Do you struggle to get your pipes into tune when you first start to play? You may be trying to tune too soon...

This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into the 'set and forget' method of warming up your pipes. While most of us know that it's important to get some air, heat and moisture into the pipes when we first get started, letting your pipes adjust to their environment before getting down to the serious business of tuning and playing can make a huge difference to how easy it is to tune your pipes. And sometimes, NOT playing can be an important part of the warm-up process too...

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

Here's what we cover this week:
00:44 The Quest for Memory Validation and the Pitfalls of Digital Permanence
01:28 Embracing the Art of Patience in Bagpipe Tuning
02:04 Learning from the Masters: Observations from the World's Best Pipe Bands
04:38 The Philosophy of Mastery: From Bagpipes to Birding
07:47 The Bagpipe's Environment: Understanding Humidity and Temperature
11:55 The Practice of Acclimatization: A Strategy for Bagpipe Tuning
17:38 Exploring the Impact of Reed Materials on Bagpipe Performance 

This week, we're diving into the mailbag to answer your submitted questions!

First up, we talk through how to help a young piper's transition to pipes, and how to adapt the instrument for small pipers. 

Next - transitioning tunes from the practice chanter to the bagpipes, and the challenge of mastering 'Scotland the Brave'. 

And finally - a letter from a New Zealand listener outlines their journey and challenges in learning bagpipes, expressing a desire for more tailored feedback and the obstacles posed by time zone differences for live classes. 

Got a question for a future episode? Send it to us at [email protected] or leave a comment wherever you're listening to this podcast!

This week's highlights:
00:00 Introduction and Appreciation for Listener Engagement
00:49 Mailbag Segment Introduction
01:44 First Mailbag Question: Helping Young Pipers
04:49 Second Mailbag Question: Progressing a Tune
05:52 Deep Dive into the Art of Bagpiping
12:04 The Journey of Learning Bagpipes
20:36 Discussing the Difficulty of Common Tunes
21:05 Appreciation for Listener Questions
21:46 Reading Listener Mail
22:36 Analyzing Listener's Piping Journey
27:49 Addressing Listener's Desire for Critique
28:23 Challenges of Learning Piping in New Zealand
30:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Pipe band medley sets are the perfect chance to showcase your band's musical range and creativity. But why do some medleys sound more musical than others? Should you use harmonies in every tune, or is less more? Plus, what do judges actually listen for... and is that more important that putting together a creative set that an audience enjoys and players love to play?

This week, Andrew and Jim delve into what decisions and strategies you might want to consider when constructing a medley for your band, looking at how to balance the judge's expectation, the audience's enjoyment, and the performer's preference for tunes. They discuss the importance of tune selection, changes, harmonies, and how music theory ties in, and the practicalities of introducing and changing tunes mid-season...

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

This week we cover:
00:00 Introduction
00:45 Medley Construction
01:01 The Art of Building Medleys
02:11 The Role of Key Changes in Medleys
03:05 The Strategy of Starting a Medley
04:03 Balancing Judge, Audience, and Personal Preferences
11:49 The Role of Harmonies
14:06 The Impact of Tune Selection on Performance
17:20 The Secret Ingredient: Nostalgia
19:22 The Importance of Timing
19:43 The Challenge of Changing Tunes
20:10 The Value of Testing and Refining
20:49 The Influence of Popular Culture
21:02 The Art of Recycling Old Medleys
21:47 The Balance Between Creativity and Audience Expectations
22:12 Get Professional Help
22:34 The Importance of Mentorship
23:41 The Creative Process in Music
30:07 The Evolution of Harmonies
31:42 The Impact of Music Theory on Medleys
35:50 The Importance of Enjoyment
37:45 The Role of Tempo 

Rescue Your Bagpipe Sound May 31 - June 2, 2024 in Troy, New York at our Tuning Clinic! You don't have to be "that person" who loves bagpipes but can't figure out how to make them sound good. Make May 31st the last day you ever worry about tuning your pipes by joining us at the world's only tuning-centric bagpipe workshop.

Ever wondered why your drones seem to make a bunch of different sounds when you strike in (or if you don't cut them off quickly – an auditory experience affectionately know as "the dying cow")?

This week, Andrew and Jim explain the four distinct layers identifiable within drone sounds generated by the bagpipe: a squeaky unpredictable sound triggered by low pressure (layer one), a gurgly or raucous sub-layer (layer two), the optimal stable tone (layer three), and no sound at all (layer four), resulting from excessive pressure. Andrew and Jim underline the importance of bagpipe calibration and maintenance in navigating these layers. They recommend users test and understand these layers, allowing for improved sound control during performances.

