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Can you get away with skipping drone tuning when you've only got 30 minutes to practise?

This week, Andrew and Jim tackle a practical question about making the most of limited practice time. They discuss why tuning matters, how to break it into manageable steps, and why most stamina issues come down to air efficiency rather than lung capacity. Plus, they ask whether some pipers are more interested in the bagpipe persona than the music itself.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

00:00 – Perception, reality and whether we can ever truly know what others experience
04:00 – What AI might miss about human communication
07:35 – The miracle of digital audio: how bagpipe sound travels 2,000 miles
14:13 – Can you practise without tuning your drones if you only have 30 minutes?
16:33 – The out-of-tune guitar: why tuning matters
20:00 – Bagpipe persona: are you playing for the music or the aesthetic?
29:06 – Practical tuning solutions
33:10 – Stamina problems: why air efficiency matters more than lung capacity
34:30 – Finding more practice time 
36:25 – Can a tuner app get you close enough? Yes — but trust your ears, too

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: how to handle distractions and the judge watching you 
• 24:01 – Getting your band engaged with Dojo U: where to start with a Band Corps subscription 
• 25:21 – Making online learning part of band practice with short weekly lessons 
• 31:09 – Motivating your band: why applause alone won’t encourage people to practise

   

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 changes as you develop as a piper
• 16:36 – Sheepskin bag maintenance: why your bag neck keeps drying out
• 17:16 – Seasoning mistake #1: not getting it hot enough
• 18:30 – Seasoning mistake #2: not applying enough pressure
• 20:20 – Why Andrew swears by sheepskin bags, despite the extra work
• 20:48 – The brave pigeon of Glasgow Green at the Worlds
• 25:20 – Pigeon superpowers: infrasound, 0.5 Hz, and the science of bird hearing
• 26:14 – Finding the music right in front of you

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
• 11:34 – Blackwood chanter care: playing regularly, oiling and avoiding cracks
• 14:40 – Piobaireachd time signatures: do 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 actually matter?
• 20:40 – Finding your light music groove: podcasts, Celtic bands, Worlds medleys and more
• 23:07 – BBC dropping Worlds coverage: what could replace it?
• 24:37 – Drone bore tool marks and wood grain: what’s normal, and does bore smoothness affect tone?

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 playing
4:11 – Does low G tape affect other notes? Understanding cross-note effects
6:01 – Installing stocks in a zipperless hide bag: tips, tricks and common methods
13:36 – Finding bagpipe gigs: weddings, funerals, networking and online listings
17:33 – Reed pokers and mandrels: can they extend the life of a dying reed?
24:41 – Hide bags: zipper or no zipper, and choosing the right bag size
27:20 – Keeping younger players engaged: giving new pipers meaningful roles and responsibilities

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 cowhide
3:10 – Hide bags with zippers: grommets, tie-ins and the easiest setup
11:26 – Stocks in a zipperless bag: what you need to know
11:47 – Drone reed calibration vs. strike-in: getting your drones to start together
23:10 – Spinning stocks: what they reveal about leaks and loose tie-ins
30:55 – Cold tuning before a gig: keeping your pipes stable between warm-up and performance
40:11 – French snare harnesses: the counterbalance design used by top bands
41:42 – Where should you look when competing? Staying focused under pressure

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 strategy
13:40 – Why low A is your tuning reference point
17:21 – Do beginners really need to balance the chanter? Plus the Scotland the Brave test
19:14 – Getting back into piping after time away: where should you start?
23:07 – The piper development pyramid: immersion and small daily actions
30:13 – Band-jumping season: when should you consider switching bands?
33:52 – Inverted bass drone reeds: the pros and cons 
38:06 – Drones with a different-bore middle tenor: what happens to your tuning?
39:25 – How should you store new cane reeds? Humidity, drawers and storage devices
42:34 – New reeds arriving completely dry: how to hydrate and test them

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 explained
7:04 – Small vs. extended small bags: what actually changes?
22:06 – Why does your blowstick pop out? Tie-ins, ball joints and DIY fixes
26:33 – When should you throw out a chanter reed? The backup reed rule
30:02 – Understanding Grade One medleys: bridges, transitions and reprises
34:50 – Worlds tickets for next year: what to expect
35:35 – High A squealing: is it the reed, the player or the sweet spot?
41:44 – Band jumping season: is anyone thinking about switching bands?

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
33:10 – Carbon fibre vs. other drone reed materials
35:57 – Does the wood used in your drones make a difference?

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 returns
05:06 – The rules of "Guess the Decade"
07:16 – Sample #1
12:45 – Sample #2
15:11 – Sample #3
16:50 – Sample #4
22:53 – Sample #5
27:02 – Sample #6
28:54 – Sample #7
33:39 – Sample #8
36:09 – Sample #9
39:00 – 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 speed
00:57 – Warm-up technique: building the tune in small chunks
01:15 – What tends to break down at speed: crossing noises, grace notes and rhythm
08:47 – How bouncing between tempos changes your perception of speed
09:15 – Why rhythm training can take time to adjust to
19:35 – Adding foot-tapping in single time vs. double time
23:19 – How fast should a reel actually be played? Band vs. solo tempos
30:14 – How your perception of "slow" and "fast" resets after a pause
32:04 – Deliberately going very fast to reset your perception of tempo
40:16 – Finding "the groove" instead of simply hitting the metronome click
42:51 – Wrap-up: prioritising groove over mechanical execution

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 up
04:40 – The question: how do we get more out of our bagpipes?
06:13 – What "power" actually means: volume, punch, response, and cracking notes
09:26 – Efficiency: minimum input for maximum output
12:17 – Choosing a reed for the kind of power you actually need
15:15 – Become an air molecule: join us on Andrew's Magic School Bus
19:24 – Following the air from the mouthpiece through the blowpipe joint
24:42 – Finding leaks with hemp, Teflon tape, rubber corks, and a little persistence
27:43 – Into the bag: stocks, tie-ins, zippers, seams, and sneaky leaks
29:57 – Andrew's extreme leak test – and why you probably shouldn't kneel on your pipes
33:55 – Eliminating air leaks systematically
41:51 – Reed seats: why a loose reed is a deal breaker
43:52 – Drone reed nose cones, two-part bodies, and other places air can escape
45:51 – Moisture and reeds
50:24 – Calibrating drone reeds for minimum air consumption
53:38 – Why equal air across all three drones matters
55:25 – Using condensation to diagnose reed calibration problems
57:32 – The second-order factors: tuning, rhythmic accuracy, and mastery
58:55 – What computer chips, electricity grids, and bagpipes have in common
1:02:02 – Why power is really a byproduct of mastery
1:05:03 – Wrap-up

