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 introduces the idea of 'defensive bagpiping,' drawing parallels to defensive driving, and the necessity of automating basic skills to free up mental bandwidth for creativity and expression.

The conversation also touches on the value of short, uncomfortable practice sessions contrasted with enjoyable 'jam' sessions, and how incremental gains in fundamental skills can lead to exponential improvements in bagpipe playing over time.

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

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 The Journey of Bagpipe Freedom
01:55 Understanding the Bagpipe Freedom Process
03:23 Fundamental Skills and Automation
04:37 Hierarchy of Competence
06:39 Tuning and Strategy
12:11 Systematizing for Artistic Expression
21:08 Practice and Temporary Discomfort
23:35 Analogies and Real-Life Applications
30:14 Reflecting on 'The Matrix' and Code Fluency
31:25 Understanding Math and Secondary Benefits
32:54 Skill-Based Learning vs. Tune-Based Learning
34:42 The Importance of Rhythmic and Melodic Systems
37:31 Memorization and the Role of Immersion
46:01 Go Slow to Play Fast: Counterintuitive Practice
49:49 Resurrecting and Reinvigorating Tunes
53:34 Effective Practice: Short, Focused, and Uncomfortable

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, hydration, strategic placement within the parade, dealing with parade frustrations.

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

This week, we’re discussing…
00:00 Halloween Greetings and Colorblindness
01:56 Parade Season Begins
03:10 The Importance of Parade Preparation
08:14 Bagpipe Maintenance for Parades
12:29 Tuning Techniques for Parades
19:14 Tuning and Parade Preparation
19:55 Parade Position Preferences
20:36 Marching and Deportment Tips
22:44 Band Formation and Flair
24:46 Handling Parade Stops
25:38 Portent Parade Principles
29:54 Making Parades Fun
33:13 Hydration and Final Thoughts

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 in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

This week's highlights:
00:00 AI-Generated Backgrounds and Podcast Hosts
00:47 Exploring AI's Role in Bagpipe Music
02:12 AI Composing Bagpipe Tunes: Successes and Failures
03:08 AI's Potential in Music and Beyond
05:35 The Future of AI in Creative Fields
09:23 AI's Impact on Creative Industries
12:21 Existential Questions: Are We Real?

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

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Anecdotes

01:17 Discussing Solo Competing

03:25 The Appeal of Solo Competing

05:39 Challenges and Dangers of Solo Competing

08:36 Maintaining Motivation and Enjoyment

14:15 Judges and Competitors Dynamics

24:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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, warm-up strategies, final tuning, competition etiquette, checking in with stewards, tactics for managing nerves, and the logistics of navigating through multiple events in a day. This is the ultimate comprehensive guide for anyone curious about what goes on during an average day at a highland games.

Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected].

Here's what we cover this week:
00:00 Training Montage: Preparing for Competition Day
02:21 A Day at the Highland Games: Solos and Bands 03:00 Morning Routine: Getting Ready for the Games
03:33 Arriving at the Games: Timing and Check-In
06:57 Warm-Up Strategies: Preparing Your Pipes
11:23 Competition Etiquette: Checking In and Tuning
15:40 On Deck: Final Preparations Before Performance
30:07 Judging and Competitor Etiquette
30:30 Tuning and Warm-Up Techniques
31:36 Choosing the Right Warm-Up Tunes
35:51 Post-Performance Etiquette
37:45 Managing Multiple Events
42:15 Band Competitions and Mass Bands
50:20 Final Tuning and Entering the Circle
57:45 Exiting the Circle and Post-Competition
01:00:09 End of the Day: Mass Bands and Results

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 future episode? Leave a comment or email [email protected].

On this episode, we're talking about...

00:00 The Importance of Fun in Learning Tunes
03:26 Using Technology to Enhance Practice
05:35 Overcoming Challenges in Music Practice
07:27 The Role of Enjoyment in Memorization
10:56 Balancing Band and Solo Practice
14:43 The Collaborative Process in Band Medleys
21:05 Maintaining Enjoyment in Piping
31:22 Reflecting on Life and Music

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 or email us: [email protected]!

Here’s what we covered this week:

00:00 Introduction: The Bagpipe Experience

01:09 Understanding the General Public's Perception

02:01 The Complexity of Bagpipe Embellishments

05:09 Intentionality in Bagpipe Playing

07:34 The Value of Traditional Techniques

12:32 Practical Exercises for Improvement

16:46 The Joy of Progress and Overcoming Challenges

27:25 Conclusion: Embracing Creativity and Fun

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 episode? Leave a comment or email it to us via [email protected].

This week we cover:
00:00 Introduction
01:08 Keeping It Simple
01:26 Simple Pleasures
02:24 Story Time: Ghosts of Piping Past
02:49 Andrew Wright and Frank Sinatra
03:52 The Art of Simplifying Music
08:12 Scoffing and Musical Authenticity
09:22 Creativity and Understanding Basics
15:42 Analogies in Art and Music
29:31 Final Thoughts on Basics and Embellishments

What would your life look like if bagpipes had never been a part of them? Pipers (and drummers) are a passionate bunch – so have you ever considered how different your life would be if you'd never picked up the pipes?

This week, Andrew and Jim explore a fun "what-if" scenario, reflecting on the personal impact of bagpipes on their social interactions, artistic expression, career paths – but even more shockingly, they consider how the absence of bagpipes could have altered history and popular music. So tell us – how would your life be different if there were NO bagpipes?

Leave a comment or send us an email: [email protected]

This week, we cover:
00:00 Thinking through the unthinkable
00:41 Discovering Bagpipes in Family History
03:02 The Ripple Effect of Bagpipes on Personal Life
04:42 Exploring Alternative Careers Without Bagpipes
07:18 The Impact of Bagpipes on Social Connections
08:23 Speculating on a World Without Bagpipes
10:23 Reflecting on Personal Growth and Creativity
17:46 Concluding Thoughts and Audience Engagement

What's the hardest tune ever written? What's the best pipe band performance ever? How should you travel with pipes? How do you choose tunes for your MSR? And what's the best way to fix a funky-sounding high G?

What do all these questions have in common? They're burning questions Reddit users wanted answered!

This week, Jim poses some of the most commonly requested questions from the r/bagpipes forum on Reddit to Andrew. They discuss chanter reeds' inconsistencies, the preference for modern vs. older bagpipes, and methods for learning and playing tunes by ear.

Got a question of your own? Leave a comment or send it to us at [email protected] to see it answered in a future episode!

Here's what we cover this week: 

00:00 Introduction to Dojo U Insider: The Ultimate Bagpipe Education
02:38 Exploring Reddit's Bagpipe Community
03:34 Deep Dive into MSR Competitions and Bagpipe Music Nuances
09:49 The Debate: Old vs. New Bagpipes
14:55 Navigating Sheet Music and Learning by Ear
21:13 Addressing a Piping Conundrum: The Flat High G Mystery
21:50 Decoding the Mystery of Bagpipe Tuning
23:09 The Art of Trial and Error in Tuning
24:30 Understanding the Unique Tuning of Bagpipes
25:03 Navigating Bagpipe Tuning with Digital Tuners
29:56 Travel Tips for Bagpipers: Carrying Pipes on Planes
33:35 Solving the Bass Drone Tuning Puzzle
37:03 Simplifying Bagpipe Tunes: A Hot Take
40:02 Celebrating the Best in Pipe Band Performances