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

On this episode:

00:00 Introduction 
00:39 The Art of Making Seven Layer Dip
02:45 Transition to Bagpipe Discussion
05:31 Understanding the Four Layers of Drone Reed Sound
09:57 Practical Application of the Four Layers
14:15 The Importance of Drone Reed Calibration
17:12 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

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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.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

Most of us show up for band practice like clockwork each week – maybe even a few times a week. But are you showing up in all the right ways to improve your own playing, and contribute to the improvement of your whole band? 

This week, Andrew and Jim – who both have plenty of experience playing in and leading bands at all grade levels – chat through the importance of individual players coming to practice with their instrument and personal skills honed so the group can focus on ensemble-specific issues and strategies during practice-time, rather than working on their individual skills. Plus, they chat through why some bands succeed and build a great culture – here's a hint: it starts with well-structured practice sessions...

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

____

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.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

"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

____

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.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

Dojo University Online Bagpipe School: http://pipersdojo.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/pipersdojo

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pipersdojo

Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipersdojo

SnapChat: pipersdojo

Do you want to sound just like your favourite pipers? Maybe we all do, to start with. But after a while, most pipers realise that true satisfaction comes from being able to create any musical ideas or interpretations that you want to – not just copying others.

Having this kind of freedom is the ultimate goal of any musician – and any bagpiper.

But when we skip early skills and rush through to play the pipes, it can be hard on the ol' ego to go back to the basics to re-learn them. But that mastery of the essentials is the key to finding that musical freedom, when you consider how many skills we have to juggle at the same time...

This week, Andrew and Jim continue discussing the chapter of Andrew's book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, that tackles how to juggle all the essential piping skills at once to be an excellent player. It's tricky, but not impossible, as long as you follow some simple principles.

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

On this episode:

00:00 The Meeting of the Dimensions: Where the Rubber Hits the Road
00:43 The Power of Control: Bagpipe Mastery
01:35 The House Analogy: Owning Your Bagpipe Skills
03:45 Building Skill Capital: The Importance of Learning New Tunes
07:19 The Journey to Bagpipe Freedom: Overcoming Ego Pain
11:06 Finding the Sweet Spot: Mastering the Art of Blowing
20:11 The MBA: Understanding Mental Blowing Anomalies
22:53 Debunking Bagpipe Myths
23:36 The Art of Steady Blowing
24:47 The Impact of Fingerwork on Blowing
25:40 The Importance of a Quiet Mind
26:02 Musical Influences and Inspirations
27:08 The Power of Learning New Tunes
27:21 The Art of Separation in Bagpiping
32:54 The Importance of Variety in Practice
36:09 The Danger of Repetition and the Need for New Material
38:19 The Importance of Being a Well-Rounded Piper
39:06 The Art of Creating Yourself in Bagpiping
42:11 The Power of Criticism and Questioning in Learning
45:14 The Art of Teaching and Learning: A Conclusion

____

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.

At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before. One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing. We'd love to welcome you and show you around!

Find Andrew and the Piper's Dojo Team here:

As pipers we have to juggle a lot of skills, usually all at once. Remembering tunes, playing with good rhythm and clean fingerwork, tuning, blowing good tone, marching... the list goes on.

But how do you put them all together without maxing out your 'piping bandwidth' – your mental capacity to do many things simultaneously? 

This week, Andrew and Jim chat through the chapter of Andrew's book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, that tackles how to juggle all the essential piping skills at once to be an excellent player. It's tricky, but not impossible, as long as you follow some simple principles...

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

In this episode:

00:00 Introduction to Bagpipe Mastery

00:42 The First Rule of the Internet

01:01 The Truth About Wi-Fi Extenders

02:17 The Art of Coffee Brewing

02:56 Entering Chapter 8 of Finding Bagpipe Freedom

03:07 The Meeting of the Dimensions

03:33 The Rubber Hits the Road

06:17 The Competition of Resources in Bagpiping

14:58 The Golf Paradox and Bagpiping

17:19 Reflecting on Past Performances

19:01 The Difficulty of Phase Four

19:11 Breaking Down the Fundamental Skills

20:21 Understanding the Phases

22:24 The Challenge of Phase Four

23:19 The Importance of Avoiding Bad Habits

23:44 The Impact of Mental Blowing Anomalies

24:34 The Struggle with Tempo Control

25:07 The Importance of Maintaining Skills

25:26 The Challenge of Multitasking

28:40 The Impact of Comparison

33:08 The Importance of Fundamentals

34:22 Wrapping Up the Discussion

Relive all the amazing performances from the 2024 Winter Storm Concert!

On January 14th 2024, it might have been freezing outside, but at Winter Storm – the pipes and drums event in Kansas City – we turned up the heat for the annual concert, featuring 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 year's concert was livestreamed once again by the Dojo University team. We hope you enjoy this audio edit of the livestream, now available for you to listen back to whenever you'd like. 

Recordings, livestreams, and events like those on offer at Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help the Midwest Highland Arts Fund continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by showing your support: https://mhaf.org/about-us/donate-volunteer/