossing noises in your playing. Yep. Even you. We do too! Crossing noises, in some form or another, are always present. Our job is to minimize the effects so well that they don’t interfere with the music. January 2nd, 2013.

043 - Improving Your Pipe Section in Winter, Ancient Piobaireachd Manuscripts - 12.12.2012 Apr 23, 2017

It’s hard to get your band together over the holidays, and, let’s face it, even the pipe major is a bit lax in regards to playing regularly when it’s sub-zero outside. Can you make the most out of this? (Hint: Yes!) Also, we’ll have a look at an ancient version of Grain in Hides, Corn in Sacks. December 12th, 2012.

042 - Formulating your Bagpiping Christmas List (Carl’s Favorite Things) - 12.05.2012 Apr 23, 2017

Christmas is coming, and it’s time to get your Bagpiping Christmas list together! We’ll go through a lot of the great products we have that are perfect Christmas gifts. Viewers will help by offering up what they’ve got on their list this year!

041 - Christmas Music, and Playing Gigs in the Cold - 11.28.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We look at a bunch of Christmas Carols that can be played on the pipes and we talk about how to survive playing bagpipes in the cold!

040 - We’re Thankful for Bagpipe Music - 11.21.2012 Apr 23, 2017

On the eve of our Thanksgiving day, we’re thankful for bagpipe music. We’ll listen to tons of music, and generally reflect on how awesome bagpipes are. 11.21.2012

039 - Jigs, Without the Fuss - 11.14.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We do a redo of the jig’s show, because Andrew had to miss last week. What makes jigs tick? Why are they so much fun to listen to, and even more fun to play? November 14th, 2012.

037 - Pipe Major Robert Mathieson Interview - 10.24.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week, special guest Rab Mathieson joins us from Scotland to hang out, and discuss some of the things that define who he is, and how he has been so successful. October 24th, 2012.

036 - Nicol Brown Recap, and Picking the Right Tunes - 10.17.2012 Apr 23, 2017

his week, we’ll listen to and discuss some highlights from the Nicol Brown Amateur Invitational, and we will also look at issues surrounding how you should get ready for next season. What tunes should you pick? What is the best strategy to be successful? October 17th, 2012

035 - Donald Lindsay on Creating Environments where Bagpiping Can Thrive - 10.10.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week, we’re looking into Donald Lindsay’s great article in the recent issue of the Voice Magazine. In this article, Donald interviews some of the most successful pipers in the world, and asks them what it was about their piping environment that contributed to their success.

034 - Fall Line-Up Premier Week - 10.03.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week, we’ll discuss how our Fall Line-Up in unravelling, and revelations that have already been had! What is there to learn from these great teachers? October 3rd, 2012

033 - Zen and the Art of Bagpiping - 09.26.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week, we’ll take several amazing Zen quotes and see if they apply to bagpiping. Also – an amazing bagpipe polishing trick! September 26th, 2012.

032 - Sheeps, Goats, and Short Term Goals - 09.19.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week we talk about the new Lee and Sons Sheepskin (and goatskin!) bags with zippers – a giant leap for mankind. Also, short term goal setting. September 19th, 2012.

031 - Success Week - 09.12.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week is about success in bagpiping, with lots of thoughts about how success is earned. September 12th, 2012.

030 - You Be the Judge, Cowal Edition - 08.29.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week: a “you be the judge” with the Cowal Championships.

029 - Maureen Connor and Eric MacNeill on Winning the Worlds in Novice Juvenille - 08.22.2012 Apr 23, 2017

This week Maureen Connor and Eric MacNeill join us to talk about the Scotia Glenville Pipe Band, and their recent win at the Worlds in the Juvenille grade. August 22nd, 2012.

028 - Live (Partly) from Invermark, and “Ask Andrew Anything” - 07.25.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We’re visited by John Fisher, Reid Maxwell, and Donald Lindsay live from Invermark. Also, Andrew plays a lot of his own music, and some “lost” bootleg tapes! Don’t miss out on some funky jams. July 25th, 2012.

