Amongst other Q&A today, we discuss the problem of memorization. Is it possible for a 71-year-old to memorize more than a few tunes? Is the bagpipe freedom process for beginners? How to transcribe the rhythm of a tune you heard on YouTube. Embellishment discussion. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and m...
Jan 10, 2022•52 min
Register now at https://dojouniversity.com/workshop ___ As you may have heard, I am putting together some free workshops this winter for anyone who'd like to attend. The first one will be this November 14th, at 1pm New York Time, called "11 Reasons Pipers Fail." So, what's this workshop all about? Frankly, it's been a tough one to put into words. Have you ever achieved a goal, but still felt empty? Have you powered through to the finish line, just to realize (usually immediately) that you were w...
Nov 09, 2021•2 min
Is the bagpipe freedom process for beginners? How to transcribe the rhythm of a tune you heard on YouTube. Embellishment discussion. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat,...
Oct 11, 2021•56 min
It's been a while since we behaved ourselves long enough to release a Friday Strike-in as a podcast! Enjoy some piping chatter. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twit...
Jul 13, 2021•1 hr
The book is now OUT of pre-order and ready for regular purchase. Order at http://BagpipeFreedom.com The book is focused on fully exploring what you might recognize is the "Dojo U method," detailing our approach from the ground up. But, it's not a text book or an exercise book. It's a "big picture" exploration about how to learn, and how to apply these basic learning concepts to one of the world's most difficult instruments. I wanted to ensure that the book wasn't just educational, but that it al...
Jun 02, 2021•30 min
Matthew Welch studied traditional Highland Bagpipe music with Gold Medalist masters such as James McIntosh M.B.E., Colin MacLellan, Mike Cusack, Jack Lee, Pipe Major Angus MacLellan, Andrew Wright and celebrated, repeat World-Champion Pipe Majors Terry Lee and Iain McLellan B.E.M. Mr. Welch was a member of one of the most internationally acclaimed bagpipe bands of the last two decades: the six-time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, and played with the band for their World Pipe Ba...
May 10, 2021•54 min
Robert won the worlds 5 times as Pipe Major of the Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
May 06, 2021•1 hr 34 min
Ross hails from Linlithgow, West Lothian where he is the official Town Piper. He studied Bagpipes, Scots Song and Whistles at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. In July 2017 he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Traditional Music - Piping. Ross was a finalist in the 2019 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition. A World Champion piper, Ross began piping aged 7 and was the Pipe Major of the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland. He competed with the world...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 29 min
Greig Canning is a piper with the two-time grade 1 World Champions, Inveraray and District Pipe Band. He is a regular prize winner and ‘A grade’ competitor on the highland games circuit, regularly competing at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting. Greig is a full-time bagpipe instructor for West Lothian Council, and the pipe major and instructor of the West Lothian Schools Pipe Band. _____ If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership ...
Apr 28, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Ken is one of the most prolific pipers in North American history. Be sure to visit thecaptainscorner.com to learn all about his career, his teaching, and his works. _____ If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook,...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 21 min
Most bagpipe world has trapped itself in a destructive negative feedback loop that essentially guarantees its decline (and failure for the vast majority of enthusiasts...). Can you summon the strength to break free from the gravitational pull of the mainstream bagpiping world to "succeed" with your own piping? If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback...
Mar 12, 2021•6 min
A student shared this: Here's a very interesting article/podcast about why learning difficult tunes or passages by starting slowly and gradually increasing practice speed has some inherent limitations, and offers a research-based rationale for different strategy. There's also a fascinating bit about why you should use a metronome that can randomly skip beats. https://bulletproofmusician.com/jason-sulliman-on-why-fast-practice-can-be-more-efficient-and-effective-than-slow-practice/ Is there anyth...
Oct 13, 2020•59 min
This week we have a lot of great questions and some good banter. Question of the week is: Why should you NOT be playing a hard reed? The answer may open your eyes... If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebo...
Sep 29, 2020•57 min
In this class we have a great end-of-week Q&A for our Premium Members, beginning with a great review of the BEST way to transition from the practice chanter to the full bagpipes. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! ...
