Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

Would you want to learn to drive in a Formula 1 race-car, or learn to fly an airplane in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner?   Even if it sounds really cool, in reality, high-end sophisticated tools are designed for masters of their craft, and not at all suited for beginners or intermediates.    Yet, more often than not, a piping beginner has a bagpipe setup that is radically too complex, which creates many more problems for them than it solves.     This week, Andrew and Jim talk through why simple tools are so important when you’re learning to play the bagpipes. Starting with a basic setup helps you become familiar with essential challenges, avoiding unnecessary gadgetry that can complicate the learning process. They discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various bagpipe gadgets such as tone enhancers, moisture control systems, and water traps, highlighting the benefits of a minimalist approach for beginners.   Here’s what we cover this time: 00:00 Introduction and Technical Glit

Happy New Year – almost! This week Andrew and Jim revisit some of the highs, the lows, and everything in between – including Jim's hair, which is basically a third host at this point – as we reflect on the pod's progress so far... and some of the exciting plans (and guests) we're cooking up for 2025!  Here's what we cover in (a LOT) of detail this week:  00:00 Happy New Year Reflections 00:20 Reviewing Past Episodes 02:24 Episode 55: Can Rest Be Productive? 03:34 Episode 56: How to Simplify Tunes 05:39 Episode 57: What's the Real Cost of Bagpiping? 07:38 Episode 58: Freeing Up Your Piping Bandwidth 10:11 Episode 59: Do You Own or Rent Your Piping Skills? 12:31 Episode 60: The Tone Zone 15:21 Episode 61: Getting the Most Out of Band Practice 15:47 Episode 62: The Four Layers of Drone Reed Sound 18:09 Episode 63: Constructing a Winning Medley 20:06 Episode 64: Listener Q&A Mailbag 20:19 Episode 65: Set It and Forget It Method 20

In this festive episode, Jim and Andrew present another AI-penned Christmas poem: 'A Piper's Night Before Christmas,' featuring Jolly St Blow, the mythical Highland Loon, and an oddly defensive AI author... Enjoy, happy piping and Merry Christmas from all of us here at the Piper's Dojo! Here's what to expect in today's episode: 00:00 Holiday Greetings and Reflections 02:02 AI-Generated Christmas Special 03:19 Piper's Night Before Christmas 09:11 Analyzing the Poem 11:55 Saint Blow and the Highland Loon 18:26 Toonie Tradition and School Memories 19:49 Concluding Thoughts and Thanks

The mailbag has arrived again! This week, Will asks: “…I want to build a set of pipes, specifically for solo competition… what should I look at for a purpose built solo bagpipe?”   Andrew and Jim chat through whether you need multiple sets of pipes on the boil for band vs solo playing, whether bore sizes matter in bagpipes, and the importance of simplicity, consistent maintenance, and focusing on the quality of your playing (aka ‘slaying') over the intricacies of your setup. 00:00 Introduction to Opals and Bononos 00:44 Quasi Mailbag: Will's Question on Bagpipes 02:18 The Challenges of Maintaining Multiple Bagpipes 04:10 Advice on Setting Up a Solo Bagpipe 07:16 The Importance of Simplicity in Bagpipe Setup 08:54 Debating Bore Size and Its Impact 12:58 The SLAY Principle for Bagpipe Success 21:04 Concluding Thoughts on Bagpipe Setup

Is it better to do a little bit every day… or a massive catch up session every once in a while?    If you’ve ever tried to get fit, go on a diet, or even keep your teeth clean… it should probably go without saying that daily consistent action prevails over massive infrequent action, every single time.    This week, Andrew and Jim explore the importance of maintaining consistent daily habits with your piping. They discuss their personal routines, the challenges faced by pipers, and how integrating a 'one tune a day' habit can lead to significant improvement without overwhelming your daily life.    Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]!   Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 Morning Routine and Teeth Brushing Debate 01:13 The Importance of Daily Habits 04:25 Retainers and Orthodontic Stories 06:49 Daily Actions vs. Massive Actions 11:17 Maintaining Musical Skills 16:25 The 100 Day Challenge 21:33 Morning Ba