 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 leads to better performances 
• 16:09 – Social media popularity versus genuine piping progress
• 20:42 – Should competitive Highland pipers branch into bagad or other bagpipe traditions?
• 33:43 – Why drones sometimes turn themselves back on after you've shut them off
• 58:32 – The unexpected Truman Show connection, final thoughts, and outro

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 pitch
16:03 – The circle of fifths: useful or unnecessary?
17:30 – How to tune your chanter to your drones
29:17 – The best bagpipe music notation apps
34:21 – Community Q&A: drumming, summer schools, Dojo history & tune player fixes
39:58 – 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 open
• 02:16 – Picking up where Part 1 left off
• 02:38 – Why feeling intimidated by piobaireachd is completely normal
• 03:18 – The origins of piobaireachd and the legend of the MacCrimmons
• 04:33 – Hereditary pipers and the role of piobaireachd in the clan system
• 05:23 – Culloden and the collapse of Highland society
• 06:23 – The banning of the pipes and Highland dress
• 07:02 – How the Industrial Revolution unexpectedly helped save piobaireachd
• 07:46 – Wealthy patrons, Highland societies, and the early revival movement
• 08:59 – The beginning of the modern piobaireachd revival
• 10:04 – When tartan became fashionable
• 10:49 – The first Falkirk piping competition
• 11:59 – How competitions shaped modern piping
• 14:14 – Canntaireachd: the earliest attempts to write piobaireachd down
• 14:33 – Angus Mackay and the birth of modern notation
• 16:49 – Why Mackay became the defining authority on piobaireachd
• 19:46 – Bringing piobaireachd to the printing press
• 23:44 – Why old piobaireachd scores look so compressed
• 25:32 – Crowdfunding music publishing in the 1800s
• 27:38 – Printing mistakes, human error, and accidental traditions
• 29:34 – Did clan politics influence which tunes survived?
• 32:19 – Why there will probably never be one definitive interpretation
• 33:26 – Piobaireachd as the original jazz
• 35:36 – Why the greatest players always leave room for interpretation
• 37:50 – Why Andrew teaches the variations before the ground
• 39:47 – Understanding giosh and siubhal variations
• 40:55 – Taorluath and crunluath explained
• 42:18 – Recognising phrase patterns and the Intro to Piobaireachd course
• 45:30 – Are we actually making musical progress?
• 47:39 – Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and the strange history of "air bathing"
• 49:53 – Authenticity versus connecting with modern audiences
• 53:30 – Final thoughts: preserving tradition without freezing it in time

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
 33:09 – What happens to your pipes at high altitude?
 34:31 – Learning the Sardinian launeddas
 35:55 – How to tell a hornpipe from a reel
 41:33 – Indiana Jones, bagpipes, and pop culture
 42:38 – The mysterious E pickup in The Maids of the Black Glen and why sheet music doesn't tell the whole story   Want to join our weekly Q&A sessions live, or get your piping questions answered? Check out our membership options: https://pipersdojo.com/store

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 sometimes the strangest gigs lead to the best stories (and opportunities!).  

Here’s what we cover in this episode: 

• 00:00 – “So you met Grimace…” 
 
• 01:41 – Introducing Matt: bagpiper, comedian, and accidental “sports ball legend”
 
• 02:50 – How Matt ended up at the centre of Boston’s World Cup celebrations
 
• 08:00 – The random bar gig that started it all
 
• 11:20 – The Tennent’s shortage and the White Claw twist
 
• 18:30 – BBC Scotland goes viral: “The Americans don’t even know the World Cup is here”
 
• 20:00 – Learning the songs the Tartan Army actually want to hear
 
• 21:00 – The casting call that led to a rooftop TV appearance
 
• 23:55 – Playing live on national TV, 100 feet up!
 
• 28:11 – “No Scotland, No Party” 
 
• 30:00 – Meeting Grimace and accidentally becoming part of an ad campaign
 
• 31:37 – The big takeaway: just go play for people

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 bagpipe is locked into its harmonic world 
• 02:56 – The 40 Hz gap – how far the GHB sits above concert pitch 
• 06:26 – Why is the bagpipe called an “A” instrument anyway? 
• 07:36 – Angus Mackay, Highland Societies, and the story of written piping music 
• 12:47 – Historical pitch and why the bagpipe was probably never really at concert A 
• 20:08 – Pitch creep – how competition culture pushed the pipes higher 
• 22:52 – The B-flat chanter experiment – and why the drones complicate things 
• 25:26 – The core problem: the bagpipe A isn’t the same A as everyone else’s 
• 27:24 – How to make bagpipes work with other instruments: the practical solutions 
• 31:55 – Guitar hacks, capos, and meeting the pipes where they are 
• 33:14 – Digital pianos, transposition, and instant pitch adjustments 
• 34:54 – Thinking in B-flat: translating bagpipe music into concert language 
• 39:25 – How to transpose bagpipe scores for other musicians 
• 41:37 – Backing tracks, DAWs, and Andrew’s favourite workflow 
• 44:39 – The currency conversion analogy – understanding the exchange rate 
• 47:14 – Could we just go higher instead? The case for B and beyond 
• 48:25 – The big takeaway: communicating pitch is the real unlock 
• 50:32 – Just intonation vs equal temperament revisited

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

Most advice about becoming a better musician sounds simple enough. But is any of it actually useful?

This week, Andrew and Jim work through an article by a veteran bass player and music journalist who offers five tips for becoming a better musician. Exploring everything from self-promotion and procrastination to talent, bravery, and the appeal of "getting back to basics", they take a few tangents (as per usual) into the tenets of stoicism and the ways musicians often try to avoid the work they already know they need to do.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• 00:00 – The article, the author, and why his advice caught our attention
• 03:02 – Tip #1: Embrace the Hustle – networking, reputation, and why relationships matter
• 11:25 – What Would Ken Do? – lessons in community, generosity, and positive influence
• 12:03 – Tip #2: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone – overcoming procrastination and adapting when life gets busy
• 15:58 – Seneca has joined the chat – uncertainty, stoicism, and taking action now
• 21:58 – Tip #3: Talent Is Overrated – natural ability versus consistent effort
• 32:34 – Tip #4: Be Brave – why trying new things gets easier once you start
• 35:31 – Tip #5: Back to Basics – musical reinvention, fundamentals, and finding your roots
• 45:07 – Shortcuts, shiny objects, and why improvement usually comes back to doing the work

This week on Dojo U’s "Strike-In" Q&A, Andrew and Carl launch our special "Real Feedback Month" – you can join Dojo U before June 5th for a free 30-day trial and get direct feedback on your real summer repertoire through live critiques, recording reviews, and 15+ weekly classes designed to get your piping performance-ready for the season ahead.

