Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

Andrew Douglas and the Piper's Dojo Team
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The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes.

  1. HACE 3 DÍAS

    506 - Why Don't My Bagpipes Sound Good With Other Instruments? (Dojo Conversations Episode 160)

    What if the reason your pipes sound incredible on their own… is the exact reason they clash with everything else? This week, Andrew and Jim dig into one of the most fascinating (and frustrating) realities of bagpiping: why the instrument’s beautiful, locked-in sound can feel completely at odds with a piano, organ, or other orchestral instruments. It all comes down to two competing systems of tuning – so buckle in for a music nerd deep dive into just intonation vs equal temperament, why they are often at odds with each other, and what you can actually do about it in real playing situations. Here’s what we cover in this episode:00:00 – Perfect intervals and the bagpipe’s unique tuning identity00:22 – Intros, hats, and an unexpected Albany geography tangent05:49 – Just vs equal temperament: what are we actually talking about?08:03 – Why the drone locks bagpipes into just tuning13:21 – A practical demo using 100 Hz to explain pure intervals17:00 – The ratios behind the bagpipe scale (B, C#, D, E, F#, G)22:32 – Equal temperament explained: 12 equal slices of the octave27:01 – The trade-off: why “in tune” sometimes means slightly out30:38 – Bagpipe vs piano in real numbers (e.g. C# at 600 vs 604.7 Hz)32:27 – The biggest clashes: why high G and low G hurt the most33:09 – Splitting the difference: practical tuning compromises35:04 – Can digital instruments meet the bagpipe halfway?35:45 – The hidden truth: even great pianos aren’t perfectly “in tune”37:11 – Why pure intervals are so addictive (and ruin everything else)41:38 – Do B-flat chanters fix the problem?43:47 – Finding your place on the just ↔ equal temperament spectrum

    47 min

  2. 27 ABR

    505 - Crushed Reeds, Confusing Feedback & Hard Truths About Tuning (Dojo U "Strike In" Q&A Session)

    This week on Dojo U’s "Strike-In" Q&A, Andrew and Carl dig into everything from reed disasters and confusing judges’ comments to tuning, piobaireachd mindset, and band dynamics. Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 – Exhibit D: introducing the new segment breaking down piping-related social media images 01:25 – A crushed, darkened reed: what it reveals about mold, storage, and poor setup habits 06:18 – Another smashed reed: how it happens (yes, the chanter cork) and a simple pre-play check to avoid it 10:01 – Matching shirts Q&A: “Who’s the nice one?” (inspired by Ed Best) 12:45 – Piobaireachd: is it more about mental endurance or technique? 20:38 – “Pipes tuned too close”: making sense of confusing or contradictory judge feedback 27:46 – Struggling to hear locked-in drones: how to actually develop your ear (and why it never really ends) 37:20 – Favourite places to play: from the World’s to the band hall when everything clicks 40:56 – Demoting players in a band: how to handle it clearly, fairly, and without unnecessary friction 46:00 – Blowing inconsistencies at band: what helps, what doesn’t, and why the real work happens at home

    56 min

  3. 20 ABR

    504 - The Myth of Relaxed Playing (Dojo Conversations Episode 159)