Do pipers or drummers make better ensemble judges? This week, Ed Best is back, joining Andrew and Jim to reveal all the secrets about the role of ensemble judges in pipe band competitions. The cover the differences in perspectives between piping and drumming judges, why it’s important to understand both types of instruments, how judges are trained, and challenges they face. They also look at how tune choices impact a band’s overall sound and performance, why practicing and refining judging skills is vital, and how thoughtful musical decisions can contribute to a stronger ensemble performance. Got a question you’d like us to cover on a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]! Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 Introduction to Etymology 00:55 Defining Ensemble 01:32 Role of Ensemble Judges 02:30 Drummers vs Pipers: Judging Perspectives 05:53 Training and Preparation for Ensemble Judging 10:11 Challenges in Ensemble Judging 15:44 Judging Criteria and Considerations 29:21 The Import

What is the single greatest correlate to success in any pursuit? This week, Andrew and Jim are chatting all things immersion (including a detour into Adam Sandler movies) and how learning by doing and maintaining an authentic passion can significantly improve your skills. They also touch on the significance of foundational work like instrument maintenance and how it builds leverage for higher-level skills. Got a question or topic for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]. Here's what we cover this week: 00:00 Nostalgic Movie Memories 01:48 Dreams of a Jim Carrey Biopic 02:14 The Adam Sandler Effect 05:38 Memorizing Movies vs. Bagpipe Tunes 15:34 The Importance of Immersion 24:39 Balancing Practice and Enjoyment 30:27 Commandment One: Immersion is Key

It's Episode 100 of the Dojo Conversations Podcast!   Well, kind of...   Anyway, to celebrate 100 continuous weeks of streaming directly into your ears, Andrew's agreed to suffer through all the topics he doesn't want to talk about, but that Jim's been saving up for an occasion just like this... tune in this week to learn more about the nuances of circular breathing, whether bagpipers can use vibrato, using 'non-traditional' notes, and how bagpipe music has evolved over time.  Got a topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]!  Here's what we cover this week: 00:00 Celebrating 100 Episodes 01:43 The Great Circular Breathing Debate 03:54 Breathing Techniques for Beginners 12:08 Exploring Vibrato on the Practice Chanter 19:38 Bagpipe Techniques: Finding the Balance 19:57 The Rise and Fall of C Natural and G Sharp 20:55 Challenges of Tuning and Control 22:29 Opera and Bagpipes: A Vibrat

Have you ever wanted to write a bagpipe tune? This week, Andrew and Jim show you how to do it by composing a brand new tune live on air! They discuss the process of composing music, exploring different techniques and ideas such as using a chord progression, incorporating motifs, and the importance of a good musical idea. They share insights on using notation software like MuseScore, the significance of rhythm and melody, and even touch on the importance of repetition and variation in music. If you’ve ever wanted to write tunes of your own, this is an episode not to miss! Got a topic you’d like us to cover on a future episode? Leave a comment or send us an email: [email protected]. Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 Introduction and Banter 00:33 Live Tune Composition 00:48 Choosing the Genre and Tools 01:09 Starting with a Musical Idea 02:39 Chord Progressions and Motifs 06:49 Creating the Groove 16:36 Building the Melody 22:00 Exploring Rhythmic Ideas 22:21 Crafting the Fourth Bar 23:31 Using Repetiti

What if 11 small changes could make an enormous difference to your piping progress?  This week, Andrew and Jim dive into the 11 commandments of mastery – Andrew’s blueprint of habits that lead to great bagpiping, but are applicable to all mastery-oriented pursuits. They look at the importance of mastering fundamentals to achieve creative freedom, common pitfalls that learners face, and why a growth mindset is essential to any form of progression.  Here’s what we cover in this episode: 00:00 Setting Up the Scene 00:53 The 11 Commandments of Bagpiping 01:11 Universal Concepts in Mastery 02:05 Disagreements in the Bagpipe World 04:20 Finding Reliable Advice 05:29 First Principles and Growth Mindset 12:00 Parenting and Teaching Analogies 21:13 Empowering Through Fundamentals 24:14 Discovering the Power of Chords 24:41 Applying Chord Theory to Bagpipes 26:01 The Trap of Linear Learning in Bagpiping 27:36 The Role of Fun in Learning&nbs

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: [email protected]  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 Communicat

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: [email protected]!  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

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 Prac

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 Potenti

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

  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

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 Ex

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

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 Practi

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