They also tackle listener questions on chanter tuning, synthetic reeds, blowing efficiency, recording gear, pitch standards, and more. Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 – June’s Real Feedback Month: how it will work and how to get involved

04:43 – Fixing a chronically sharp high G: warmups, carving myths, reed positioning, moisture control systems, and alternative chanter modifications 14:03 – Synthetic chanter reeds: thoughts on the Highland Bagpipe SureFire reed, why synthetic drone reeds have succeeded more easily, and what’s still missing from synthetic chanter technology 19:20 – Reed gurgling on E: what causes it, why overblowing is usually the main issue, and how reed strength affects stability 25:27 – Puffing your cheeks while playing: why it happens, whether it’s a problem, and how it relates to blowing mechanics 28:40 – Recording gear and adapters: getting the Zoom IQ7 working with USB-C devices and why cable quality matters 30:14 – Current limitations of AI transcription for bagpipe content 32:00 – Acceptable low A pitch frequencies: why 480 Hz can be completely normal depending on weather and conditions

34:40 – Wrap-up and sign-off

Pìobaireachd can feel intimidating for so many pipers… so why do the people who fall in love with it become completely obsessed?

In this first episode of a new multi-part series, Andrew and Jim explore the historic, musical and sometimes mysterious world of pìobaireachd (piob mhòr, the big music, or “peeb-rock”) — the classical music of the Great Highland Bagpipe.

They unpack the myths, traditions, gatekeeping, history, and genuine beauty surrounding the art form, while making the case that piob isn’t just for elite competitors or music scholars. It’s a completely different way of experiencing music on the pipes. They explore why piob can feel so inaccessible at first, the parallels between tradition and storytelling, and why learning even a little pìobaireachd can fundamentally change the way you hear and play the instrument.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:
00:00 – Introducing piping’s forbidden dinner-table topic
00:40 – Why pìobaireachd can feel like a secret society (and why that barrier exists)
02:20 – The psychology of exclusivity and piob as a “club” within piping
04:30 – Inside Andrew’s massive Dojo pìobaireachd course and how it was built
07:00 – Why your apprehension about piob is completely normal
09:00 – Piob vs light music: why the experience feels fundamentally different
16:00 – What the Urlar (ground) actually is and how variations are constructed
17:45 – How simple melodies evolve into elaborate musical “finger fireworks”
18:30 – The MacCrimmon legend, the Skye school, and the mythology surrounding piob origins
21:00 – Teacher lineage and the idea of tracing musical ancestry
22:30 – Piob as “bagpipers’ religion”: storytelling, tradition, and the mystery factor
28:00 – Gatekeeping, authority, and why modern piob culture is slowly becoming more open
32:00 – Tradition as a guide rather than a prison: descriptive vs prescriptive teaching
36:00 – Why even “boring” piob deserves an open mind — plus a preview of next episode’s deep dive into history and the legendary black chanter

This week on Dojo U’s "Strike-In" Q&A, Andrew and Carl tackle students' top-voted questions covering everything from competition tempos and reed setup to drone threading, posture, and grading standards.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Welcome & intro
• 00:07 – Threading drone reed seats: the pros, cons, and ongoing debate. Does it change the sound? Is it reversible? And should you do it on vintage or high-end pipes?
• 07:00 – What actually separates the grades? A practical breakdown of Grade 5 through Professional, including what players should realistically be aiming for at each level
• 14:40 – Using the Two-Week Tune of the Week process for competition prep: applying the freedom phase approach to building and polishing solo or band repertoire
• 19:10 – Andrew’s move to St. Andrew’s College: will he continue playing with Inveraray? A look at how yearly “renewals” work and what he shared during the interview process
• 21:30 – Do bagpipes make people look better in photos and videos? Why posture matters more than you think, and the four key points that change everything
• 23:58 – What’s a safe tempo for a Grade 4 2/4 march? Live metronome demos using Siege of Delhi, Iron Division, and Prince Charles, plus why groove matters more than raw BPM
• 33:00 – Decoding judge feedback on tempo: how to turn “too fast” or “too slow” comments into practical adjustments
• 33:54 – Willie’s Glenfiddich tempo check: Mike’s rule that Grade 4 players probably shouldn’t be playing faster than 58 BPM
• 33:52 – Adding phase-passing recordings to Dojo-U congratulation posts: logistics, community feedback, and possible improvements
• 35:12 – Reed selection: when is a reed truly bad, and when is it just a poor match for your setup? Including the “90% rule” for chanter and drone reeds
• 37:57 – Why trial and error is still the best teacher: how running a band, experimenting with chanters, and buying cheap used gear speeds up learning
• 39:52 – Reed humidity prep: Andrew’s Ziploc bag and cigar humidification pack method for conditioning reeds before testing
• 41:30 – Hygrometer accuracy: why Andrew replaced his old hygrometers, and how unreliable readings can quietly sabotage your setup

What if the reason your pipes sound incredible on their own… is the exact reason they clash with everything else?

This week, Andrew and Jim dig into one of the most fascinating (and frustrating) realities of bagpiping: why the instrument’s beautiful, locked-in sound can feel completely at odds with a piano, organ, or other orchestral instruments.

It all comes down to two competing systems of tuning – so buckle in for a music nerd deep dive into just intonation vs equal temperament, why they are often at odds with each other, and what you can actually do about it in real playing situations.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:
00:00 – Perfect intervals and the bagpipe’s unique tuning identity
00:22 – Intros, hats, and an unexpected Albany geography tangent
05:49 – Just vs equal temperament: what are we actually talking about?
08:03 – Why the drone locks bagpipes into just tuning
13:21 – A practical demo using 100 Hz to explain pure intervals
17:00 – The ratios behind the bagpipe scale (B, C#, D, E, F#, G)
22:32 – Equal temperament explained: 12 equal slices of the octave
27:01 – The trade-off: why “in tune” sometimes means slightly out
30:38 – Bagpipe vs piano in real numbers (e.g. C# at 600 vs 604.7 Hz)
32:27 – The biggest clashes: why high G and low G hurt the most
33:09 – Splitting the difference: practical tuning compromises
35:04 – Can digital instruments meet the bagpipe halfway?
35:45 – The hidden truth: even great pianos aren’t perfectly “in tune”
37:11 – Why pure intervals are so addictive (and ruin everything else)
41:38 – Do B-flat chanters fix the problem?
43:47 – Finding your place on the just ↔ equal temperament spectrum

