Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.