Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

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:

    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 c

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

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 playing4:11 – Does low G tape affect other notes? Understanding cross-note effects6:01 – Installing stocks in a zipperless hide bag: tips, tricks and common methods13:36 – Finding bagpipe gigs: weddings, funerals, networking and online listings17:33 – Reed pokers and mandrels: can they extend the life of a dying reed?24:41 – Hide bags: zipper or no zipper, and choosing t

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 cowhide3:10 – Hide bags with zippers: grommets, tie-ins and the easiest setup11:26 – Stocks in a zipperless bag: what you need to know11:47 – Drone reed calibration vs. strike-in: getting your drones to start together23:10 – Spinning stocks: what they reveal about leaks and loose tie-ins30:55 – Cold tuning before a gig: keeping your pipes stable between warm-up and performance40:11

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 strategy13:40 – Why low A is your tuning reference point17:21 – Do beginners really need to balance the chanter? Plus the Scotland the Brave test19:14 – Getting back into piping after time away: where should you start?23:07 – The piper devel

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 explained7:04 – Small vs. extended small bags: what actually changes?22:06 – Why does your blowstick pop out? Tie-ins, ball joints and DIY fixes26:33 – When should you throw out a chanter reed? The backup reed rule30:02 – Understanding Grade One medleys: bridges, transitions and reprises34:50 – Worlds tickets for next year: what to expe

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

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 returns05:06 – The rules of "Guess the Decade"07:16 – Sample #112:45 – Sample #215:11 – Sample #316:50 – Sample #422:53 – Sample #527:02 – Sample #628:54 – Sample #733:39 – Sample #836:09 – Sample #939:00 – How generational listening shapes what sounds "old" or "new"42:28 – Final score and the bonus recording

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 speed00:57 – Warm-up technique: building the tune in small chunks01:15 – What tends to break down at speed: crossing noises, grace notes and rhythm08:47 – How bouncing between tempos changes your perception of speed09:15 – Why rhythm training can take time to adjust to19:35 – Adding foot-tapping in single time vs. double time23:19 – How fast sho

What if you could shrink yourself down to the size of an air molecule and take a ride through your bagpipe? This week, Andrew and Jim climb aboard the Magic School Bus to follow every molecule from your lungs to the chanter reed, looking for the places where precious air – and power – gets lost along the way. They end up exploring one of the most useful concepts in piping: efficiency. Join us on this magical adventure through your bagpipe as we break down where power is gained, where it's lost, and how to make sure you're getting the most from every breath. Here's what we cover in this episode: 00:00 – Allergies, medicine horror stories, and catching up04:40 – The question: how do we get more out of our bagpipes?06:13 – What "power" actually means: volume, punch, response, and cracking notes09:26 – Efficiency: minimum input for maximum output12:17 – Choosing a reed for the kind of power you actually need15:15 – Become an air molecule: join us on Andrew's Magic School Bus19:24 – Following the air from the mout

 Should you tune your pipes as soon as band practice starts, or wait until they've settled in? How long does a reed really take to "break in"? And what's the best way to show a new instructor where your playing is at in a single lesson?   Tune in for this week's Dojo Q&A "Strike-In" session, as Andrew and Carl answer these questions and more.   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 – Should you tune immediately or let your pipes warm up first? 13:25 – How to get the most from a one-off lesson with a new instructor 17:33 – Do bagpipe reeds really need 10 hours to break in? 24:09 – Andrew and Carl's favourite piping and pipe band albums 28:52 – Keeping your pipes cool and in tune on hot, sunny days

What makes someone ready to move up a grade? Should competitive Highland pipers explore other bagpipe traditions? Why do drones seem to have a mind of their own? And do tone enhancers actually work?   It's a mailbag episode! This week, Andrew and Jim tackle another round of listener questions, covering everything from grade progression and competition mindset to drone troubleshooting and equipment myths. Along the way, they explain why focusing on what you can control is one of the fastest ways to improve, and why social media popularity isn't always a reliable measure of piping ability.   Here's what we cover in this episode:   00:00 – Catching up before another mailbag session 00:37 – Listener questions: what's on pipers' minds this week? 02:28 – Moving up to Grade 4: choosing tunes and knowing when you're ready 04:25 – Are Grade 3 tunes actually more difficult than Grade 4? 06:50 – What solo competitions are really judging (and what they aren't) 13:34 – Why focusing on controllable factors

How much music theory does a bagpiper really need? In this week's Friday Strike-In, Andrew and Carl dig into what "music theory" actually means for pipers, and why you may already know more than you think. Along the way they cover practical tuning advice, playing with other instruments, bagpipe notation software, and finish with a lighthearted brainstorm of bagpipe-inspired baby names. . Here's what we cover this week:0:00 – What is music theory for bagpipers?4:45 – Playing with other instruments and concert pitch16:03 – The circle of fifths: useful or unnecessary?17:30 – How to tune your chanter to your drones29:17 – The best bagpipe music notation apps34:21 – Community Q&A: drumming, summer schools, Dojo history & tune player fixes39:58 – The best (and worst) bagpipe-inspired baby names 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