027 - “Scuttlebutt” from around the Piping World - 07.18.2012 Apr 23, 2017

Andrew and Vin and Carl discussed the NY Metro Pipe Band, the Body Beat, and Xavier Bodoureiu’s new album “A Unan”

026 - Triumph Street Listening Party - 07.11.2012 Apr 23, 2017

Andrew and Vin listened to their favorite tracks from the new Dowco Triumph Street album, and discuss the band, and what makes them such a FORCE! July 11th, 2012.

025 - The Season is Heating Up - 06.27.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We listen to several bands from around the scene, including City of Washington, Great Lakes Pipe Band, the SFU pipe band, and the Triumph Street Pipe Band. Also, Vin talks about how to record stuff! June 27th, 2012

024 - Unconscious Competence - 06.20.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We talk about some deep philosophical things that can help you as a player! We also listen to some great celtic fusion music. June 20th, 2012.

023 - You Be The Judge – Part II - 06.13.2012 Apr 23, 2017

You be the judge, part 2. Last week, we had three very different bands. This week, we add a fourth band and give you something much closer to judge. What will the results be? You’ll have to listen in to find out.

022 – You Be The Judge! - 06.06.2012 Apr 23, 2017

You be the judge! We listened to 3 mystery bands, and let the audience judge the result. Did our audience agree with the real-world judges?

021 – North American Grade 1 Bands; Early Season Listen - 05.30.2012 Apr 23, 2017

It’s early in the season – let’s see how things are looking across North American Grade 1 Bands! Peel Police, Toronto Police, Oran Mor, 78th Frasers, City of Chicago, and Dowco Triumph Street all get a listen today! May 30th, 2012

020 – Fair Hill Grade II Contest Recap - 05.23.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We listen to the Grade II contest from Fair Hill, Maryland, and analyze the two performances. We then get into what it takes to grow and develop a band. May 23rd, 2012.

018 – SFU in NYC Recap, and Fostering Piping Culture - 05.09.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We listen to some more SFU, and then talk about their show, their band, and how they can play at such a high level – why can’t we do that? Andrew and Vin then go into ideas behind cultivating a successful piping culture.

017 – SFU Pipe Band Concert, and Recording One’s Self! - 05.02.2012 Apr 23, 2017

We listen to two tracks by the SFU pipe band, and discuss their upcoming concert in NYC. Then, we talk about the art (and phobia) of recording one’s own playing. Enjoy! May 2nd, 2012.

016 - Donald MacPherson, Route 66, and More! - 04.25.2012 Apr 23, 2017

In today’s episode: We listen to two tracks the late great Donald MacPherson, and talk a bit about his career. Then, some guests discuss their experiences at the Pipes and Sticks on Route 66 concert(s). Finally, a great review by Carl of the Chanter Reed Pressure Gauge! April 25th, 2012.

015 - "You're Doing it Wrong," Drone Swabbing, and Route 66 - 04.18.2012 Apr 23, 2017

In today’s episode: We listen to two tracks by Celtic Bands that are taking a new approach. Andrew and Vin talk about two PipeHacker articles. Carl goes over all the basics of drone swabbing. Andrew talks about what’s happening at Dojo U. Lastly, attention is paid to the awesome Pipes and Sticks on Route 66 project spearheaded by John MacDonald. April 18th, 2012.

014 - PipeHacker.com, Rab Wallace, I got a Kiss of the King's Hand, the Piper's Third - 04.11.2012 Apr 23, 2017

In today’s episode: Carl and Andrew discuss how things are going at Dojo U. Vin introduces PipeHacker.com, and discusses upcoming projects. Andrew responds to Rab’s harsh words to him in the Voice. Donald Lindsay talks about the history behind the piobaireachd “I got a Kiss of the King’s Hand.” Andrew gives a quick tip on how to tie a slip-knot in your hemp. Lastly, Carl reviews “The Piper’s Third Hand.” April 11th, 2012

Bagpipe Nation - 013 - Grade 3 Bands At Fair Hill Games - 05.26.2011 Apr 23, 2017

In this recorded episode, hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski play desktop judge and review the Grade 3 band performances from this past weekend's Colonial Highland Gathering at Fair Hill, Maryland. May 26th, 2011.

