383 episodes

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.

Piper's Dojo Audio Experience Andrew Douglas and the Piper's Dojo Team

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 27 Ratings

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.

    396 - Finding Your Perfect Drone Reed Setup (Dojo Conversations Ep 66)

    396 - Finding Your Perfect Drone Reed Setup (Dojo Conversations Ep 66)

    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 support@pipersdojo.com! 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

    • 28 min
    395 - Have You Tried The "Set and Forget" Method? (Dojo Conversations Ep 65)

    395 - Have You Tried The "Set and Forget" Method? (Dojo Conversations Ep 65)

    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 support@pipersdojo.com! 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

    • 18 min
    394 - Listener Q&A: Tiny Pipers, Moving Tunes Onto Pipes, and Finding A Kiwi Tutor (Dojo Conversations Ep 64)

    394 - Listener Q&A: Tiny Pipers, Moving Tunes Onto Pipes, and Finding A Kiwi Tutor (Dojo Conversations Ep 64)

    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 support@pipersdojo.com or leave a comment wherever you're listening to this podcast!

    This week's highlights:00:00 Introduction and Appreciation for Listener Engagement00:49 Mailbag Segment Introduction01:44 First Mailbag Question: Helping Young Pipers04:49 Second Mailbag Question: Progressing a Tune05:52 Deep Dive into the Art of Bagpiping12:04 The Journey of Learning Bagpipes20:36 Discussing the Difficulty of Common Tunes21:05 Appreciation for Listener Questions21:46 Reading Listener Mail22:36 Analyzing Listener's Piping Journey27:49 Addressing Listener's Desire for Critique28:23 Challenges of Learning Piping in New Zealand30:00 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

    • 37 min
    393 - How To Construct a Winning Medley (Dojo Conversations Episode 63)

    393 - How To Construct a Winning Medley (Dojo Conversations Episode 63)

    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 support@pipersdojo.com! 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

    • 39 min
    Unlock Your Bagpipe Tuning May 31st

    Unlock Your Bagpipe Tuning May 31st

    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.

    • 3 min
    392 - Dialling Into 4 Layers of Bagpipe Sound (Dojo Conversations Ep 62)

    392 - Dialling Into 4 Layers of Bagpipe Sound (Dojo Conversations Ep 62)

    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 support@pipersdojo.com!

    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

    • 23 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
27 Ratings

27 Ratings

Prideofmidtown78 ,

Amazing podcast

As a newer piper, your podcast was highly recommended to me by a highly experienced piper and I can’t thank them enough. I have listened to every single episode and I feel like I have gotten something out of each one of them. Thank you for taking your time to creat this content. I look forward to your future episodes! Keep up the strong work!

gamer73748854 ,

Great bagpiping content

Andrew from the online pipe and drum school "the pipers dojo" is very knowledgeable and it shows in the podcast. If you are looking to learn more about bagpiping you should check this out!

Nathaniel66 ,

Great discussions

I like these discussions about a wide variety of piping topics.
What are other successful musicians doing and thinking about.

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