    What if trying to be relaxed when you play is actually a kind of denial – one that could affect your overall development as a piper? This week, Andrew and Jim explore what real control and calm actually look like in practice, why rushing and cramping show up when they do, and how many players end up stuck in a kind of “false chill” that can limit progress. Here’s what we cover in this episode: 00:30 – Why “just relax” isn’t helpful advice 01:10 – The myth of the chill player (and a Bob Marley detour) 01:36 – The chill–tension continuum: finding your baseline 05:29 – Recording anxiety and the tendency to rush 06:05 – Hand cramping and fears around focal dystonia 06:46 – Stuart Liddell’s playing and the sound of real ease 09:57 – Reactive vs proactive rhythm: why rushing happens 10:59 – “Pretending to be relaxed” – spotting avoidance 11:16 – How responsibility changes your relationship to “chill” 12:51 – Pre-chill, false chill, and what’s really going on 13:34 – Why most “chill” is actually denial 14:58 – Pre-chill vs post-chill: earning relaxation 16:39 – What genuine relaxation actually feels like 19:40 – Posture, tension, and diagnosing cramping 25:02 – “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” in real practice 26:16 – Is it fast playing, or just well-controlled? 28:22 – The “victory lap” trick: can you fake relaxation? 28:45 – Avoiding avoidance: the real solution 35:40 – Preparation vs relaxation in great players 37:33 – Competition chaos: making it up mid-performance 38:27 – A practical action plan: record, assess, adjust 40:34 – What “wealth” looks like in your playing 41:13 – Finger tension: finding the balance

    45 min

  4. 13 ABR

    503 - Stop Blaming the Reed: Fix Your Setup Instead (Dojo U Q&A Session)

    This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In Q&A, Andrew and Carl tackle a wide range of piping questions – from chanter choices and reed behaviour to rhythm fundamentals, travel tips, and getting the most out of your Dojo membership. Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 – Poly vs. blackwood chanters: are plastic chanters becoming the new standard? 04:12 – Retuning on the fly: what to listen for when your drones drift mid-performance 06:38 – Tapping your foot while playing: why it’s harder than it sounds (and how to build it) 12:32 – Why reeds change day to day: consistency, moisture, and the real culprit 21:30 – Teaching beginners: should you learn all 11 Commandments of Mastery? 24:17 – Flying with your pipes: what you actually need (and what you don’t) 37:28 – Submitting recordings for feedback: how to get the most from Dojo coaching 39:41 – Basic vs. Premium: what solo pipers unlock with a premium membership

    43 min

  5. 6 ABR

    502 - The Hidden Cost of “Fixing” Your Reed (Dojo Conversations Episode 158)

    Should you be messing with your chanter reeds?    This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of reed manipulation — pinching, licking, shaving, bridling, and everything in between. Are these habits actually helping your playing, or just creating more problems?   Reed tweaks can feel like quick fixes. But as Andrew and Jim explore, most of them are temporary, inconsistent, and quietly destructive. Drawing on personal experience (and a few cautionary tales), they unpack why so many pipers reach for manipulation in the first place — and what to do instead.   Here’s what we cover in this episode:  00:12 – Skateboarding, chess, and the joy of being bad at things  03:08 – Why reed manipulation is today’s focus  03:26 – The performance supplements analogy (and the Icarus connection)  08:57 – Reeds as precision instruments: why less is more  15:23 – Why all manipulation is (technically) destructive  17:56 – Buying hard reeds to shave down: risk vs reward  22:57 – “If it ain’t broke…” (and why no one listens)  24:55 – Pinching: what it does and how long it lasts  29:35 – The real reason pipers manipulate reeds  32:46 – Licking: pitch, vibration, and moisture science  38:23 – Bridling: the “perma pinch” trade-offs  39:57 – Reverse pinch / poking: opening the reed  40:24 – Shaving: when (if ever) it makes sense  45:07 – Jim’s lunch break experiment: resisting the urge  47:05 – Reed rituals: superstition, habit, and hidden benefits  50:02 – Final thoughts and why Icarus is worth a watch

    51 min

  6. 30 MAR

    501 - Mastering the Variables: Reeds, The Environment...& You (Dojo U Q&A Session)

