Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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)...

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