Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

Latest Episodes:

530 - How do you know how long your starting E should be? | Friday Strike-In Q&A Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

How do you work out the right intro E for a tune? How can you prepare for competition nerves and distractions? And how can your band get the most out of a membership with Dojo U?

Tune in for this week’s Friday Strike-In as Andrew and Carl answer listener questions on calculating pickup notes and intro Es, preparing to perform under pressure, building mock competition days into your practice, and getting your band on board with Dojo U. Plus, practical advice for pipe majors on improving musical literacy and building a stronger culture of preparation.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here’s what we cover this week:

0:00 – Calculating pickup notes: how to tell whether a tune has one- or two-beat pickups
9:08 – Exceptions to the rule: three-beat Es, skipping pickups and simplifying tunes
10:55 – Competition nerves: how to handle distractions and the judge watching you
24:01 – Getting your band engaged with Dojo U: where to start with a Band Corps subscription
25:21 – Making online learning part of band practice with short weekly lessons
31:09 – Motivating your band: why applause alone won’t encourage people to practise

529 - The Two Biggest Seasoning Mistakes You Can Make (Dojo Conversations Episode 169) Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

What makes a tune special? How do you keep a sheepskin bag in good shape? And why would a pigeon stand its ground while an entire pipe band bears down on it?

This week... they're back! Andrew joins Jim from his new Canadian base to dissect three piping questions. They explore how to find tunes that really speak to you, what it takes to season a sheepskin bag properly, and what science can tell us about the famously unfazed pigeon at this year's World Pipe Band Championships. Along the way, Andrew shares his approach to discovering great tunes, explains two common seasoning mistakes, and takes a surprisingly deep dive into pigeon hearing. Join us for a mix of practical piping advice, musical discoveries, and some gloriously niche bird science. Here's what we cover in this episode:

00:00 – Andrew's Canadian exile, calendars, haircuts, and the mail situation
03:12 – Getting back into bagpipe mode after a long break
04:02 – Finding cool tunes with something special
12:52 – How your taste in tunes changes as you develop as a piper
16:36 – Sheepskin bag maintenance: why your bag neck keeps drying out
17:16 – Seasoning mistake #1: not getting it hot enough
18:30 – Seasoning mistake #2: not applying enough pressure
20:20 – Why Andrew swears by sheepskin bags, despite the extra work
20:48 – The brave pigeon of Glasgow Green at the Worlds
25:20 – Pigeon superpowers: infrasound, 0.5 Hz, and the science of bird hearing
26:14 – Finding the music right in front of you

528 - Practice Planning, Piobaireachd, Chanter Care & Finding Your Groove | Friday Strike-In Q&A Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

How should you organise your practice time? Does a Blackwood chanter actually need oiling? And do Piobaireachd time signatures really matter?

Tune in for this week’s Friday Strike-In with Carl as he answers questions on practice planning, the Blair chanter, band rehearsal expectations, Blackwood chanter care, Piobaireachd time signatures, finding great light music, and what’s happening with Worlds coverage.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here’s what we cover this week:

0:00 – Organising your practice: journals, spreadsheets, recordings and AI-generated practice plans
2:57 – The Blair chanter: why a less-forgiving chanter can improve your playing
5:37 – Practice chanter vs. pipes: when to use each for learning and practice
6:13 – Practice, learning and rehearsal: what’s the difference?
7:47 – Coming prepared for band rehearsal: why learning tunes at home matters
11:34 – Blackwood chanter care: playing regularly, oiling and avoiding cracks
14:40 – Piobaireachd time signatures: do 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 actually matter?
20:40 – Finding your light music groove: podcasts, Celtic bands, Worlds medleys and more
23:07 – BBC dropping Worlds coverage: what could replace it?
24:37 – Drone bore tool marks and wood grain: what’s normal, and does bore smoothness affect tone?

527 - Bagpipe Tuning, Hide Bags, Reeds & Gigging Tips | Friday Strike-In Q&A Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Should you add tape before breaking in a new reed? Is a zipper really necessary on a hide bag? And what’s the best way to find more gigs as a bagpiper?

Tune in for this week’s Friday Strike-In with Carl as he answers questions on chanter tape, hide bag setup, stock installation, reed maintenance, gigging, and how bands can keep young players excited and involved.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here’s what we cover this week:

0:00 – Chanter tape and new reeds: how much tape to add before you start playing
4:11 – Does low G tape affect other notes? Understanding cross-note effects
6:01 – Installing stocks in a zipperless hide bag: tips, tricks and common methods
13:36 – Finding bagpipe gigs: weddings, funerals, networking and online listings
17:33 – Reed pokers and mandrels: can they extend the life of a dying reed?
24:41 – Hide bags: zipper or no zipper, and choosing the right bag size
27:20 – Keeping younger players engaged: giving new pipers meaningful roles and responsibilities

526 - The Secrets to Better Strike-Ins & Stable Tuning (Dojo U Q&A Session) Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

What’s the easiest hide bag to maintain? Why is your bass drone striking in before the tenors? And what does a spinning stock tell you about your bag?

Tune in for this week’s Friday Strike-In with Carl as he tackles listener questions on hide bags, drone reed calibration, strike-ins, loose stocks, cold tuning before a gig, snare harnesses, and where to look when you’re competing.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here’s what we cover this week:

0:00 – Hide bags: maintenance, seasoning and cowhide
3:10 – Hide bags with zippers: grommets, tie-ins and the easiest setup
11:26 – Stocks in a zipperless bag: what you need to know
11:47 – Drone reed calibration vs. strike-in: getting your drones to start together
23:10 – Spinning stocks: what they reveal about leaks and loose tie-ins
30:55 – Cold tuning before a gig: keeping your pipes stable between warm-up and performance
40:11 – French snare harnesses: the counterbalance design used by top bands
41:42 – Where should you look when competing? Staying focused under pressure

525 - High A vs. Low A: How Should You Tune Your Pipes? Plus Practice, Reeds & More (Dojo Q&A Session) Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

Should you tune your drones to high A or low A? What’s the best way to get back into piping after time away? And how should you look after new cane reeds when they arrive dry from shipping?

