Afleveringen

  • 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

  • Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?

    Klik hier om de feed te vernieuwen.

  • 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

  • Chanter reeds are often sent from the manufacturer labelled as "easy", "hard", or anything in between – but how do you know which one is going to be right for you?

    This week, Andrew and Jim are putting chanter reeds under pressure, first focusing on understanding reed strength through the measurement of 'inches of water', a method used by reed makers to indicate required blowing pressure. They discuss the variability of reeds, finding the right reed strength for individual players, the importance of steady blowing and different types if manometers. 

    Got a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or send it to [email protected]

    This week, we cover:

    01:58 Music's Emotional Influence

    04:40 Understanding Bagpipe Reeds

    08:06 The Variability of Reed Strength

    11:10 Personalizing Reed Selection

    13:39 Exploring Manometer Use in Bagpipe Practice

    17:43 Advantages of Tube Style Manometers

    26:07 Concluding Thoughts and Podcast Wrap-up

  • Pipe band can be a source of joy, fun, and fulfilment. But the person in charge matters… and it can be really demotivating when weaknesses in their leadership start to affect your enjoyment of this hobby we all know and love… This week, we’re revisiting an article Andrew wrote in 2020 called, you guessed it, “10 Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks”. Despite the clickbait title, the point is really about leadership – in a pipe band setting, or any other. Andrew and Jim dive into their own experiences playing under various pipe majors, good and bad, and the importance of leadership quality, fostering talent, and creating a positive band culture. But it can be easier said than done – and a good leader also needs good followers… Want to sign up for Dojo U Insider - your daily dose of bagpiping education, delivered right to your pocket? Check it out: https://pipersdojo.com/insider Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at [email protected]! This week, we cover: 01:15 The Allure of Hip New Pipe Majors and Band Dynamics 03:58 Addressing the Challenges of Suboptimal Pipe Majors 05:46 Exploring the 'Ten Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks' Article 06:25 Big Fish Syndrome and Leadership Flaws 14:10 The Problem with a Suffocating Repertoire 16:16 Disrespecting Band Members' Time 17:39 Cutting Down Emerging Talent 18:02 Navigating Talent and Leadership in Bands 18:35 The Challenges of Being Musically Gifted in School 19:25 The Power Dynamics in Teaching and Leadership 19:51 Fostering Talent vs. Resentment in Leadership 20:16 Personal Reflections on Supporting New Talent 20:55 The Joy and Frustration of Repetitive Practice 21:36 Recognizing and Avoiding Leadership Pitfalls 23:29 The Importance of Delegation and Trust in Leadership 26:41 Understanding the Bigger Picture in Leadership 29:53 Setting Realistic Expectations and Fostering Growth 33:22 Reflections on Leadership and Followership ____ 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 back 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

  • Pipers around the world find bagpipe tuning one of the hardest skills to master. Why? This week, we're using the physics of sound to explain why, as we look in-depth at how the harmonics of bagpipe chanter and drone reeds relate to each other. Brace yourself, dear listener – this is the sound nerd deep dive to rule them all! If you're listening to the audio version of this podcast, you may want to check out the version on YouTube or Facebook for some of the visual references, too – we promise they'll blow your mind too... Want to dive even deeper on the physics and practical tips for bagpipe tuning? You can check out our full Bagpipe Tuning Algorithm Course with Premium Dojo U Membership – visit pipersdojo.com to check it out today! Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to us at [email protected]. Here's what we're covering this week: 00:00 Unlocking the Mysteries of Bass Tuning 00:26 Morning Banter: Compliments and Podcast Dynamics 02:06 Exploring the Evolution of the Bagpipe 06:09 The Great Highland Bagpipe: History and Evolution 12:32 The Challenge of Tuning the Bass Drone 24:13 Harmonics and the Richness of Bagpipes 28:13 Exploring the Harmonics of Bagpipes 29:17 The Physics of Reeded Instruments 31:45 Harmonic Differences Among Instruments 37:08 Advanced Harmonics and Instrument Tuning Insights 37:53 The Art of Tuning: Practical Tips and Tricks 42:45 The Beauty of Dissonance in Music 48:38 The Complexity of Harmonics in Pipe Bands 57:16 Concluding Thoughts on Harmonics and Tuning ____ 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 back 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

  • Learning tunes can be hard, especially if you struggle with sight-reading. But there's a step that makes it much easier – and helps speed up a bunch of other skills too, including your ability to play the right rhythm and melody.

    This week, we're discussing the concept of 'playing it like you sing it'. While some people can feel a bit silly or uncomfortable singing a tune out loud, there's a profound connection between singing and playing an instrument. And when you combine multiple senses and physical movements – like foot tapping, head nodding, and visually following the music – it can actually help you memorize and internalize the music much faster and more powerfully.