Aug 04, 2020•40 min
Supercharge Your Leadership! A 2-Day Intensive Workshop for Pipe Corps Leaders - September 12-13, 2020 - Featuring World Champions Stuart Liddell, Robert Mathieson, and Alan Bevan Unparalleled knowledge and worldwide support specifically curated for pipe corps leaders to drastically improve your pipe band, guaranteed. Go to https://dojouniversity.com/lead today to learn more.
Jul 29, 2020•4 min
It's becoming clearer and clearer that the bagpipe world may take a long time to return to anything that even remotely looks like normal. Are you prepared to adapt? If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Faceboo...
Jul 27, 2020•57 min
When you learn a new tune, you should be breaking it into bite-sized segments. Each bite size segment should be on auto-pilot before you move on to the next one. This is also referred to as reaching "unconscious competence" stage of the hierarchy of competence. Let's dive in. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges...
Jul 16, 2020•18 min
In this hands-on class, Andrew dives deep down the rabbit-hole of tune learning. Why does it seem so hard for me, when others seem to do it easily? The answer might be so simple it surprises you! If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/test...
Jul 14, 2020•47 min
How far back should you push the pipe bag under your arm? Should the drones be all the way against your shoulder or should you be squeezing more toward the back of the bag? Andrew and Carl explain proper pipe bag placement for efficient playing and the best sound projection. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
Jul 08, 2020•3 min
Carl shows us how the Dojo Fundamentals aren't just talking points. They show us how to solve literally any problem we are having! If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, T...
Jul 07, 2020•54 min
Do you play an extended small hybrid bag, but thinking about moving to a hide bag? What size should you get? Are the sizes standard and equivalent? Carl and Andrew give some suggestions on how to choose the correct size hide bag for you. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
Jul 01, 2020•3 min
What happens when you go to tie in a bag and the neck it much larger than the chanter stock? How do you ensure that you tie it in so it is airtight? Carl, Dojo U’s resident bag tying expert, explains how to handle this issue and get you playing soon! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
Jun 24, 2020•2 min
What does a productive practice feel like? How can you have that awesome moment more often? Andrew and Carl highlight what makes a successful practice and how you can replicate that yourself. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
Jun 17, 2020•2 min
You know that recording yourself playing bagpipes is incredibly beneficial for self evaluation and working with an instructor, but your bagpipes are too loud for your computer recorder. What is the best recorder to buy? Is there a program you can use to easily record and upload your weekly recording to Dojo U? Andrew simplifies this issue and helps you find the best solution to get a great recording. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Sna...
Jun 10, 2020•3 min
Do your drones tune very high on the tuning pins? Have you adjusted the drone reed pins and still not been able to fix the issue? Carl and Andrew make some practical suggestions to address this problem. Listen in to hear a couple ideas you may not have heard before. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
Jun 03, 2020•3 min
Does your bass drone work best when you tune it lower on the tuning pin? You adjust the bridle while calibrating, but the tuning pin location makes a big difference. Why is this? Andrew and Carl discuss the many issues involved with the bass drone and some of the ways you can adjust it to make it play better. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
May 27, 2020•4 min
In this class, we entertain a variety of great bagpiping questions, and then dig deep regarding how to balance the chanter, and resolve common chanter tuning issues. If you enjoyed this, you should try a Dojo University Premium Membership. Our premium membership features over 50 courses, 17+ live classes each week, social interaction channels, feedback on your playing, weekly challenges, and more! Try one month for just $1 by visiting https://DojoUniversity.com/testdrive today! Join us on Facebo...
May 21, 2020•44 min
Will a pinch fix a super flat or collapsing F? What causes this? Is the reed salvageable? Carl and Andrew give you a simple solution to this issue. Don’t waste any more time with this problem and start playing! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
May 20, 2020•6 min
How slowly can you play your grade 3 march in solo competition before the judge penalizes you for it? Andrew and Carl discuss this difficult but common question with a practical point of view. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
May 14, 2020•6 min
Do you have a huge list of tunes you would like to learn? How do you decide which to work on in depth? Andrew helps you dial in your focus using the 6 Months to the Next Level plan. Success is not always playing a large amount of tunes! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
May 06, 2020•5 min