Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

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 [email protected]. 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 Inte

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 [email protected]. 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

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 [email protected]. 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 Podcas

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

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 [email protected]! 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 B

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 [email protected]! 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: Understandin

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 [email protected] or leave a comment wherever you're listening to this podcast! This week's highlights:00:00 Introduction and Appreciation for Listener Engagement00:49 Mailbag Segment Introduction01:44 First Mailbag Question: Helping Young Pipers04:49 Second Mailbag Question: Progressing a Tune05:52 Deep Dive into the Art of Bagpiping12:04 The Journey of Learning Bagpipes20:36 Discussing the Di

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 [email protected]! 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

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.

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 [email protected]! 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 R

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 [email protected]! ____ 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 t

"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 [email protected]! 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 

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 [email protected]! On this episode: 00:00

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 [email protected]! 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 Th

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/

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 [email protected]!

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:

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 Fitness01:22 The Need for Breaks and Off Seasons01:42 The Philosophy of Prolonged Breaks02:14 The Role of Consistency in Success02:58 The Impact of Burnout03:25 The Joy of Bagpiping03:35 The Aftermath of Intense Bagpiping07:58 The Concept of Taking a Break18:05 The Importance of Creativity in Bagpiping20:27 The Role of Competition in Bagpiping22:39 The Need for Breaks

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 [email protected]. 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 n

'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