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

    Here's what we cover this week:

    00:00 Unlocking the Secret Sauce of Musical Expression
    00:26 The Power of Singing in Music Memorization
    05:51 Exploring the Mind-Music Connection
    09:53 The Evolution of Musical Ideas
    18:30 Singing vs. Playing: The Internal Melody
    20:21 Exploring the Origins and Meaning of 'Chanter'
    21:14 The Art of Singing and Playing: A Creative Convergence
    21:51 Practical Musings on Musical Practice and Improvement
    23:58 The Mental Model of Music: From Mind to Reality
    27:26 Sharing Music: The Power and Limitations of Performance
    28:46 AI and the Future of Music: A Philosophical Dive
    34:47 The Evolution of Musical Ideas and Traditions
    38:12 Balancing Creativity and Rules in Music Education

    ____

    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 back 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

  • Why don't they just make bagpipe chanters that don't need tape? This week, we delve into why – the physics behind why all chanters inevitably require tape, misconceptions about tape usage, and detailed instructions for applying tape correctly. Plus, we look at how recent an innovation tape really is, and why it's such an important part of getting your pipes singing. Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at [email protected]. This week, we cover: 00:00 The Great Tape Debate: Unraveling the Sticky Questions 00:40 A Sticky Situation: The Tale of a Funeral Performance 04:28 The Science of Tape: Why All Bagpipers Need It 13:28 Tape Techniques and Tales from the Field 22:29 Choosing the Right Tape: A Pipers' Guide 23:31 Cleaning Up: Tips for Maintaining Your Chanter Tape 28:16 The Evolution of Chanter Tuning: From Wax to Tape

  • You're stuck on a desert island. Would you rather have your practice chanter, or an endless playlist of great pipe band tunes? If you didn't say the latter, you're missing the number one secret ingredient to being a better musician – immersion! This week, we're discussing why certain families and geographies seem to foster world class players. Is it just boundless talent passed along in their bloodlines... or is it the world-class piping and drumming they've been absorbing since before they could talk? Immersion in the best of your craft is the single greatest correlate to ongoing success in anything. So how can you replicate that if you're not living in a hive of pipe band activity, or surrounded by top class pipers everyday? We have some ideas for you... Got a question you want us to discuss on a future episode? Leave a comment or send it to [email protected]. Highlights of this week's episode: 00:00 Have you heard of a little podcast called 'Droning On'? 01:29 Diving into the World of Bagpiping Podcasts and Media 02:08 The Essence and Importance of Immersion in Bagpiping 09:13 Exploring Various Avenues for Bagpipe Immersion 20:49 The Power of Immersion in Learning and Creativity 25:23 Wrapping Up with Reflections and a Desert Island Dilemma

  • Do bagpipes seem sharper in pitch than they used to be? That's because they are... This week, Andrew and Jim answer a listener question about why bagpipes have become sharper over time. We look at the history of pitch, how it affects tuning to mix and match old chanters and new reeds, and also at before a left turn into the implications of rising pitch for competitions (for better or worse). Plus, will we ever figure out the magic pitch that will help us make first contact with aliens? Listen in to find out! This week, we cover: 00:00 Opening Thoughts on Competition and Aliens 00:21 A Morning Chat: From Sickness to Bagpipes 01:09 Listener's Query: The Sharpness of Bagpipes 02:31 Exploring Bagpipe History and Pitch Evolution 07:50 The Science and History of Musical Pitch 16:17 The Bagpipe Pitch Debate: Tradition vs. Modernity 20:51 Judging Bagpipe Competitions: Pitch Preferences 28:54 Concluding Thoughts on Bagpipe Pitch and Future Directions

  • Should you use cane or synthetic drone reeds? Is it good or bad to mix and match them? Does ‘perfect bagpipe tone’ exist? Can you achieve it if your band plays different reed setups? And does a bit of imperfection in your sound actually make your tone better? This week, we’re talking all things drone reeds! Drone reeds are an integral part of our instrument’s sound, stability, and tone, and yet knowing how and when to use the different makes and materials is something most pipers don’t understand. Cane or synthetic? Inverted or standard? Uniformity or mix and match? Join us as we delve into the details on drone reeds… Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at [email protected]! Here’s a summary of what we cover this episode: 00:00 Pumpkin’s Fancy Shirt 00:40 The Journey from Synthetic to Mixed Material Drone Reeds 01:30 Exploring the Nuances of Drone Reeds 04:12 The Quest for the Perfect Drone Reed Combination 09:32 The Superiority of Cane Drone Reeds Explored 16:48 Rethinking Band Uniformity: Drone Reeds and Chanters 24:29 The Philosophy of Bagpipe Sound: Complexity and Preference

  • 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 ____ 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 back 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

  • 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 ____ 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 back 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

  • 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

    ____

    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