Bagpipe Nation - 012 - Practicing For Success - 04.28.2011 Apr 23, 2017

In this recorded episode, hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski talk about how to practice for success. Andrew unlocks the methods for creating an effective practice routine that will drive you toward personal improvement in your bagpiping. April 28th, 2011

Bagpipe Nation - 011 - Spring Training Workshops And Competition Extinction II - 04.14.2011 Apr 23, 2017

Hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski talk about this weekend's Oran Mor Spring Training workshops and delve further into the problem and solution to possible bagpipe competition extinction. April 14th, 2011

Bagpipe Nation - 010 - Grade 4 Full-Piobaireachd Rule - 03.31.2011 Apr 23, 2017

Hosts Vince Janoski and Andrew Douglas chat with special guest Nate Wahlgren in a lively discussion on the current logic of the EUSPBA's Grade 4 full-tune piobaireachd rule—what it might do to competitors, how many contests have canceled the event entirely, and what is in store for the future in an alternate bagpiping universe. March 31st, 2011.

Bagpipe Nation - 009 - Jack Lee Talks Reeds - 03.24.2011 Apr 23, 2017

Hosts Vince Janoski and Andrew Douglas chat with special guest Jack Lee about the finer points of working with chanter reeds, why he began making his own, and the skinny on the "poke, lick, and shave!" March 24th, 2011.

Bagpipe Nation - 008 - Self-Critiquing Skills - 03.17.2011 Apr 23, 2017

In this pre-recorded session, hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski talk about recording yourself and building self-critiquing skills. March 17th, 2011

Bagpipe Nation - 007 - Interview With Adam Holdaway 03.10.2011 Apr 23, 2017

Hosts Vince Janoski and Andrew Douglas present a recorded session with special guest Adam Holdaway of the Stuart Highlanders. We talk some about where he's been, where the band is going and the benefits of sheepskin bags! March 10th, 2011

Bagpipe Nation - 006 - Bagpipe Competition Extinction Events - 3.03.2011 Apr 23, 2017

Hosts Vince Janoski and Andrew Douglas chat with special guest Adam Holdaway of the Stuart Highlanders, talk about the potential extinction of our bagpipe competition mode, ideas to revamp the bagpipe competition circuit, and review some bagpipe instrument maintenance. March 3rd, 2011

Bagpipe Nation - 005 - The Metro Cup - 02.24.2011 Apr 23, 2017

Vince Janoski brings choice highlights from The Metro Cup Highland Bagpipe Championship from Saturday February 19. The playlist brings the medley performances of Margaret Dunn, Alastair Dunn, and Stuart Liddell. Alex Gandy follows with his presentation of "The Menzie's Salute" followed by Stuart Liddell's winning performance of "Lament for the Children." Enjoy! February 24th, 2011

Bagpipe Nation - 004 - Travelling to Scotland and the Worlds - 02.15.2011 Apr 23, 2017

Hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski discuss the plans and tips for taking your pipe band to Scotland with guests Betsy Douglas of Oran Mor, Cliff Roberts of St. Ann's of Hampton, and Dave Hall of Ulster Scottish. February 15th, 2011

Bagpipe Nation - 003 - A to Z on Solo Competing - 02.03.2011 Feb 02, 2011

On this week's show hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski tackle the game of solo bagpipe competition and help listeners navigate the trickier parts of preparation, dealing with nerves, and making the experience as smooth as possible. February 3rd, 2011.

