What if you could have a bagpipe teacher on demand – anytime, anywhere?

This week, Andrew and Jim road test one of the most exciting innovations at the Dojo yet: the brand new Interactive Player.

Designed to feel like having a teacher by your side 24/7, this powerful tool puts total control of your learning in your hands.

They walk through how it works – toggling between video and sheet music, looping tricky spots, slowing things down, adding a metronome, and building up speed for tough passages to help pipers learn smarter, faster, and more musically.

Along the way, they chat about the dream of on-demand teaching, share a demo of “Banjo Breakdown,” and talk about what’s coming next as the library grows (hint: more tunes, more instruments, more inspiration).

If you’ve ever wished your practice sessions could be more focused and more fun – this episode will show you how.

🎶 Try the Interactive Player today with a Dojo U membership: pipersdojo.com/store

Got questions or want to share your favorite feature? Drop a comment below or email us at [email protected].

Here’s what we cover this week:

What if one tune you wrote became a crowd favorite – and sparked a whole collection decades in the making?

This week, Andrew and Carl welcome Micah Babinski, composer of "Afternoon at the Green Monster" and author of the brand-new Green Monster Collection. Together, they dive into the story behind the tune, the 20+ years of composing that led to the book, and what it’s like to finally share your life’s work with the piping world.

Then, the crew opens the floor for a live Q&A – covering everything from band-supplied gear and endurance tips to simplifying tunes and moving up the solo competition ranks.

Plus, don’t miss Micah’s live performance of Afternoon at the Green Monster!

Got a question for a future episode? Drop it in the comments or email us: [email protected].

Here’s what we cover this week:

Live Q&A Topics:


🪗 Order The Green Monster Collection: https://forms.gle/sepc2peJY63PtbAg8

Expression. It’s one of those words that gets thrown around a lot in music – but what does it really mean when you’re playing the bagpipes?

This week, Andrew and Jim roll up their sleeves and dig into the art (and the challenge) of making this notoriously rigid instrument… well, expressive.

From timing and rhythm to embellishments and groove, they unpack what’s actually in your control as a piper, and how those choices can shape your sound. Along the way, they swap stories, highlight tools you might not be using enough (hello, metronome!), and share how modern teaching approaches are changing the way pipers think about artistry.

Whether you’re chasing more musicality in your playing or just curious about how expression works on the pipes, this episode will give you plenty to chew on.

Got a topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here's what we cover this week:

Does a good – or bad – band experience just come down to luck?

This week, Jim and Andrew dig into a listener’s story about tough instructors, how to keep having fun when you're burned out, and how band culture can either make or break whether players stick around in bands for the long-term.

Tune in for some practical advice for both learners and instructors on how to keep the spark alive, make music a joy again, and create a healthier piping community for everyone.

Got a question or topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]!

Here's what we cover this week:

00:00 – Andrew: the “Man, Myth, Legend”
01:00 – A virtual Scotland tour guide
05:40 – Listener mail: The uphill battle of learning bagpipes
08:00 – The impact of negative instructors and band culture
12:00 – Why finding a good teacher is often luck
15:00 – Ego, exclusivity, and the “only one way” mindset
18:00 – Band stress, tradition vs. progress, and hazing
22:00 – Is this unique to bagpipes?
25:00 – Advice for learners: Diversify your influences
27:00 – Advice for instructors: Foster excitement and joy
30:00 – Advice for band members: Welcoming new players & preserving tradition
33:00 – Final thoughts: Keeping the spark alive

Episode Highlights

• The problem with negative instructors and gatekeeping band culture

• Why luck often determines whether you find a good teacher

• The myth of “only one right way” to learn bagpipes

• Practical advice for learners: diversify your influences and keep it fun

• Tips for instructors: focus on excitement, joy, and growth

This week, Andrew and Jim strip things right back to the foundations of great piping.

What really matters when it comes to clean technique? How do you avoid crossing noises, nail those tricky note changes, and keep grace notes crisp and tiny? And why do so many players get lost in embellishments before locking down the basics?

From fingerwork fundamentals to the idea of “trinary code” and Andrew’s new “target practice” concept, the guys dig into what it takes to build precision, adaptability, and consistency.

Got a piping question or a topic you’d like us to tackle on a future episode? Drop it in the comments or email us: [email protected]

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 – Intro & studio catch-up
01:00 – The earwig in the chanter (and the coffee!)
02:30 – Bagpipe fingerwork fundamentals
04:00 – Drills, scales, and why embellishments matter
07:00 – The hardest note changes (and how to tackle them)
09:00 – Crossing noises & clean technique explained
11:00 – Grace notes: the infinitely small moment
15:00 – The three fundamentals of piping
18:00 – Why embellishments are just combinations
21:00 – Diagnosing sloppy playing
24:00 – The problem with rushing to embellishments
27:00 – The “trinary code” of bagpipe technique
30:00 – Target practice: beat, note change, grace note alignment
33:00 – Guitar Hero, archery, and metronome practice
36:00 – Constant adjustment & musical adaptability
39:00 – Simplifying tunes for better practice
42:00 – Why the process never ends
44:00 – Outro and laughs

Is there a better way to score pipe band competitions?  

