381 - The 4 Questions You Should Be Asking Every Time You Play (Dojo Conversations Episode 51)

405 - What If There Were NO Bagpipes? (Dojo Conversations Episode 75)

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

404 - Reddit Q&A: What's The Hardest Tune Ever Written and much more (Dojo Conversations Ep 74)

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

403 - How To Find Your Ideal Chanter Reed Strength (Dojo Conversations Episode 73)

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

402 - 10 Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks (Dojo Conversations Episode 72)

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

401 - Is Bass Drone Tuning "Hard"? (Dojo Conversations Episode 71)

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