The mailbag has arrived again! This week, Will asks: “…I want to build a set of pipes, specifically for solo competition… what should I look at for a purpose built solo bagpipe?” Andrew and Jim chat through whether you need multiple sets of pipes on the boil for band vs solo playing, whether bore sizes matter in bagpipes, and the importance of simplicity, consistent maintenance, and focusing on the quality of your playing (aka ‘slaying') over the intricacies of your setup. 00:00 Introduction to ...
Dec 16, 2024•23 min
Is it better to do a little bit every day… or a massive catch up session every once in a while? If you’ve ever tried to get fit, go on a diet, or even keep your teeth clean… it should probably go without saying that daily consistent action prevails over massive infrequent action, every single time. This week, Andrew and Jim explore the importance of maintaining consistent daily habits with your piping. They discuss their personal routines, the challenges faced by pipers, and how integrating a 'o...
Dec 09, 2024•45 min
Do pipers or drummers make better ensemble judges? This week, Ed Best is back, joining Andrew and Jim to reveal all the secrets about the role of ensemble judges in pipe band competitions. The cover the differences in perspectives between piping and drumming judges, why it’s important to understand both types of instruments, how judges are trained, and challenges they face. They also look at how tune choices impact a band’s overall sound and performance, why practicing and refining judging skill...
Dec 02, 2024•1 hr 6 min
What is the single greatest correlate to success in any pursuit? This week, Andrew and Jim are chatting all things immersion (including a detour into Adam Sandler movies) and how learning by doing and maintaining an authentic passion can significantly improve your skills. They also touch on the significance of foundational work like instrument maintenance and how it builds leverage for higher-level skills. Got a question or topic for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: support@pipersd...
Nov 25, 2024•34 min
It's Episode 100 of the Dojo Conversations Podcast! Well, kind of... Anyway, to celebrate 100 continuous weeks of streaming directly into your ears, Andrew's agreed to suffer through all the topics he doesn't want to talk about, but that Jim's been saving up for an occasion just like this... tune in this week to learn more about the nuances of circular breathing, whether bagpipers can use vibrato, using 'non-traditional' notes, and how bagpipe music has evolved over time. Got a topic you'd like ...
Nov 18, 2024•40 min
Have you ever wanted to write a bagpipe tune? This week, Andrew and Jim show you how to do it by composing a brand new tune live on air! They discuss the process of composing music, exploring different techniques and ideas such as using a chord progression, incorporating motifs, and the importance of a good musical idea. They share insights on using notation software like MuseScore, the significance of rhythm and melody, and even touch on the importance of repetition and variation in music. If y...
Nov 11, 2024•46 min
What if 11 small changes could make an enormous difference to your piping progress? This week, Andrew and Jim dive into the 11 commandments of mastery – Andrew’s blueprint of habits that lead to great bagpiping, but are applicable to all mastery-oriented pursuits. They look at the importance of mastering fundamentals to achieve creative freedom, common pitfalls that learners face, and why a growth mindset is essential to any form of progression. Here’s what we cover in this episode: 00:00 Settin...
Nov 04, 2024•51 min
Is Scottish snare drumming really that different from other kinds of drumming... or from piping? This week, prolific drummer, judge and tutor Ed Best once again drops in to chat all things snare drumming with Andrew and Jim, covering whether rhythm is different between piping and drumming, how tempo affects drummers, why pipers and drummers should both learn each others’ parts, and how to get a better ensemble in your pipe band. Got a question or topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode?...
Oct 28, 2024•44 min
Anyone for some hot cakes?! Jim’s been diving into the bagpipe forums on Reddit again, so this week, he and Andrew offer advice to solve a bunch of bugbears bothering bagpipers from across the web, including: • How to get bandmates to show up to practice • Better ways to improve at sight-reading • How to be more welcoming to new band members • Improving stamina and recovering after a hiatus from piping • What’s been going on in the piping world for the last 15 years or so, in a nutshell! • Nicol...
Oct 21, 2024•41 min
After a piping hiatus, it can be exhausting to play for even a short time until your stamina builds again. So what's the best way to get your piping fitness back? This week, Andrew and Jim answer a reader question about how to build stamina after a break, focusing on the importance of finding joy and fun in playing – because enjoyable practice will naturally lead to improved stamina and skill. They also highlight the dangers of taking piping too seriously – because for many pipers, that might be...