This week on Dojo U’s "Strike-In" Q&A, Andrew and Carl dig into everything from reed disasters and confusing judges’ comments to tuning, piobaireachd mindset, and band dynamics.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Exhibit D: introducing the new segment breaking down piping-related social media images
• 01:25 – A crushed, darkened reed: what it reveals about mold, storage, and poor setup habits
• 06:18 – Another smashed reed: how it happens (yes, the chanter cork) and a simple pre-play check to avoid it
• 10:01 – Matching shirts Q&A: “Who’s the nice one?” (inspired by Ed Best)
• 12:45 – Piobaireachd: is it more about mental endurance or technique?
• 20:38 – “Pipes tuned too close”: making sense of confusing or contradictory judge feedback
• 27:46 – Struggling to hear locked-in drones: how to actually develop your ear (and why it never really ends)
• 37:20 – Favourite places to play: from the World’s to the band hall when everything clicks
• 40:56 – Demoting players in a band: how to handle it clearly, fairly, and without unnecessary friction
• 46:00 – Blowing inconsistencies at band: what helps, what doesn’t, and why the real work happens at home

What if trying to be relaxed when you play is actually a kind of denial – one that could affect your overall development as a piper?

This week, Andrew and Jim explore what real control and calm actually look like in practice, why rushing and cramping show up when they do, and how many players end up stuck in a kind of “false chill” that can limit progress.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• 00:30 – Why “just relax” isn’t helpful advice
• 01:10 – The myth of the chill player (and a Bob Marley detour)
• 01:36 – The chill–tension continuum: finding your baseline
• 05:29 – Recording anxiety and the tendency to rush
• 06:05 – Hand cramping and fears around focal dystonia
• 06:46 – Stuart Liddell’s playing and the sound of real ease
• 09:57 – Reactive vs proactive rhythm: why rushing happens
• 10:59 – “Pretending to be relaxed” – spotting avoidance
• 11:16 – How responsibility changes your relationship to “chill”
• 12:51 – Pre-chill, false chill, and what’s really going on
• 13:34 – Why most “chill” is actually denial
• 14:58 – Pre-chill vs post-chill: earning relaxation
• 16:39 – What genuine relaxation actually feels like
• 19:40 – Posture, tension, and diagnosing cramping
• 25:02 – “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” in real practice
• 26:16 – Is it fast playing, or just well-controlled?
• 28:22 – The “victory lap” trick: can you fake relaxation?
• 28:45 – Avoiding avoidance: the real solution
• 35:40 – Preparation vs relaxation in great players
• 37:33 – Competition chaos: making it up mid-performance
• 38:27 – A practical action plan: record, assess, adjust
• 40:34 – What “wealth” looks like in your playing
• 41:13 – Finger tension: finding the balance

This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In Q&A, Andrew and Carl tackle a wide range of piping questions – from chanter choices and reed behaviour to rhythm fundamentals, travel tips, and getting the most out of your Dojo membership. Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Poly vs. blackwood chanters: are plastic chanters becoming the new standard?
• 04:12 – Retuning on the fly: what to listen for when your drones drift mid-performance
• 06:38 – Tapping your foot while playing: why it’s harder than it sounds (and how to build it)
• 12:32 – Why reeds change day to day: consistency, moisture, and the real culprit
• 21:30 – Teaching beginners: should you learn all 11 Commandments of Mastery?
• 24:17 – Flying with your pipes: what you actually need (and what you don’t)
• 37:28 – Submitting recordings for feedback: how to get the most from Dojo coaching
• 39:41 – Basic vs. Premium: what solo pipers unlock with a premium membership

Should you be messing with your chanter reeds?   

This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of reed manipulation — pinching, licking, shaving, bridling, and everything in between. Are these habits actually helping your playing, or just creating more problems?  

Reed tweaks can feel like quick fixes. But as Andrew and Jim explore, most of them are temporary, inconsistent, and quietly destructive. Drawing on personal experience (and a few cautionary tales), they unpack why so many pipers reach for manipulation in the first place — and what to do instead.  

Here’s what we cover in this episode: 

• 00:12 – Skateboarding, chess, and the joy of being bad at things 
• 03:08 – Why reed manipulation is today’s focus 
• 03:26 – The performance supplements analogy (and the Icarus connection) 
• 08:57 – Reeds as precision instruments: why less is more 
• 15:23 – Why all manipulation is (technically) destructive 
• 17:56 – Buying hard reeds to shave down: risk vs reward 
• 22:57 – “If it ain’t broke…” (and why no one listens) 
• 24:55 – Pinching: what it does and how long it lasts 
• 29:35 – The real reason pipers manipulate reeds 
• 32:46 – Licking: pitch, vibration, and moisture science 
• 38:23 – Bridling: the “perma pinch” trade-offs 
• 39:57 – Reverse pinch / poking: opening the reed 
• 40:24 – Shaving: when (if ever) it makes sense 
• 45:07 – Jim’s lunch break experiment: resisting the urge 
• 47:05 – Reed rituals: superstition, habit, and hidden benefits 
• 50:02 – Final thoughts and why Icarus is worth a watch

This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In, Andrew flies solo to answer a wide range of student questions, from solo playing tips to tenor reed management, pitch standards, finding a practice space after moving, and more.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Solo playing insights
• 03:55 – Changing tenor reeds: one at a time or both? (plus transitioning from synthetic to cane)
• 10:37 – Practicing full pipes in a small apartment after moving (and piping vs married life)
• 15:28 – How high is too high? Understanding pitch standards for bands and solos
• 23:02 – Do you have to join a band? Navigating limited local options
• 26:30 – Piping in Scottish schools: professionalism, curriculum, and the SQA
• 29:31 – Squeezing arm movement: when is it a red flag?
• 30:50 – Fixing hemp stuck in the chanter seat when removing a reed
• 33:18 – Practice chanter priorities: moisture control vs realistic spacing
• 34:21 – Drones in battle: cardio benefit or myth? (history + debate)
• 35:56 – Returning to traditional gear: where to start with hide bags and cane reeds
• 36:29 – Cleaning and polishing your piping shoes (quick-fire tip)

