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 our World Champion Pipers and Drummers from Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada, and the U.S. – Pipe bands and ensembles, piping soloists, sizzling Highland drumming, and much more.

This video 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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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: 

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!

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