Struggling with a section of a tune or a particular note progression? Do you spend a lot of time browsing through exercise books to find the right exercise and it still doesn’t help? How do you break down and target an issue in a way that is fun and effective? Carl uses arpeggios to demonstrate how to create our own exercises to target and practice those trouble areas in our music and fingerwork. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapcha...
Nov 20, 2019•11 min
You are playing the right notes, you’ve worked on eliminating crossing noises, you play with a metronome, and you accurately play all rhythms, but your tune still doesn’t sound crisp and clean. And you can’t bring your tunes up to band tempo. What’s wrong? Andrew articulates the one fundamental that could be holding you back from reaching that next level of playing. It may surprise you that this tiny issue has been around almost since you started learning pipes. Take a few minutes to allow Andre...
Nov 13, 2019•15 min
Have you been told to blow tone or blow steady? Does your chanter reed cut out or squeal? Is it hard for you to tune your drones to your chanter? Does this whole concept of great tone seem ambiguous? In this recording, Andrew defines tonal quality and explains how to get it in simple, easy to follow steps. Imagine not just blowing tone but actually producing great tonal quality on your bagpipes! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat...
Nov 06, 2019•15 min
Did you enjoy your last bagpipe performance? Was it meaningful to you as well as the audience? Did you have complete control over the delivery of that tune and your instrument? Andrew describes how having control over the basic fingerwork fundamentals will lead to a gratifying performance. He will also explain how using a metronome can take you there. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!...
Oct 31, 2019•18 min
Don’t you just love the sound of a beautifully tuned bagpipe? The full harmonic sound of the drones blended perfectly with the chanter notes. Are you amazed how professional pipers seem to tune easily and get that steady full sound? What if I told you that it’s not just about good tuning? Andrew walks us through the 13 steps of achieving great bagpipe sound. Tuning is only one part of this process. Without the foundational steps outlined here, your bagpipe tuning will haphazard at best. Visit Do...
Oct 16, 2019•22 min
Ever been told you are playing too "round"? Do your doublings turn to mush when after cut notes? Does your grip fall apart when it comes from a sixteenth note? Why do two sequential cut notes cause pipers so many issues? Andrew breaks down this common issue into two fundamentals that we can easily see. He explains why it is so difficult, and what you can do to stop playing mush and start playing music. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, T...
Oct 09, 2019•24 min
How long does it take you to learn a tune? Do you work on it for weeks without much progress? Does it take you months to memorize a new tune and still have parts that cause your fingers to stumble? Join us as Andrew walks you through a simple process to learn a tune. Practicing is not enough. You need to know how to practice to make your time worthwhile. Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, You Tube, Instagram, Twitter... wherever you get your social media!...
Oct 03, 2019•8 min
Today Glenn Brown is in town hanging out, and we get a podcast in. Enjoy this long form chat!
Sep 24, 2019•1 hr 11 min
Do you work really hard on your crossing noises but they still seem to creep in at the worst moments? Do you have trouble with sloppy gracenotes and embellishments, and nothing you do seems to fix them? How about rushing key phrases in your tunes? Struggling to stay “tight” with the rest of the pipers in your band? Well, this lesson could be eye-opening for you. Andrew shows us ONE key aspect of finger work fundamentals we all may have overlooked that could produce significant improvement and co...
Sep 23, 2019•20 min
A great discussion was had in a recent class in regards to reducing condensation in your instrument. Do you think you're a "wet blower?" (Hint: You're not!) Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member! Join us on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter… wherever you do your social media!
Sep 12, 2019•16 min
What is the common denominator of bagpipe success? Well, let's think about this for a few moments together.
Sep 10, 2019•30 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Rory MacLeod! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!
May 10, 2019•56 min
Sometimes known as the co-host of the Chanter Rant podcast, Andy is also a great teacher and member of the Dojo U community. Join us as we have a wide-reaching conversation about... well... bagpipe stuff. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!
May 07, 2019•1 hr 51 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Lucy Cassidy (Parts 3 and 4)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!
Apr 26, 2019•57 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Lucy Cassidy (Parts 1 and 2)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!
Apr 20, 2019•57 min
Jim is a fellow judge and current president of the EUSPBA. We sat down for a long-form chat before the New Hampshire indoor this past weekend. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!
Apr 15, 2019•1 hr 27 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: All the Blue Bonnets are Over the Border (Parts 3 and 4)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!
Apr 12, 2019•44 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Alick C MacGreggor (Parts 3 and 4)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!
Mar 29, 2019•59 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Alick C MacGregor (Parts 1 and 2)! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!
Mar 22, 2019•52 min
Donald is arguably the most influential American bagpiper. At least, I think he is! He also has been my teacher over the past 25 years so it's always great to get together and talk piping. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!
Mar 15, 2019•1 hr 32 min
Gordie Peters is a famous pipe major, adjudicator, and teacher from the Northeast of the USA. Enjoy this long-form conversation recording in late February. To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!
Feb 28, 2019•1 hr 24 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: The MacKenzie Highlanders! Visit DojoUniversity.com today and become a member!
Feb 22, 2019•59 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Banjo Breakdown (Parts 3 and 4). Join our community today, and get your piping on the right track! Visit http://DojoUniversity.com
Feb 15, 2019•53 min
Pat Sweet is a long-time well-known pipe major from the Albany, NY area. Enjoy this long-form chat that we had together! To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!
Feb 12, 2019•1 hr 3 min
Dojo U is live with Critiques and an Open Q&A this morning! This week's challenging tune: Banjo Breakdown (Parts 1 and 2). Visit DojoUniversity.com today to become a member!
Feb 09, 2019•59 min
Glenn is a great friend of mine beginning all the way back to our amateur piping days where we were big rivals! Enjoy this conversation that we had together in Kansas City (2019). To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today!
Feb 05, 2019•1 hr 4 min
Today we are critiquing student performances of Donald MacLeod (Parts 3 and 4). Tune in to check it out! To become a member, visit http://DojoUniversity.com today.
Feb 02, 2019•58 min
Today Andrew sits down with Andrew Donlon, Pipe Major of the MacMillan Pipe Band and ultra-successful American soloist. We talk about the ins and outs of pipe band life and generally have a great time. To become a Dojo University member, visit DojoUniversity.com today.
Jan 29, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Today we're critiquing the first two parts of the famous hornpipe "Donald MacLeod" - tune in to the support the Dojo U students in their performances! To become a member of Dojo U, visit http://DojoUniversity.com today!
Jan 25, 2019•49 min
Today Andrew sits down with Joe Brady of Wake and District Pipe Band (USA) to discuss the ins and outs of pipe band life. What is the relationship of competing bands with service bands? To become a member of Dojo University, visit DojoUniversity.com today.
Jan 22, 2019•2 hr 4 min