Ever felt your heart race, your hands shake, or your mind go blank before playing? This episode will help you understand why... and what to actually do about it.   Nerves can feel paralysing for pipers (or any performer). But they're a natural part of performance, and when understood properly they can become one of your greatest tools as a musician.   This week, Andrew and Jim dig into why performing feels so different from the practice room, drawing on insights from violinist and educator Maggie Watson. They explore how perception shapes physiology, why even highly trained players can feel more nervous than beginners, and what separates practice from performance as two completely different disciplines.   Here’s what we cover in this episode: 02:13 – Why performance nerves are today’s focus 03:11 – “I have thoughts, but I’m fallible” – Andrew’s disclaimer 04:41 – Why performance feels different from practice (Maggie Watson) 09:23 – Practice vs performance: two separate skill sets 10:40 – The lava pit analogy: how stakes change everything 14:51 – How perception drives physical response 15:04 – Why better players often feel more nervous 17:08 – Audience perception: competition vs parade mindset 22:36 – Why “just calm down” doesn’t work 23:21 – Reframing nerves as readiness 27:25 – Mental rehearsal and worst-case scenarios 28:35 – Simulating pressure at home (Jim’s Facebook Live approach) 29:56 – Quick strategies: breathing, body scans, reframing 30:14 – The real solution: practicing under pressure 30:36 – The one take rule and performance-style practice 36:22 – Alter egos: Sasha Fierce to Piper Supreme 39:42 – Performance rituals: kilts, tuning, and focus 43:40 – “Knowing the tunes is not enough” 46:31 – Performance as its own discipline 49:38 – Testing yourself under pressure

Getting better at piping isn’t about chasing every new piece of gear — it’s about understanding how your instruments, your ears, and your environment all work together.

This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In, Andrew and Carl tackle student questions on cane drone reeds, ear training, synthetic chanter reeds, competition judging, and more practical piping topics. 

Here's what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Old cane reeds vs buying new
• 06:33 – Cane season, setups, and batch buying
• 10:00 – When cane won’t cooperate (weather and ageing)
• 12:45 – Championship-winning reeds nostalgia
• 15:20 – Training your ear to understand judges
• 18:00 – Should score sheets be public?
• 20:10 – Why not to stress about ear training
• 23:30 – Synthetic chanter reeds — challenges and demand
• 27:00 – Ridge-cut reeds feeling easier after warm-up
• 29:45 – Member directory: privacy vs connection
• 31:30 – Ideal 6/8 tempo for drum majors
• 33:20 – Efficient drone reeds for lighter setups
• 35:00 – Do quartets improve band unison?
• 38:30 – Instructor misconceptions in the piping community
• 41:00 – Getting friends interested in bagpipes

Rhythm isn’t just about keeping time. It’s about understanding how music moves – and learning to control that movement note by note, beat by beat.

Welcome back to part 2 of our episodes about piping's most fundamental skill: rhythm. Andrew and Jim continue exploring the foundations of rhythmic understanding for bagpipers. They dig into how rhythm actually works in practice: how beats organize music, how tempo shapes space between notes, and why so many piping technique problems are really timing problems in disguise.

If you’re serious about improving your timing, we'll give you a better understanding of how rhythm underpins everything from basic marches to the most complex piping repertoire.

Want to learn how to master rhythm yourself? Check out our Rhythm for Bagpipers course: https://www.pipersdojo.university/rhythm-for-bagpipers

And you can check out the Victor Wooten video we mention in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1fhVLVF_4

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 00:23 – Defining Rhythm: How Musical Events Are Arranged Over Time
• 04:13 – What Is a Beat? Understanding Regularly Recurring Pulses
• 06:24 – Beat Notes and Playing on the Beat
• 10:02 – Tempo: The Rate of Musical Events and Time Between Beats
• 12:26 – Why the Space Between Notes Matters
• 13:44 – “Bull Crap Pipers” and the Wiggle & Hope Approach
• 16:30 – The D Throw Deep Dive: Light vs Heavy (and the Secret Third Option)
• 20:49 – Victor Wooten and Rhythm as a Lifelong Journey
• 23:53 – Process-Based Skills: Adjusting Beat by Beat
• 25:59 – What Is Groove? The Lowest Common Denominator
• 28:27 – Groove vs Beat: The Pattern Behind the Music
• 30:56 – Quarter Notes as the Foundation

 

Getting your setup right isn’t about endlessly changing gear – it’s about understanding what actually affects your sound and comfort.

This week on Dojo U's Friday Strike-In, Andrew and Carl answer students' burning piping questions, covering everything from bag choice and posture to competition judging and drone reed lifespan.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Bag Size & Posture: Does bag size affect blowing and squeezing cadence?
• 04:41 – Hide vs Synthetic Bags: Tone differences and installation methods
• 12:00 – Tying In Bags: Timing and humidity considerations
• 15:40 – Competition Judging: When does judging end in Piobaireachd?
• 19:10 – Blair Chanter & Ergo 2 Review
• 20:45 – High G Problems: Why it starts sharp and carving the High A hole
• 29:00 – Time Guru Metronome App Review
• 32:30 – Tenor Midsections: Does mixing them up matter?
• 35:00 – Tuning Game Updates & Learning Tips
• 37:30 – Drone Reed Maintenance: When to replace synthetic reeds

What is grade 5 actually for?

This week, Andrew and Jim answer a seemingly innocuous listener question about whether grade 5 bands should use hard reeds or easy reeds. As they discuss the pros and cons of blowing stability and reed strength, they launch into a deeper discussion of growth, retention, culture, and why so many struggling bands are trying to force competitive intensity at exactly the wrong stage. 

If you’re running a Grade 5 band, building a beginner program, or wondering why progression feels like wading through molasses, the future of your organisation won't be built by squeezing more out of a small group. It’s built by creating a space where a lot of beginners want to show up and keep coming back.

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – “Primordial Soup”
02:23 – The Listener Question: Hard Reeds vs. Easy Reeds
03:50 – The Core Question: How Does a Grade 5 Band Become Grade 4?
06:00 – Losing Star Players
08:00 – Why Individual Development Is the Only Path Forward
10:30 – Fun as the Primary Objective
12:30 – Relaxing Standards at the Beginner Level
14:30 – The T-Ball Analogy: Exploration Before Competition
19:30 – When Intensity Actually Becomes Appropriate
23:50 – Quantity Over Quality at the Entry Level
24:30 – Geographic Patterns: Why Some Regions Produce Top Bands
29:30 – The Cop-Out of Forcing Hard Reeds
31:00 – Scarcity Mindset vs. Building Abundance
33:30 – How School Programs Change the Numbers
35:30 – The BHAG Question: What If You Had 100 Beginners?
39:00 – Targeted Coaching for the Motivated Few
40:30 – The Bake Sale Metaphor and Creating the Right Environment
43:00 – Avoiding the Grade 5 Intensity Trap

 