Oct 14, 2024•46 min
What does it really take to build a successful band? This week, Andrew and Jim discuss how much the skill of individual players contribute to pipe band success, exploring how focusing on individual improvement can elevate a band’s overall performance, the importance of balancing bandcraft and individual player development, alongside real challenges like tuning, practice routines, and overcoming performance anxieties. Here's what we discuss this week: 00:00 Season Two Kickoff 01:33 Exciting New P...
Oct 07, 2024•45 min
It's another Reddit deep dive! This week, Andrew and Jim discuss questions pipers have posted to Reddit – about whether you should play standard settings in solo competitions, and how judges should treat you as a competitor if you don't; Andrew's personal recommendations for the best piping albums of all time; and when it's appropriate to share recordings of Grade 1 band sets on social media. Finally, they tackle the topic of maintaining lip strength without pipes, debunking some myths and sugge...
Sep 30, 2024•32 min
This week, Andrew and Jim reunite after a six-week break to answer a listener’s question about dealing with bagpipe instructors who may be overly focused on perfection or do not make learning fun – along the way, they discuss self-reflection, teaching strategies, the importance of immersion, and whether or not you should "learn around" and see other teachers... Here's what we cover this week: 00:00 Reunion and Catching Up 00:47 Haircuts and Clones 01:50 In-Person Episode Ideas 02:22 Highland Gam...
Sep 23, 2024•37 min
One of the mainstay in-person events for us at Dojo University is our semi-annual bagpiping cruise – and in 2024 we joined forces with Jack Lee and Piping Hot Summer Drummer to launch our first co-hosted cruise in Alaska! This week, Andrew and Jim recap the realities, the itineraries and the logistics of running a bagpiping cruise, and paint a picture of what a piping school on the high seas looks like. Want to join in on the action? We'll be back in the Caribbean next April for our next cruise ...
Sep 16, 2024•39 min
Do you feel like you're always struggling to learn tunes, with no time left over to actually improve your piping? Tune in for free on Monday the 16th at 8:00AM New York time to end this challenge for good! --> Click Here to Register for Free 🇺🇸 New York Time (Eastern Time): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 8:00 AM 🇺🇸 Pacific Time (PDT): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 5:00 AM 🇬🇧 UK Time (BST): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 1:00 PM 🇦🇺 Eastern Australia Time (AEST): Monday, September 16th, 2...
Sep 12, 2024•2 min
As in any pursuit, the best thing you can do is approach everything in piping with an open mind. Failure is a teacher. And we can always learn new and better ways to do things if we don't assume we know something absolutely... In this episode, Jim and Andrew dive into the final chapter of Finding Bagpipe Freedom, to reflect on how your mindset and approach to practice, piping, and improvement is the most powerful tool in your pipe case. They also offer some advice on maintaining steady progress,...
Sep 09, 2024•1 hr 2 min
This week, Andrew and Jim reflect on how the Dojo evolved from an idea about teaching a piping school in semesters online at the dawn of online classroom software, into what is now the world's largest and longest running online piping and drumming school. Andrew reflects on how he the journey from thinking of the idea on his honeymoon, the original in-person classes, initial skepticism, and the ultimate formation and evolution of the Piper's Dojo. This week, we cover: 00:00 Imagining Alternate C...
Sep 02, 2024•42 min
“Forget prizes. You’re out to be the best you can be, and that’s what you should aim for. Take care of that, and all your performances will improve.” ― Stuart Liddell, Pipe Major, Inveraray and District Pipe Band This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into Finding Bagpipe Freedom once again, this time focused on how to 'free' your pipe band using the bagpipe freedom process. They talk through how to simplify practice routines and focus on individual improvement to enhance band performance, using t...
Aug 26, 2024•55 min
Ever had a workout where you pushed it way too far? You may be surprised to learn you can do something similar when you’re playing your bagpipes… This week, Jim and Andrew discuss the consequences of overdoing physical activities and how it relates to playing bagpipes. Jim shares his recent experience with shoulder pain from felling trees and lifting weights, while Andrew introduces the concept of the 'intensity equation.' The conversation explores how to balance intensity without sacrificing fo...
Aug 19, 2024•27 min
It’s another Q&A mailbag episode! But this time, we’re answering the many questions of the Reddit r/bagpipes community, who seem to be on to us checking them out… This week, Andrew and Jim answer questions ranging from technical difficulties with transitioning from practice chanters to full bagpipes to managing bagpipe posture problems for women (though they’d rather have someone with more personal experience to dive into that further!), as well as maintaining hide bags and the historical qu...