Piobaireachd has a reputation for being ancient, mysterious, and governed by strict traditions. But how much of what we think we know about this music is actually history... and how much is simply the result of chance? In Part 2 of their Introduction to Piobaireachd series, Andrew and Jim explore the remarkable journey of piobaireachd through the collapse of the clan system, the aftermath of Culloden, and its unlikely revival during the Industrial Revolution. Along the way, they uncover how competitions, wealthy patrons, early music publishing, and even printing errors helped shape the tradition we know today. Rather than there being a single "correct" way to play piobaireachd, the music has always evolved through interpretation, adaptation, and the personalities of the great players who passed it on. If you've ever worried about getting piobaireachd "right," this episode might completely change your perspective. Here's what we cover in this episode: 00:00 – Toyota Corolla vs. Camry: an unexpected cold

Ever wondered why bagpipes are tuned "wrong" on purpose?   This week, Andrew and Carl answer your piping questions on everything from why high A isn't actually tuned perfectly, to bagad bands, high-altitude piping, reversed-handed playing, fixing sharp high Gs, and the mystery of an unexpected E pickup in one of piping's classic tunes.   Here's what we cover this week: 0:00 – Why bagpipes are tuned to the drones, not equal temperament 2:38 – The science behind high A and why pipers flatten it
 9:50 – Why top bands "cheat" notes like D, F and B
 12:23 – Teaching young pipers the right tuning habits
 15:12 – Playing with bagad bands and different chanter pitches
 16:43 – The history of bagad bands and Breton piping
 19:42 – What Scottish and Breton pipe bands have in common
 21:25 – Should you learn to play with the opposite hand?
 26:55 – How to use a manometer correctly
 28:59 – Fixing a sharp high G: where to start


Sometimes the best piping stories start with a simple question: “Can you bring your pipes?”   Not all of them end up playing on a rooftop with NFL legends, becoming a viral sensation playing alongside Grimace, or partying with the 60,000-strong Tartan Army though…   This week, Andrew and Jim are joined by Matt McArthur – a Quincy, Massachusetts-based piper, comedian, and longtime friend of Andrew’s from their days studying under legendary piper Donald Lindsay at Invermark Piping School in 1998.   Matt tells us how a throwaway joke at a comedy show escalated into national TV appearances, NFL legends, and becoming the unofficial mascot of the Tartan Army. From piping on a penthouse rooftop alongside Gronk and Julian Edelman, appearing in a White Claw ad he didn’t know he was part of, and having a dance-off with Grimace, this is one World Cup adventure you won’t believe.   We also talk about the power of just getting the pipes out and playing for people – because som

Ever feel like your pipes have gone from a passion to a chore? On this week's Q&A session, Andrew and Carl tackle your questions about keeping the passion alive, avoiding piping burnout, setting up your practice space, getting the most from your reeds, recording yourself, and more. Here's what we cover this week: 0:00 – Dealing with bagpipe burnout 6:50 – Getting ahead of burnout before it starts 6:50 – Is your practice room too small? 11:32 – How much should you play your band reed? 17:18 – Making the most of the Tartan Army's viral moment 20:02 – Multi-track recording tips 24:08 – The moose valve disaster 27:10 – Will live audio judging catch on at more competitions? 31:33 – Why competition results can take time to appear Want to join our weekly Q&A sessions live, or get your piping questions answered? Check out our membership options: https://pipersdojo.com/store  

Most pipers know that bagpipes don’t always play nicely with other instruments. But why is that? And is there actually a simple way to fix it?   This week, Andrew and Jim revisit how to tune bagpipes to other instruments, diving back into 'just' vs 'equal' temperament to explain why the Great Highland Bagpipe sits so far away from concert pitch, and what that means when you try to play with guitars, pianos, or other instruments.   Exploring everything from the physics of pitch and the history of how the bagpipe ended up being called an “A” instrument, to pitch creep, B-flat chanters, and practical ways to bridge the gap, they discuss the idea that playing with other musicians is really just a matter of understanding the “currency conversion” between bagpipe pitch and the rest of the musical world.   Here’s what we cover in this episode:  00:00 – Why don’t bagpipes sound good with other instruments? The pitch problem explained  01:43 – The drone dilemma – why the bagpip

Real Feedback Month has officially kicked off at Dojo U! On this week's Q&A session, we explain how to get the most out of this special monthly theme, then dive into our regularly scheduled burning piping questions, covering a range of topics including competition etiquette, chanter reeds, tone enhancers, tuning habits, and more. Here's what we cover this week: 0:00 – Real Feedback Month begins 2:28 – Recording and submission tips 11:57 – Sunglasses at competitions 17:38 – Rubber bands on chanter reeds 22:37 – What to do with a reed that's too hard 26:00 – The D throw and teaching methods 32:18 – Tone enhancers: pros and cons 40:12 – Starting drone tuning from sharp 43:12 – An unexpected Isle of Skye story Want to participate in Real Feedback Month, or join our weekly Q&A sessions live? It's never too late to get started! Check out our membership options: https://pipersdojo.com/store