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 Games in Utah

03:04 Mailbag: Anonymous Question

03:31 Balancing Fun and Perfection in Teaching

04:29 Parenting and Teaching Parallels

05:31 The Role of Fun in Learning

08:23 Adapting Teaching Methods

20:27 Immersion and Effective Teaching

30:15 Exploring Different Instructors

30:22 Conclusion: Finding the Balance

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 - visit pipersdojo.com/cruise for more info!

This week, we cover:
00:00 Warm-Up Shenanigans
00:45 Crush Confessions
01:26 Segway to Segues
02:16 Recording Breaks and Travel Plans
03:17 Cruise Recap: Piping in Alaska
04:55 Cruise Logistics and Experiences
06:34 Piping Classes and Activities
10:35 Playing Pipes on Land
14:49 Beginner Pipers on the Cruise
17:51 Piping School Styles
20:22 Group Activities and Instruction Methods
21:03 Exploring Alaska's Natural Wonders
21:21 Cruise Memories and Whale Watching
22:19 Port Excursions and Car Rentals
24:15 Social Dynamics and Friendships on Cruises
28:23 Upcoming Cruise Announcement
28:32 Details of the 2025 Caribbean Cruise
31:24 Piping Enthusiasm and Community Building
38:06 Concluding Thoughts and Final Remarks

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, 2024, 10:00 PM
🇦🇺 Western Australia Time (AWST): Monday, September 16th, 2024, 8:00 PM

https://pipersdojo.com/openhouse

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, overcoming common setbacks, and the importance of creative personal expression in learning the bagpipe.

In this episode, we cover:
00:00 Morning Banter and Book Discussion
01:38 Terry Pratchett's Wisdom
03:10 The D Throw Debate
05:44 Golf and Bagpipe Analogies
14:39 The Importance of Short Practice
21:22 Leverage in Bagpipe Practice
30:52 Understanding Failure in Learning
33:21 The Role of a Good Teacher
34:15 Embracing Failure for Improvement
38:56 The Importance of Simplification
46:02 The Value of Consistent Practice
51:28 Creativity and Personal Growth in Bagpiping
54:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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 Careers for Andrew
01:33 The Birth of Dojo University
02:29 Recreating the Piping School Experience Online
04:29 The Evolution of Dojo University
05:42 Subscription Models and Innovations
10:55 Technological Challenges and Solutions
14:09 Iterating Ideas and Overcoming Failures
18:11 Andrew's Journey and Dojo Methodology
20:20 Making Sense of Bagpiping
21:00 Diverse Perspectives in Piping
22:19 Challenges of Private Instruction
25:59 The Birth of Dojo University
26:51 The Anatomy of Bagpipe Learning
32:29 From In-Person to Online
36:49 The Dojo's Evolution and Future
37:11 The Dojo's Mission and Impact
40:31 Wrapping Up: Reflections and Insights

“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 techniques like earning the right to play embellishments, setting freedom phase standards, and individualized training sessions.

They also explore common resistances and misconceptions within pipe bands, highlighting real-world applications and success stories from both youth and adult bands, how to prioritize musical quality over competition, and practical tips for applying these principles to pipe bands of all levels.

This week, we cover:
00:00 Introduction and Banter
00:48 Sweating Bullets and Bagpipes
02:07 Finding Bagpipe Freedom: Chapter 11
03:53 The Stuart Little Quote
04:49 The Importance of Self-Expression in Music
05:17 A Horrifying Story Involving Stuart Little
09:02 The Role of Competitions and Personal Bests
13:33 Teaching Young Bagpipers: A Case Study
22:18 Simplifying the Game for All Learners
25:46 Integrating Simplified Practice Techniques
26:56 Balancing Practice and Enjoyment
29:41 The Importance of Individual Practice
32:07 Challenges and Solutions in Band Practice
34:43 The Role of Individual Improvement in Band Success
36:05 Innovative Practice Techniques
41:55 Setting Standards and Expectations
52:47 Final Thoughts on Band and Individual Practice

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 form in various aspects of life, including workouts, bagpipe practice, and overall well-being. They also chat through the importance of proper warm-ups, calibrating pressure and strength in reed playing, and maintaining a healthy balance between intense practice and enjoyment.

This week, we cover:
00:00 Workout Woes
00:34 The Overhead Press Incident
00:52 Strength Training Mishaps
05:10 The Intensity Equation Explained
07:26 Applying the Intensity Equation to Bagpiping
17:13 Balancing Practice and Life
24:42 Final Thoughts

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 quirks of bagpipe accessories like the Glengarry pom.

Topics we cover this week:
00:00 Reddit Mailbag: Frustrations with Bagpipes
02:23 Solutions and Advice for Bagpipe Challenges
09:33 Discussion on Bag Covers and Maintenance
14:10 Fun and Lighthearted Bagpipe Queries
15:46 Addressing Unique Challenges for Female Pipers
18:07 Conclusion and Sign-Off

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 cultural differences, customs regarding bagpiping, the local busking scene, and the etiquette of bringing musical instruments like bagpipes. The conversation also touches on local Scotch whisky, Scottish candy, and what souvenirs you might want to bring home.

By the end of this one, you’ll be ready to jetset off on your own Scottish adventure.
00:00: Introduction and Bagpipe Freedom Day
01:46: Parade Story
04:21: Discussing Scotland and Bagpipes
07:16: Travel Tips for North Americans Visiting Scotland
10:01: Experiences and Expectations in Scotland
12:46: Busking and Playing Bagpipes in Scotland
15:26: Packing Tips and Travel Advice
18:31: The Struggles of Sleeping on Planes
20:51: Gaming on Flights: A Fun but Exhausting Experience
22:31: Tips for Adjusting to a New Time Zone
25:01: Essential Travel Gadgets and Power Converters
27:46: Unique Travel Items and Gifts
30:31: Navigating Scotland: Must-Visit Places
34:11: Bringing Home Memories and Souvenirs
37:01: Final Thoughts on Traveling to Scotland

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 explore how to expand your musical horizons rather than solely focusing on polishing individual tunes, because developing a broader skill set and playing a variety of tunes can lead to more significant improvement in the long run. We also take a quick detour into Jim’s borderline troubling candy sorting process, and then back to importance of balancing fun with delayed gratification in practice routines.

Got a question you’d like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]!

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 Introduction and Theme Setup
00:15 Morning Greetings and Formalities
00:35 Listener Mailbag: Simplifying Tunes
01:32 The Lord of the Rings Analogy
03:03 Expanding Horizons with New Tunes
03:58 The Importance of General Skills
08:37 Polishing Tunes vs. Learning New Ones
23:58 The Role of Light Music in Piobaireachd
26:18 Personal Anecdotes and Final Thoughts