Rhythm isn’t just something you add to music. It’s the thing that makes music possible in the first place. In this episode, Andrew and Jim step back from fingerwork and technique to tackle something far more fundamental: rhythm as the organising force of all music, and even of time itself. What starts as a discussion about rhythm for pipers quickly becomes a deeper exploration of pulse, perception, subdivision, and why so many piping problems are actually time problems in disguise. This is part one of a foundational series that reframes rhythm not as a mechanical skill, but as a way of understanding how music moves, breathes, and exists. Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 – Introduction & a Timely Segue 02:26 – What Is Rhythm for Bagpipers, Really? 03:14 – Music as the Art of Time (Not Just Sound) 04:28 – Why Sound Cannot Exist Without Time 08:52 – Piobaireachd and the Subtleties of Time 12:20 – Introducing the Rhythm Course 13:34 – Defining the Big Three: Beat, Tempo, Rhythm 15:03 – Audio Example: Active Child – “Hanging On” 16:49 – What Is a Beat? Definitions and Real-World Examples 21:52 – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (and Why It Matters) 23:35 – Subdivisions and the Infinite Scale of Rhythm 25:00 – Frequency, Pitch, and the Fifth Interval 28:19 – Bagpipe Example: Angus MacColl 31:52 – Why Playing with Audience Clapping Is So Hard 36:00 – Spotting “Time Problems” Disguised as Musical Problems 37:15 – Victor Wooten, the Metronome, and Feel vs. Precision Check out the Victor Wooten video we mention in this episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1fhVLVF_4

Improving your piping isn't about chasing quick fixes; it's about rebuilding your playing from the ground up.

This week in our Q&A session, Andrew and Carl tackle some common (and misunderstood) questions in piping, from drone reed warm-up and finger speed to pibroch traditions and playing with other instruments.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:05 – Do Drone Reeds Need to Warm Up?
• 06:00 – Interactive Player Harmony & Feature Updates
• 06:55 – How to Get Faster Fingers (Without Shortcuts)
• 15:30 – Why Pibroch Players Walk While Playing
• 19:00 – Five Phases to Bagpipe Freedom Course Overview
• 25:10 – Standard vs B-Flat Chanter Explained
• 30:00 – Concert Pitch & Playing with Other Instruments

Exploring another interest isn’t automatically a distraction. It might be the thing that keeps your main passion alive. This week, Andrew and Jim take a listener question about drumming vs. piping and turn it into a wide-ranging (and very relatable) conversation about generalism vs. specialism – why we feel pressure to pick one lane in piping and drumming, whether side interests actually hold us back, and how curiosity, play, and cross-training might be the real long game. Here’s what we cover this week: 00:01 – Banter and a Hand Drum 05:45 – The Listener Question: Will Drumming Hurt My Piping? 06:41 – The Core Fear: If I Split My Focus, Do I Lose My Edge? 07:31 – Ancient Survival vs. Modern Choice: Where Specialisation Comes From 09:31 – Now We Get to Choose — So Why Does It Feel So Hard? 10:26 – Paralysis by Analysis & the Overwhelm of Too Many Options 11:56 – Infinite Choice, Infinite Potential… Infinite Stress 17:42 – When Another Instrument Feels Like a Calling 22:03 – Barrier to Entry vs. Restorative, Fun Activities 23:03 – Discipline vs. Enjoyment: The Tension We All Feel 23:49 – Maybe It’s Not Either/Or — Maybe It’s a Mix 25:00 – Could Drumming Actually Improve Your Piping? 26:25 – The “Range” Idea: Why Generalists Can Thrive in a Specialist World 27:19 – Generalism as a Modern Advantage 29:41 – Cross-Training in the Arts 35:11 – The Gym Analogy: Training Different “Muscle Groups” of Skill 35:34 – How Multiple Passions Create Unexpected Connections 36:10 – Cross-Pollination Between Skills 37:05 – The Plateau Problem with Early Specialisation 38:01 – Pressure on Kids to Pick One Thing Too Soon 40:02 – When Success Turns Into Golden Handcuffs 40:39 – Why the Cost of Trying Something New Is Usually Low 41:29 – The Myth of “World Class” as a Decision-Making Tool 42:47 – Being More Relaxed as a Path to Better Outcomes 45:37 – You Only Go Far If You Actually Enjoy It 48:29 – Notice This: Many Top Players Are Actually Generalists 50:49 – Random Skills That Pay Off Later (Typing Story) 52:37 – So… Does Generalism Triumph?

Enjoy this full recording of the Winter Storm Concert livestream, streamed live on Facebook as part of Winter Storm 2026 – The Pipes and Drums Event in Kansas City at 8pm on Saturday, January 17th, 2026, featuring World Champion Pipers and Drummers from Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada, and the US, pipe bands and ensembles, piping soloists, sizzling Highland drumming, and much more.

This audio was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

High altitude tuning, dry climate disasters, and the great tone enhancer debate take centre stage this week as Andrew and Carl tackle another round of real-world piping problems.

From managing a stubborn high G at elevation to why soaking your reeds is a bad idea in dry environments, the conversation is packed with practical advice you can actually use. Things heat up with a passionate discussion on tone enhancers – including why Carl wants to rip them out of your drones and Andrew is (slightly) more forgiving.

We also dive into memory tricks for tricky pickup notes, the psychology of learning tunes, and whether you really need to take your burls so seriously. The episode wraps with a grounded look at competition score sheets and how to read judge feedback without spiralling.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
• 00:00 – High G Hole Tuning at Elevation
• 07:30 – Moisture Management in Dry Climates
• 12:00 – Plastic Bag Storage & Humidity Control
• 19:00 – When Your Mid Tenor Drone Won’t Stay Off
• 23:00 – The Great Tone Enhancer Debate
• 28:00 – Graduating from Tone Enhancers
• 31:00 – Balance Tone Drones (Andrew Admits Ken Was Right… Sort Of)
• 33:00 – Why Pickup Notes Are Easy to Forget
• 40:00 – The Deer on the Road Analogy for Learning Tunes
• 43:00 – The Great Burl Consistency Question
• 48:00 – Reading Competition Score Sheets Without Overreacting

What if you could level up your piping – within 6 months?

This week, Andrew and Jim lay out a complete week by week training blueprint designed to take you into next season feeling calm, confident, and genuinely prepared.

Whether you’re aiming to move up a grade, make the band, or simply play better than you did last year, this episode gives you a clear path forward.

They break down exactly how top pipers structure their year, build tempo in a sustainable way, stay accountable, and avoid the last-minute panic that so many of us know too well. From setting up your “sacred practice space” to surviving life’s inevitable interruptions, this is a practical, no-nonsense guide to real progress.

6 months from now, you could be wishing you’d started… or you could be walking into the season feeling unstoppable.