    This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In, Andrew flies solo to answer a wide range of student questions, from solo playing tips to tenor reed management, pitch standards, finding a practice space after moving, and more. Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 – Solo playing insights 03:55 – Changing tenor reeds: one at a time or both? (plus transitioning from synthetic to cane) 10:37 – Practicing full pipes in a small apartment after moving (and piping vs married life) 15:28 – How high is too high? Understanding pitch standards for bands and solos 23:02 – Do you have to join a band? Navigating limited local options 26:30 – Piping in Scottish schools: professionalism, curriculum, and the SQA 29:31 – Squeezing arm movement: when is it a red flag? 30:50 – Fixing hemp stuck in the chanter seat when removing a reed 33:18 – Practice chanter priorities: moisture control vs realistic spacing 34:21 – Drones in battle: cardio benefit or myth? (history + debate) 35:56 – Returning to traditional gear: where to start with hide bags and cane reeds 36:29 – Cleaning and polishing your piping shoes (quick-fire tip)

    38 min

  7. 23 MAR

    500 - How To Turn Performance Nerves Into A Superpower (Dojo Conversations Episode 157)

    Ever felt your heart race, your hands shake, or your mind go blank before playing? This episode will help you understand why... and what to actually do about it.   Nerves can feel paralysing for pipers (or any performer). But they're a natural part of performance, and when understood properly they can become one of your greatest tools as a musician.   This week, Andrew and Jim dig into why performing feels so different from the practice room, drawing on insights from violinist and educator Maggie Watson. They explore how perception shapes physiology, why even highly trained players can feel more nervous than beginners, and what separates practice from performance as two completely different disciplines.   Here’s what we cover in this episode: 02:13 – Why performance nerves are today’s focus 03:11 – “I have thoughts, but I’m fallible” – Andrew’s disclaimer 04:41 – Why performance feels different from practice (Maggie Watson) 09:23 – Practice vs performance: two separate skill sets 10:40 – The lava pit analogy: how stakes change everything 14:51 – How perception drives physical response 15:04 – Why better players often feel more nervous 17:08 – Audience perception: competition vs parade mindset 22:36 – Why “just calm down” doesn’t work 23:21 – Reframing nerves as readiness 27:25 – Mental rehearsal and worst-case scenarios 28:35 – Simulating pressure at home (Jim’s Facebook Live approach) 29:56 – Quick strategies: breathing, body scans, reframing 30:14 – The real solution: practicing under pressure 30:36 – The one take rule and performance-style practice 36:22 – Alter egos: Sasha Fierce to Piper Supreme 39:42 – Performance rituals: kilts, tuning, and focus 43:40 – “Knowing the tunes is not enough” 46:31 – Performance as its own discipline 49:38 – Testing yourself under pressure

    51 min

  8. 16 MAR

    499 - Cane Reeds, Ear Training & Synthetic Myths (Dojo University Q&A Session)

    Getting better at piping isn’t about chasing every new piece of gear — it’s about understanding how your instruments, your ears, and your environment all work together. This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In, Andrew and Carl tackle student questions on cane drone reeds, ear training, synthetic chanter reeds, competition judging, and more practical piping topics.  Here's what we cover this week: 00:00 – Old cane reeds vs buying new 06:33 – Cane season, setups, and batch buying 10:00 – When cane won’t cooperate (weather and ageing) 12:45 – Championship-winning reeds nostalgia 15:20 – Training your ear to understand judges 18:00 – Should score sheets be public? 20:10 – Why not to stress about ear training 23:30 – Synthetic chanter reeds — challenges and demand 27:00 – Ridge-cut reeds feeling easier after warm-up 29:45 – Member directory: privacy vs connection 31:30 – Ideal 6/8 tempo for drum majors 33:20 – Efficient drone reeds for lighter setups 35:00 – Do quartets improve band unison? 38:30 – Instructor misconceptions in the piping community 41:00 – Getting friends interested in bagpipes

    40 min
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The Dojo engages thousands of bagpipers around the globe, by harnessing the power of the internet to help connect those in the world who share a specific passion; enriching one's life through bagpipes.

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  • Creador
    Andrew Douglas and the Piper's Dojo Team
  • Años de actividad
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodios
    494
  • Clasificación
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  • Copyright
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    Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

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