This week, Andrew and Jim look at an unlikely comparison for inspiration: gymnastics. From artistic vs. objective elements, to the challenge of ranking large fields fairly, to the ever-present issue of bias, the guys explore what the world of sports can teach us about how pipe bands are judged. What makes a fair system? Should pipe bands stick to ordinal rankings? Would point-based scoring bring more consistency? And how do we balance tradition with the need for innovation?  

Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]  

Here’s what we cover this week:

Ever wondered how you can really tell who the top solo pipers are across a massive region like the Eastern United States?  

This week, Andrew introduces Jim to the new EUSPBA Greatest Hits program – a ranking system that takes a bunch of measures into account, rather than just aggregating total points.   

They discuss why it matters, the challenges of ranking players across a huge geographic area, the problems with the old points system, and how the new approach brings a more fair way to rank players that could bring back some excitement and participation across the region.   

Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]  

Here’s what we cover this week:
 

Are ceiling fans secretly ruining your tuning? And what’s actually essential to keep in your pipe case?

In this fun and practical episode, Andrew and Jim crack open the listener mailbag to tackle three big questions from the community.

First up, they dive into how to set up a practice space that actually makes you want to practice (spoiler: it doesn’t have to be fancy).

Then they break down the surprising ways ceiling fans can throw off your tuning – yes, really! – and wrap up with a great list of must-have items every beginner should carry in their pipe case (hint: corks, wax, and maybe a lucky chess piece?).

Got a burning question of your own that you'd like us to cover in a future episode?

Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here's what we cover this week:
00:00 – Intro & Banter

01:15 – Practice Space Tips

12:10 – Ceiling Fans & Tuning

22:40 – Pipe Case Essentials

27:10 – Wrap-Up & Final Thoughts

Ever wondered where some of the most loved tunes today came from?

In this episode, Andrew and Jim dive into the life of John McLellan of Dunoon – one of the most iconic figures in Scottish piping. As of 8 August 2025, it's been 150 years since McLellan was born, and the guys take the opportunity to explore what made his music so powerful, memorable, and ahead of its time. 

They chat through the cultural and historical backdrop that influenced his tunes, unpack how his personal experiences shaped his writing, and take a look at how his legacy still echoes in the piping world today.

Got a topic you’d like us to cover on a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – ChatGPT as a tour guide
01:50 – The Scottish Enlightenment, John Knox, and the rise of literacy
04:40 – The impact of universal education on Scottish society
07:00 – Scotland’s literary and musical giants: Hume, Smith, Burns, Scott
09:15 – John McLellan’s background and the 150th anniversary
11:00 – What makes McLellan’s tunes so special?
13:00 – The role of nostalgia and romanticism in piping
15:00 – Musical literacy, family influence, and McLellan’s musical skills
18:00 – The explosion of printed music and the military pipe band system
21:00 – Why did so many great composers emerge in the late 1800s?
24:00 – The “Bagpipe Musical Enlightenment” hypothesis
27:00 – The enduring influence of McLellan and his contemporaries
30:00 – Reflections on creativity, tradition, and innovation in piping
33:00 – Closing thoughts: McLellan’s legacy and the evolution of bagpipe music

Ever wondered what makes a sheepskin bag so special – or so tricky?   

Last week we covered the broad pros and cons of sheepskin – this week, join Andrew and Jim as they do a deep dive on the mysteries, mishaps, and maintenance secrets of sheepskin bags.   

From airtightness to seasoning rituals, and the eternal debate between tradition and convenience, this episode is packed with practical tips and stories.  

Got a topic you'd like us to cover on a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]  

Here's what we cover this week:  
0:00 – Welcome, episode intro, and why sheepskin matters 
1:00 – Who should care about sheepskin? (Hint: not just the pros) 
2:00 – Sheepskin vs. synthetic: sound, cost, and effort 
3:00 – Airtightness: myth-busting and real-world experience 
4:00 – The pain of tying in a sheepskin bag (and why it’s worth it) 
5:00 – Jim’s embarrassing tie-in story 
7:00 – How to avoid bag-destroying mistakes 
8:00 – Maintenance checks: pulling out stocks and prepping for big events 
10:00 – The all-important first seasoning: step-by-step 
12:00 – Why Andrew kneels on his bag (and you might want to, too) 
14:00 – How often should you season? (And why less is more) 
16:00 – Storage tips: humidity, “pipe humidors,” and what to avoid 
18:00 – Trade-offs: when to go sheepskin, synthetic, or moisture control 
20:00 – The science of condensation, dew points, and why it matters 
22:00 – Advice for beginners, intermediates, and advanced pipers 
24:00 – Final thoughts: keep it simple, experiment, and enjoy the journey