Tune in for this week's Friday Strike-In as Andrew and Carl break down a beginner-friendly approach to tuning, share practical advice for getting back into regular practice, and tackle questions about band changes, bass drone reeds, mixed drone setups, and reed storage.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here's what we cover this week:

0:30 – High A vs. low A: which note should you use to tune your drones?
6:48 – A beginner-friendly tuning strategy
13:40 – Why low A is your tuning reference point
17:21 – Do beginners really need to balance the chanter? Plus the Scotland the Brave test
19:14 – Getting back into piping after time away: where should you start?
23:07 – The piper development pyramid: immersion and small daily actions
30:13 – Band-jumping season: when should you consider switching bands?
33:52 – Inverted bass drone reeds: the pros and cons
38:06 – Drones with a different-bore middle tenor: what happens to your tuning?
39:25 – How should you store new cane reeds? Humidity, drawers and storage devices
42:34 – New reeds arriving completely dry: how to hydrate and test them

524 - Chanter Reeds, Bag Sizes & Band Changes: Your Questions Answered (Dojo Q&A Session) Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Why are you holding on to those old chanter reeds? What actually changes when you move to an extended small bag? And why does your blowstick keep popping out of your mouth?

Tune in for this week's Friday Strike-In with Carl as he tackles listener questions on drone and chanter reeds, bag sizes, blowstick problems, Grade One medleys, tuning high A, and the ever-present question of band changes.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here's what we cover this week:

0:00 – How old is too old for your drone reeds? Storage, bridles and O-rings explained
7:04 – Small vs. extended small bags: what actually changes?
22:06 – Why does your blowstick pop out? Tie-ins, ball joints and DIY fixes
26:33 – When should you throw out a chanter reed? The backup reed rule
30:02 – Understanding Grade One medleys: bridges, transitions and reprises
34:50 – Worlds tickets for next year: what to expect
35:35 – High A squealing: is it the reed, the player or the sweet spot?
41:44 – Band jumping season: is anyone thinking about switching bands?

523 - Are Your Drone Reeds Too Old? Plus Band Changes, Pitch & More (Dojo Q&A Session) Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Thinking about moving to a new pipe band? How do you figure out which band is the right fit? And can an eight-year-old drone reed really affect the airtightness and playability of your pipes?

Tune in for this week's Friday Strike-In with Carl, as he tackles questions about choosing a new band, ageing drone reeds, reed efficiency, pitch differences, and even the best tunes to play during a thunderstorm.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here's what we cover this week:
0:00 – Moving to a new band: how to find the right fit
5:26 – Can old drone reeds affect airtightness and playability?
13:14 – How long do drone reeds really last?
18:09 – How many spare reeds should you take to Scotland?
20:44 – Bag/reed efficiency and the Scotland the Brave test
25:31 – Why does your chanter pitch change between Canada and Scotland?
31:18 – The best pipe tunes for a thunderstorm
33:10 – Carbon fibre vs. other drone reed materials
35:57 – Does the wood used in your drones make a difference?

522 - Can You Guess the Decade? Pipe Bands Through the Years (Dojo Conversations Episode 168) Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

How well do you know the sound of pipe bands through the decades?

This week, Jim brings back Jim's Dumb Games with a deceptively difficult challenge: "Guess the Decade." Andrew listens to nine mystery recordings spanning almost 100 years of pipe band history and tries to identify the decade, the exact year, and the band behind each one.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

02:39 – Jim's Dumb Games returns
05:06 – The rules of "Guess the Decade"
07:16 – Sample #1
12:45 – Sample #2
15:11 – Sample #3
16:50 – Sample #4
22:53 – Sample #5
27:02 – Sample #6
28:54 – Sample #7
33:39 – Sample #8
36:09 – Sample #9
39:00 – How generational listening shapes what sounds "old" or "new"
42:28 – Final score and the bonus recording

521 - How to Get a New Tune Up to Tempo (Dojo Class Preview w/ Carl) Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

How do you take a brand-new tune from slow and careful up to a confident performance tempo – without sacrificing your technique, rhythm or groove?

In this Dojo U class preview, Carl works through a reel step by step, using small chunks, tempo jumps, metronome drills and single- and double-time counting to build finger speed while exposing the things that break down under pressure.

Along the way, he explores why jumping between tempos can reset your perception of speed, how to stay relaxed when the tempo rises, and why finding the groove matters more than simply chasing the metronome.

Here's what we cover:

00:00 – Getting a new tune up to tempo and pushing finger speed
00:57 – Warm-up technique: building the tune in small chunks
01:15 – What tends to break down at speed: crossing noises, grace notes and rhythm
08:47 – How bouncing between tempos changes your perception of speed
09:15 – Why rhythm training can take time to adjust to
19:35 – Adding foot-tapping in single time vs. double time
23:19 – How fast should a reel actually be played? Band vs. solo tempos
30:14 – How your perception of "slow" and "fast" resets after a pause
32:04 – Deliberately going very fast to reset your perception of tempo
40:16 – Finding "the groove" instead of simply hitting the metronome click
42:51 – Wrap-up: prioritising groove over mechanical execution

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