Check out the 6-month plan here: https://www.pipersdojo.university/6monthplan

Here's what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – The coffee analogy
• 00:30 – Failure to plan is planning to fail
• 00:40 – Why now is the perfect time for a 6-month plan
• 01:40 – What “next level” really means
• 04:30 – The importance of unplugging
• 06:10 – Setting up your calendar (26–28 weeks out)
• 10:50 – Preparing your materials and practice space
• 11:40 – The sacred practice space concept
• 14:30 – Closet-door practice setup hack
• 15:30 – Why you need a recording device
• 16:00 – Creating your feedback plan
• 18:30 – Wildcards: micro and macro interruptions
• 20:10 – The maintenance routine explained
• 21:30 – Building in buffer weeks
• 23:00 – Important omissions from the plan
• 23:50 – Why tuning isn’t explicitly included
• 24:20 – Expression and phrasing: not what’s holding you back
• 26:50 – The tempo strategy explained
• 28:00 – Starting at 50% tempo
• 29:00 – The clever tempo ramping system
• 30:30 – Metronome magnification techniques
• 32:10 – Customizing the plan for your life
• 35:30 – Block 1: Tune prospects and building
• 37:30 – Block 2: Narrowing down to two tunes
• 39:30 – Block 3: Memorisation focus
• 40:00 – Testing tunes at low-stakes gigs
• 41:00 – Block 4: Painfully slow embellishments
• 45:30 – Block 5: Rhythmic accuracy (ASAP)
• 46:00 – Block 6: Go time – all bagpipes, no practice chanter
• 47:00 – The feeling of being truly prepared
• 48:00 – Wrap up & where to get the plan

Cold weather and classic piping dilemmas take centre stage this week as Andrew and Carl dive into playing bagpipes in harsh conditions.

From poly pipes and moisture control to the uncomfortable truth that cold weather is always tough, the conversation blends practical advice with lived experience. Things lighten up with a discussion on lactose-intolerant bagpipers at games before shifting to one of the biggest band questions around: play it as written, or as the band does?

We wrap up with leadership insights, iconic tune drift, and a clear-eyed look at what grace notes are really for.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
• 00:07 – Playing Bagpipes in Harsh Environments
• 03:17 – Poly Pipes, Moisture & Cold-Weather Gear
• 06:06 – Testing Your Limits & Learning by Experience
• 09:08 – The Reality of Playing in the Cold
• 11:00 – Existential Bagpipe Questions
• 13:13 – Lactose-Intolerant Bagpipers & Games Food
• 15:00 – Playing as Written vs Playing as the Band Does
• 20:00 – Iconic Tunes, Drift & Common Mistakes
• 23:00 – Band Leadership, Settings Masters & Grade Levels
• 26:00 – Over-Analysis

In this annual Year in Review, Andrew and Jim reflect on a big year of piping, podcasting, and life at the Dojo – revisiting standout moments, recurring lessons, and the ideas that shaped the year.

Let us know in the comments: what was your standout moment from the year – or the episode that helped you most?

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Opening Banter & New Year’s Greetings
• 01:40 – Three Years of Podcasting & Friendship
• 03:15 – Why We Do a Year in Review
• 04:30 – Simple Tools & Building Better Pipers
• 06:00 – Why Recording Your Practice Changes Everything
• 07:45 – The Mystery of the Police Officer Thumbnail
• 09:00 – How Often Should You Learn a New Tune?
• 11:00 – Stacks of Tunes & Embracing Variance
• 13:00 – Why Subjective Feedback Gets Confusing
• 15:00 – Hacks for Grade Five Pipe Bands
• 17:00 – Why Learning Feels Hard Before It Gets Easier
• 19:30 – Parenting, Teenagers & Life Lessons
• 22:00 – Do You Really Need a Digital Tuner?
• 23:30 – Is the Practice Chanter a Real Instrument?
• 25:00 – The Cheat Code to Becoming Great at Bagpipes
• 27:00 – The Three-Step Formula for Steady Blowing
• 29:00 – How to Start a Pipe Band
• 30:30 – Moisture, Reeds & Finding the Balance
• 32:00 – Why Mentorship Matters
• 33:30 – Fear of Being Wrong & Progress
• 35:00 – The Three Minute Drill & Listener Q&A
• 36:30 – Why Multitasking Holds You Back
• 37:30 – Jim’s Dumb Games & The Tuning Game
• 39:00 – Speculative Bagpipe History & the Dojo Anniversary
• 40:30 – Looking Ahead & Final Reflections
• 41:30 – Gratitude, Optimism & Closing Thoughts

Some Christmas episodes are carefully scripted… and some are joyfully handed over to the robots.

This week, Andrew and Jim continue their annual holiday tradition by letting AI loose on a Christmas special — with festive chaos, a dash of existential dread, and plenty of laughs. With minimal prompting and maximum curiosity, they end up with “It’s a Wonderful Pipe”: a bagpipe-themed twist on a holiday classic.

Andrew delivers a dramatic reading of the AI-generated story while Jim reacts in real time, before the conversation turns reflective. Is the story secretly profound or complete nonsense? What does it say about passion, inspiration, and creativity – and where does AI fit into all of this? It’s festive, slightly unhinged, and the perfect way to wrap up the year.

Let us know in the comments: should AI run the show next year – and what was your favourite moment?

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Festive Greetings & Opening Banter
• 01:00 – The Annual AI Christmas Tradition
• 02:00 – AI, Humanity & Holiday Spirit
• 04:30 – How This Year’s Story Was Created
• 05:45 – Pitching Ridiculous AI Christmas Ideas
• 07:10 – Choosing “It’s a Wonderful Pipe”
• 08:00 – Dramatic Reading: The AI Story Unleashed
• 39:58 – Recap, Themes & The Mysterious Chord
• 41:44 – Genius or Nonsense?
• 42:58 – Tradition, Uncertainty & What Comes Next
• 44:43 – Closing Thoughts & Holiday Wishes

This week on Dojo's "Friday Strike In" Q&A Hour, Andrew works through a stack of real-world piping questions, starting with how to balance low A and low G and expanding into the practical realities of tuning, setup, and consistency.

The discussion covers common chanter issues, when flat notes become a serious problem, and why simple troubleshooting often beats drastic fixes. They also shift focus from gear to players, tackling top-hand tension, posture, and why pipes feel so different from the practice chanter. Along the way, they dig into modern piping life – online lessons on full pipes, staying connected with bands from a distance, and how remote players can still show up prepared and be taken seriously.

We finish up with bigger-picture strategy around solo competition repertoire, a clear breakdown of tuning order from chanter to drones, and a look at what’s coming next.

