"Just blow tone!" Sound familiar? Most of us know we should be blowing a certain way to sound better, but many pipers don't know how to really get into the "tone zone". 

This week, Andrew and Jim delve into the importance of identifying and playing within the instrument's sweet spot for optimal sound quality, eliminating the risk of choking or squeaking. The duo talks about the impact of drone tuning, and how setting drones slightly sharper than perfectly in tune can subconsciously encourage fuller blowing. They underscore how items like hitting the sweet spot should become second nature for good tone production and that this skill extends beyond simply being able to do it - it should ideally become a habit.   

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email [email protected]!

On this episode:

00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties 
00:15 The Archery Analogy: Understanding the Target 
01:09 The Tone Zone: What is it and How to Find it 
03:52 The Sweet Spot: Maximizing the Quality of Sound 
05:20 The Importance of Pressure in Achieving the Sweet Spot 
14:54 The Role of the Manometer in Identifying the Sweet Spot 
19:54 The Impact of Drone Tuning on Achieving the Sweet Spot 
21:51 Conclusion: Transforming the Skill into a Habit

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Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.

We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.

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