Aug 12, 2024•19 min
Is it worth the cost and effort for North American pipers and drummers to visit Scotland? Do general Scottish people care about the World Pipe Band Championships? Will you be a social pariah if you play your bagpipes in public Scotland? This week, Jim and Andrew chat through some practical advice for North American bagpipers traveling to Scotland, including packing tips, overcoming jet lag, and must-visit destinations such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the Highlands. Additionally, they discuss cult...
Aug 05, 2024•39 min
Do you have any tunes in your repertoire that you don’t play well anymore? Perhaps you learned them when you weren’t as experienced and practiced in bad technique. Perhaps you’ve been playing them for so long that your embellishments and rhythm have become less than ideal. Or perhaps you’ve been working on the same sets for so long that you just aren’t getting any better as a player! This week, Andrew and Jim answer a listener question: How do you stop your tunes from becoming stagnant? They exp...
Jul 29, 2024•30 min
What if you could play your bagpipes without ever worrying about tuning or technique again? How much faster could you improve if you didn't have to think about every little step in your bagpipe practice? Couldn’t you then focus on being creative in your expression, rather than getting hung up on technicalities? This week, Jim and Andrew look at the importance of systematic practice, focusing on mastering fundamental skills like rhythmic accuracy, grace notes, and melody patterns. Andrew introduc...
Jul 22, 2024•57 min
Like death and taxes, parades are an inevitable part of life for a piper. They can be long, hot, and exhausting. But they can also be a lot of fun if you approach them the right way! So how do you set yourself up for the best possible parade gigs? This week, Andrew and Jim cover crucial tips for a successful parade, including proper bagpipe maintenance, organized tuning routines, and short, manageable sets. They also discuss practical logistics like meet-up points, dealing with detours or delays...
Jul 15, 2024•37 min
Could AI ever replace bagpipers? This week, Andrew and Jim dive into the potential impact of AI on the bagpiping community and creativity in general, and AI's capabilities and limitations in generating music, writing, and other tasks. Is there a possible future where AI could assist or even fully automate a musician's workflow? Can AI compose, mix and master music, create visual art, or write your band's social media strategy? Would that be a good or a bad thing? Got a topic you'd like covered i...
Jul 08, 2024•18 min
Would you rather perform at a wedding, or compete solo in front of a judge? This week, Andrew and Jim look at the world of solo bagpipe competing, focusing on both the fun and the potential challenges involved. They also touch upon practical tips for enhancing one's solo performance experience, like the benefits of having expert help in tuning on competition day, and how competing can improve your skills, personal repertoire, and offer satisfaction in other ways you may not have considered… Got ...
Jul 01, 2024•28 min
How should you prepare for your first solo competition? What should you do the night before? On the day? And what can you expect when you arrive, during, and after you compete in both band and solo contests? This week, Andrew and Jim do a blow-by-blow walk through of a typical day at a highland games, including how and when to start preparing, and what to expect when you get there. They cover the detailed preparation routines for both solo competitors and band members, including travel plans, wa...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 2 min
Do you struggle to learn new tunes? Get stressed trying to get all those band sets ready for the circle? The solution could lie in… making it fun! This week, Andrew and Jim look at how to find fun in the process of learning new tunes - how to make the learning process enjoyable, push away stress, and improve your overall musical ability. The also look at the impact of pressure and competition on learning, and the benefits of playing in a band versus solo. Got a topic you'd like us to cover in a ...
Jun 17, 2024•34 min
Do your embellishments enhance your playing, or detract from it? This week, in Part 2 of their deep dive into Chapter 9 of Andrew's book Finding Bagpipe Freedom, Andrew and Jim explore the contrast between technical proficiency and audience appreciation in bagpipe embellishments. They look at the importance of playing with intention, the balance between tradition and creativity, and the importance of purposeful practice. Got a topic you’d like to see covered in a future episode? Leave a comment ...
Jun 10, 2024•29 min
Why do pipers at all levels obsess over embellishments and deep-and-meaningful expression, when they can’t play to the beat, or without crossing noises? This week, Andrew and Jim jump back into Andrew’s book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, to discuss Chapter 9, which is all about the importance of mastering the basics before delving into embellishments. Because as Leo Burnett says, it’s better to do the obvious, simple thing, but to do it uncommonly well. Got a question you’d like answered in a future...
Jun 03, 2024•35 min