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Intro & Balancing Low A and Low G
• 03:00 – Flat vs Sharp Notes on the Chanter
• \06:00 – Band Equipment Consistency & Fixes
• 08:00 – Relaxing the Top Hand
• 14:00 – Online Lessons on Full Pipes
• 17:40 – Staying Involved with Bands Remotely
• 24:00 – Changing Tunes for Solo Competition
• 29:00 – Tuning Order: Chanter vs Drones
• 38:00 – Wrap-Up & What’s Next

Ever wondered why some pipers seem to bounce back from mistakes effortlessly – or why your pipes sometimes feel great one day and impossible the next?

This week, Andrew and Carl dig into a whirlwind of community questions, from the end of the Insider podcast to the art of conscious practice, performance pressure, equipment choices, and knowing when you’re ready to buy your first full set of pipes.

They talk openly about experimenting (and failing) in public, why switching between pipes can throw you off, how nerves sabotage tunes you’ve played perfectly a hundred times, and why focused practice always beats endless reps. You’ll also hear their take on when in-person lessons are essential, how constraints can actually boost your creativity, and what gear Dojo instructors trust in their own playing.

🎵 Tune in at pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:00 – Why the Insider Podcast Is Ending (and what’s staying)
• 03:34 – Learning Through Trying, Failing, and Iterating
• 03:56 – How to Diagnose Hard-to-Play Pipes (Andrew’s Four Questions)
• 09:43 – Why Tunes Fall Apart Under Pressure 1
• 0:07 – Beating Performance Nerves & Preparing for High-Stakes Moments
• 21:00 – Practice vs. Repetition: Hunting for Future Mistakes
• 23:26 – When In-Person Lessons Matter (and when online is better)
• 29:39 – How Constraints Can Increase Your Musical Creativity
• 33:50 – What Gear Dojo Teachers Actually Use
• 40:00 – When You Should Buy Your First Set of Pipes

Some episodes are carefully planned… and some are rescued straight out of the garbage can.  

This week, Andrew and Jim wrap up the year by rifling through the legendary “maybe later” pile – a collection of rejected ideas, abandoned plans, and almost-episodes that never quite made the cut.

What starts as reflection quickly turns into some surprisingly solid piping advice, mixed with the usual chaos.  

Along the way, they tackle big questions about marching style, presentation in solo competition, and whether looking polished actually affects results. Then it’s down the rabbit hole with pressure variance testing, tuning by intuition, and why “trial and error” might still beat science when it comes to getting your pipes locked in.  

It’s messy, honest, practical… and accidentally one of the most useful episodes of the year.  

They also dig into why tradition still matters – from kilts and uniforms to parade culture – and finish with quickfire advice on keeping piping fun for kids, playing without pain, and building real fluency in embellishments.  

Got a topic sitting in your “maybe later” pile? Drop it in the comments – we just might pull it out next episode.  

Here’s what we cover this week: 

• 00:00 – Intro & End of Year Reflections
 
• 04:50 – The “Maybe Later” Pile: Rejected Topics
 
• 07:50 – Marching in Solo Competition: Big Steps or Little Steps?
 
• 10:30 – Does Presentation Matter in Competition?
 
• 12:30 – How to Own Your Style & Marching Advice
 
• 13:45 – The Blow Trick (Pressure Variance Testing)
 
• 14:00 – Pressure Variance, Tuning & Trial and Error
 
• 22:00 – Tuning Philosophy: Guessing, Intuition & Learning
 
• 27:00 – Uniforms, Kilts & the Value of Tradition
 
• 31:00 – Parades, Outfits & Embracing the Ridiculous
 
• 34:00 – Quickfire: Keeping Piping Cool for Kids
 
• 35:00 – Quickfire: Avoiding Pain (Posture & Comfort)
 
• 37:00 – Quickfire: Embellishment Fluency & Building Blocks
 
• 38:30 – Rhythm, Gracenotes & Abstractions in Learning
 
• 39:30 – Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

This week, we sit down with renowned piper and composer John Dew for a deep dive into his latest project, John Dew's Pipe Suites.

From the story behind the book to the evolution of harmony in bagpipe music, John walks us through his approach to writing suites, the influences that shaped his sound, and why understanding chord progressions is becoming essential for today’s pipers.

We also explore his brand-new album, the tools he uses to compose, and what’s ahead for bands travelling to competitions.

🎵 Tune in and join the conversation at pipersdojo.com!

Check out John and his music here: https://www.johndew-composition.com/

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 – Meeting John Dew & Early Background
01:11 – Inside the Pipe Suite Book: The USB Format & Features
02:40 – How the Community Reacted: Sales & Feedback
03:40 – What’s Actually in the Book? (11 Suites Explained)
05:10 – John’s Compositional Approach & Influences
08:50 – Harmony, Chord Progressions & the Modern Piping Mindset
13:45 – Teaching, Arranging & Why Harmony Matters for Leadership
17:23 – Tools of the Trade: Sibelius & Other Software
17:55 – Live Demo: Navigating the Book & Listening to Tracks
21:19 – John’s New Album: Marches & Fresh Compositions
23:20 – The Value of Musical Variety
24:49 – Interactive Learning Tools at the Dojo
25:45 – Q&A: Lessons, Pipe Majors, Contest Logistics & More
36:03 – Do Pipers… Talk to Their Pipes?
40:18 – Chicago Games & Band Travel Plans
43:56 – Chanter & Reed Talk: Mark II Shepherd, Tuning & Comparisons
46:15 – Drone Tuning Tips for Performances
49:41 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

Learning by ear can feel both magical and maddening… and it’s one of the most powerful skills a musician can build.

This week, Andrew and Jim tackle how to learn tunes by ear, using the tune “Green Monster” as their test subject. They explore what really happens when you set the sheet music aside and trust your ears, your instincts, and a little bit of trial and error.

🎧💡 Ear learning isn’t just possible—it’s a superpower waiting to be unlocked.

Got questions or want to share your own ear-learning tips? Drop a comment below!

And a special shoutout to Hannah Focken, whose performance we feature on this week’s episode: https://www.youtube.com/@hannahfocken

Here’s what we cover this week:

• 00:24 – Intro: Why Learn By Ear?
• 01:07 – Where Did “Green Monster” Come From?
• 02:41 – Sheet Music vs. Ear Learning
• 05:43 – Recordings Are Your Best Friend
• 08:58 – Practical Tools for Ear Learning
• 12:53 – The Bagpipe Freedom Process
• 14:30 – March, Jig, Hornpipe… or Something Else?
• 17:00 – Build a Mental Model First
• 20:00 – It Gets Easier (Really)
• 22:00 – Private Lessons vs. Self-Discovery
• 27:00 – Creativity, Play, and the Joy of Ear Learning