Bagpipe Nation - 002 - Donald Lindsay Canntaireachd Discussion - 01.27.2011 Jan 26, 2011

On this week's show hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski have an excellent discussion on the details of canntaireachd and piobaireachd with special guest Donald Lindsay. Further discussion in the second half of the hour delves into issues facing the future of EUSPBA judging. January 27th, 2011.

Bagpipe Nation - 001 - Kansas City Recap - 01.20.2011 Jan 19, 2011

On this webcast hosts Andrew Douglas and Vince Janoski recap the 10th Winter Storm weekend in Kansas City, Missouri with event organizer Cliff Davis. In the second half of the hour we talk revamping the judges panel in our piping association and discuss the Pipehacker series "Hacking the Bagpiping Judge" with guest Matt MacArthur. January 20th, 2011.

391 - Are You Getting The Most Out Of Band Practice? (Dojo Conversations Ep 61) Feb 19, 2024

Most of us show up for band practice like clockwork each week – maybe even a few times a week. But are you showing up in all the right ways to improve your own playing, and contribute to the improvement of your whole band?

This week, Andrew and Jim – who both have plenty of experience playing in and leading bands at all grade levels – chat through the importance of individual players coming to practice with their instrument and personal skills honed so the group can focus on ensemble-specific issues and strategies during practice-time, rather than working on their individual skills. Plus, they chat through why some bands succeed and build a great culture – here's a hint: it starts with well-structured practice sessions...

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

390 - Do You Play in the "Tone Zone"? (Dojo Conversations Ep 60) Feb 12, 2024

"Just blow tone!" Sound familiar? Most of us know we should be blowing a certain way to sound better, but many pipers don't know how to really get into the "tone zone".

This week, Andrew and Jim delve into the importance of identifying and playing within the instrument's sweet spot for optimal sound quality, eliminating the risk of choking or squeaking. The duo talks about the impact of drone tuning, and how setting drones slightly sharper than perfectly in tune can subconsciously encourage fuller blowing. They underscore how items like hitting the sweet spot should become second nature for good tone production and that this skill extends beyond simply being able to do it - it should ideally become a habit.

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

On this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties
00:15 The Archery Analogy: Understanding the Target
01:09 The Tone Zone: What is it and How to Find it
03:52 The Sweet Spot: Maximizing the Quality of Sound
05:20 The Importance of Pressure in Achieving the Sweet Spot
14:54 The Role of the Manometer in Identifying the Sweet Spot
19:54 The Impact of Drone Tuning on Achieving the Sweet Spot
21:51 Conclusion: Transforming the Skill into a Habit

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

392 - Dialling Into 4 Layers of Bagpipe Sound (Dojo Conversations Ep 62) Feb 26, 2024

Ever wondered why your drones seem to make a bunch of different sounds when you strike in (or if you don't cut them off quickly – an auditory experience affectionately know as "the dying cow")?

This week, Andrew and Jim explain the four distinct layers identifiable within drone sounds generated by the bagpipe: a squeaky unpredictable sound triggered by low pressure (layer one), a gurgly or raucous sub-layer (layer two), the optimal stable tone (layer three), and no sound at all (layer four), resulting from excessive pressure. Andrew and Jim underline the importance of bagpipe calibration and maintenance in navigating these layers. They recommend users test and understand these layers, allowing for improved sound control during performances.

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

On this episode:

00:00 Introduction
00:39 The Art of Making Seven Layer Dip
02:45 Transition to Bagpipe Discussion
05:31 Understanding the Four Layers of Drone Reed Sound
09:57 Practical Application of the Four Layers
14:15 The Importance of Drone Reed Calibration
17:12 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

389 - Do You Own or Rent Your Piping Skills? (Dojo Conversations Episode 59) Feb 05, 2024

Do you want to sound just like your favourite pipers? Maybe we all do, to start with. But after a while, most pipers realise that true satisfaction comes from being able to create any musical ideas or interpretations that you want to – not just copying others.

Having this kind of freedom is the ultimate goal of any musician – and any bagpiper.

But when we skip early skills and rush through to play the pipes, it can be hard on the ol' ego to go back to the basics to re-learn them. But that mastery of the essentials is the key to finding that musical freedom, when you consider how many skills we have to juggle at the same time...

This week, Andrew and Jim continue discussing the chapter of Andrew's book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, that tackles how to juggle all the essential piping skills at once to be an excellent player. It's tricky, but not impossible, as long as you follow some simple principles.

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

On this episode:

00:00 The Meeting of the Dimensions: Where the Rubber Hits the Road
00:43 The Power of Control: Bagpipe Mastery
01:35 The House Analogy: Owning Your Bagpipe Skills
03:45 Building Skill Capital: The Importance of Learning New Tunes
07:19 The Journey to Bagpipe Freedom: Overcoming Ego Pain
11:06 Finding the Sweet Spot: Mastering the Art of Blowing
20:11 The MBA: Understanding Mental Blowing Anomalies
22:53 Debunking Bagpipe Myths
23:36 The Art of Steady Blowing
24:47 The Impact of Fingerwork on Blowing
25:40 The Importance of a Quiet Mind
26:02 Musical Influences and Inspirations
27:08 The Power of Learning New Tunes
27:21 The Art of Separation in Bagpiping
32:54 The Importance of Variety in Practice
36:09 The Danger of Repetition and the Need for New Material
38:19 The Importance of Being a Well-Rounded Piper
39:06 The Art of Creating Yourself in Bagpiping
42:11 The Power of Criticism and Questioning in Learning
45:14 The Art of Teaching and Learning: A Conclusion

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world.

Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late. And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo
SnapChat: pipersdojo

388 - How Can You Free Up Your Piping Bandwidth? (Dojo Conversations Episode 58) Jan 29, 2024

As pipers we have to juggle a lot of skills, usually all at once. Remembering tunes, playing with good rhythm and clean fingerwork, tuning, blowing good tone, marching... the list goes on.

But how do you put them all together without maxing out your 'piping bandwidth' – your mental capacity to do many things simultaneously?

This week, Andrew and Jim chat through the chapter of Andrew's book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, that tackles how to juggle all the essential piping skills at once to be an excellent player. It's tricky, but not impossible, as long as you follow some simple principles...

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Bagpipe Mastery

00:42 The First Rule of the Internet

01:01 The Truth About Wi-Fi Extenders

02:17 The Art of Coffee Brewing

02:56 Entering Chapter 8 of Finding Bagpipe Freedom

03:07 The Meeting of the Dimensions

03:33 The Rubber Hits the Road

06:17 The Competition of Resources in Bagpiping

14:58 The Golf Paradox and Bagpiping

17:19 Reflecting on Past Performances

19:01 The Difficulty of Phase Four

19:11 Breaking Down the Fundamental Skills

20:21 Understanding the Phases

22:24 The Challenge of Phase Four

23:19 The Importance of Avoiding Bad Habits

23:44 The Impact of Mental Blowing Anomalies

24:34 The Struggle with Tempo Control

25:07 The Importance of Maintaining Skills

25:26 The Challenge of Multitasking

28:40 The Impact of Comparison

33:08 The Importance of Fundamentals

34:22 Wrapping Up the Discussion

387 - What's the REAL Cost of Bagpiping? (Dojo Conversations Episode 57) Jan 20, 2024

How much money should you be budgeting for your bagpiping? At a minimum there are reeds, pipe bags, and other parts all need to be replaced regularly – and then there's new chanters, travel, lessons, and much more. It can add up pretty quickly to a lot more than you thought when you started as a fledgling piper... This week, Andrew and Jim talk through a bagpiping budget – the outlay for equipment and travel, the importance of good maintenance and care, and the cost-benefit of more expensive options versus cheaper alternatives for durability and performance. Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

386 - How to Simplify Tunes (Dojo Conversations Episode 56) Jan 15, 2024

Ever heard “you’re not a REAL piper unless you play with all the embellishments as written”?

Embellishments are lovely – but they’re the crown moulding, while foundational skills like rhythm, scale navigation, and so many others are vital to master first…

This week, Andrew and Jim look at how to go back to basics with your tunes, by learning to effectively simplify them. They use Bonnie Anne to give a step-by-step explanation, starting with rhythm, then integrating melody notes and grace notes. Each successive layer becomes more complex, with emphasis on learning only one type of embellishment at a time.

Episode highlights:

02:07 The Importance of Simplifying Tunes

03:15 The Right and Wrong Ways to Simplify

07:27 The Bagpipe Freedom Process

08:42 Breaking Down 'Bonnie Anne'

22:34 Adding Grace Notes to a Simplified Tune

26:00 The Importance of Writing Music by Hand

26:44 Grace Notes

28:54 Simplifying the Setting: Adding and Removing Grace Notes

31:07 The Process of Building a Tune: From Simplified to Fully Embellished

34:36 Addressing Common Mistakes and Misconceptions in Tune Learning

41:27 The Importance of Monotasking in Tune Learning

48:38 The Benefits of the Simplified Approach to Tune Learning

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo
SnapChat: pipersdojo

383 - A Highland Piping Christmas Carol (Dojo Conversations Episode 53) Dec 24, 2023

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the Dojo, we've enlisted AI for some festive mojo!

This week, Andrew and Jim detour for a special Christmas episode, enlisting the writing and artistic talents of very special guest to pull together the most bagpipey version of A Christmas Carol and The Grinch ever conceived (by AI)... Wishing all our followers and listeners a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo
SnapChat: pipersdojo

385 - Can Rest Be Productive? (Dojo Conversations Episode 55) Jan 08, 2024

Do you ever feel burned out at the end of competition season?

This week, Andrew and Jim look at the merits of rest. It's a necessity in the fitness world to recover and restore yourself to be stronger – so could the same be true for your piping? High-pressure performances and competition can certainly be draining if you're pouring time into them, and the downtime can have negative effects on your motivation and creativity. But consistency is really important to stay motivated – so could taking a short sabbatical reinvigorate you, or could it be a fast track to throwing in the towel?

On this week's show:

00:31 The Importance of Recovery in Fitness
01:22 The Need for Breaks and Off Seasons
01:42 The Philosophy of Prolonged Breaks
02:14 The Role of Consistency in Success
02:58 The Impact of Burnout
03:25 The Joy of Bagpiping
03:35 The Aftermath of Intense Bagpiping
07:58 The Concept of Taking a Break
18:05 The Importance of Creativity in Bagpiping
20:27 The Role of Competition in Bagpiping
22:39 The Need for Breaks in Intense Bagpiping
23:43 Conclusion: Balancing Intensity and Breaks

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo
Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo
SnapChat: pipersdojo

382 - Jack Lee on Cruise Journey North (Dojo Conversations Episode 52) Dec 18, 2023

This week, Andrew and Jim welcome special guest and piping legend Jack Lee to talk all things piping, drumming and… cruising?!

The upcoming Piper’s Dojo and Piping Hot Summer Drummer collaboration 'Cruise Journey North' departs from Seattle to Alaska on May 4th, 2024, with regular classes, private sessions, tune workshops, tune composition sessions, and opportunities to interact with local pipe bands in Alaska, all mixed in with a luxury cruise holiday in the idyllic American north.

Learn more about how this all came about, as well as a preview of a fun new tune composed just for this new adventure on the high seas!

Learn more about Cruise Journey North or register: pipersdojo.com/cruise Episode highlights:

00:00 Introduction

00:20 Planning the Cruise

00:49 The Story Behind the Cruise Idea

01:17 Collaboration and Challenges

02:11 The Role of the Travel Agent

03:23 The Evolution of Andrew's Nickname

04:24 Details about the Cruise

05:21 Meeting Local Pipers in Alaska

08:03 The Creation of the Cruise Tune

12:27 The Cruise Schedule and Activities

15:15 The Impact of Piping on the Cruise

20:26 The Importance of Fun in Piping

26:05 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

384 - Everything Auld Is New Again (Dojo Conversations Episode 54) Jan 01, 2024

Should 'auld' episodes be forgot and never brought to mind? Not a chance!

As 2024 dawns, we're taking a moment to pause and reflect – it's been just over a year since the podcast went live, so this week Andrew and Jim revisit some of the highs, the lows, and the bits we can't remember as we look back on the Dojo Conversations journey so far... and where we're headed in 2024 and beyond!

If you have a topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode, leave us a comment or send it to support@pipersdojo.com.

To register for the first ever EPIC Cruise Journey North, visit DojoUniversity.com/Cruise

____

Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world. We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world.

Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing.

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

381 - The 4 Questions You Should Be Asking Every Time You Play (Dojo Conversations Episode 51) Dec 12, 2023

Do your pipes ever feel hard to play? If you’re not asking these 4 questions every time you pick them up out of the box, you’re setting yourself up to fail before you play a single note…

This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the 4 questions of bagpipe maintenance that are a ‘pre-flight’ checklist to make sure you’re set up for success every time you play. By making a system of these and building it into your piping routine, you’ll avoid future problems and have the best chance at a great practice or performance, every time.

Check out our free PDF that outlines these essential questions: pipersdojo.com/4questions

Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or send it to support@pipersdojo.com!

Topics covered this week:

00:00 Introduction and Initial Discussion

00:01 The Importance of Pre-Flight Checklist in Bagpipe Playing

01:44 Understanding the Concept of Air Tightness and Efficiency

04:24 The Role of Bagpipe Maintenance in Performance

06:57 The Four Questions of Bagpipe Maintenance

08:36 The Importance of Airtight Bagpipes

11:35 Checking the Joints of the Bagpipes

14:51 Discussing the Use of Natural Materials

14:51 Technical Difficulties and Solutions

14:51 Back to the Topic: Hemp

15:04 Ensuring Airtight Joints

15:54 The Importance of Reed Seats

18:50 The 'Scotland the Brave' Test

21:31 Calibrating Drone Reeds

26:56 The Four Questions of Bagpipe Maintenance

27:44 The Importance of Routine Checks

31:03 Consequences of Poor Bagpipe Performance

31:40 Wrapping Up and Further Learning

380 - Finding Drumming Freedom with Ed Best (Dojo Conversations Episode 50) Dec 04, 2023

This week, we're welcoming special guest Ed Best – Dojo U's drumming instruction lead, rhythm guru and dad joke connoisseur – to chat about his approach to helping drummers find their own musical freedom. We dive into the ways piping and drumming can be similar (and how similar approaches between the two corps can benefit a band); how rhythm is the crucial foundation to all music; how drummers approach writing their scores compared to pipers; and how great players don't always make great teachers. Plus some incidental parenting hacks for good measure!

Interested to learn more about Dojo U's Drumming program? Check it out for free for the first week: pipersdojo.com/drumming

Got a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or shoot us an email at support@pipersdojo.com.

2024 Winter Storm Concert Jan 21, 2024

Relive all the amazing performances from the 2024 Winter Storm Concert!

On January 14th 2024, it might have been freezing outside, but at Winter Storm – the pipes and drums event in Kansas City – we turned up the heat for the annual concert, featuring world champion pipers and drummers from Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada, and the U.S. – pipe bands and ensembles, piping soloists, sizzling Highland drumming, and much more!

This year's concert was livestreamed once again by the Dojo University team. We hope you enjoy this audio edit of the livestream, now available for you to listen back to whenever you'd like.

Recordings, livestreams, and events like those on offer at Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help the Midwest Highland Arts Fund continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by showing your support: https://mhaf.org/about-us/donate-volunteer/

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