Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

Informações:

Sinopsis

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.

Episodios

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

    25/03/2024 Duración: 28min

    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 B

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

    18/03/2024 Duración: 18min

    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: Understandin

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

    11/03/2024 Duración: 37min

    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 Di

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

    04/03/2024 Duración: 39min

    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

  • Unlock Your Bagpipe Tuning May 31st

    28/02/2024 Duración: 03min

    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.

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

    26/02/2024 Duración: 23min

    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 R

  • 391 - Are You Getting The Most Out Of Band Practice? (Dojo Conversations Ep 61)

    19/02/2024 Duración: 29min

    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 support@pipersdojo.com! ____ 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 t

  • 390 - Do You Play in the "Tone Zone"? (Dojo Conversations Ep 60)

    12/02/2024 Duración: 22min

    "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 support@pipersdojo.com! 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 

  • 389 - Do You Own or Rent Your Piping Skills? (Dojo Conversations Episode 59)

    05/02/2024 Duración: 48min

    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 support@pipersdojo.com! On this episode: 00:00

  • 388 - How Can You Free Up Your Piping Bandwidth? (Dojo Conversations Episode 58)

    29/01/2024 Duración: 35min

    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 support@pipersdojo.com! 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 Th

  • 2024 Winter Storm Concert

    21/01/2024 Duración: 01h58min

    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/

  • 387 - What's the REAL Cost of Bagpiping? (Dojo Conversations Episode 57)

    20/01/2024 Duración: 19min

    How much money should you be budgeting for your bagpiping? At a minimum there are reeds, pipe bags, and other parts all need to be replaced regularly – and then there's new chanters, travel, lessons, and much more. It can add up pretty quickly to a lot more than you thought when you started as a fledgling piper...   This week, Andrew and Jim talk through a bagpiping budget – the outlay for equipment and travel, the importance of good maintenance and care, and the cost-benefit of more expensive options versus cheaper alternatives for durability and performance.   Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email support@pipersdojo.com!

  • 386 - How to Simplify Tunes (Dojo Conversations Episode 56)

    15/01/2024 Duración: 51min

    Ever heard “you’re not a REAL piper unless you play with all the embellishments as written”?   Embellishments are lovely – but they’re the crown moulding, while foundational skills like rhythm, scale navigation, and so many others are vital to master first…   This week, Andrew and Jim look at how to go back to basics with your tunes, by learning to effectively simplify them. They use Bonnie Anne to give a step-by-step explanation, starting with rhythm, then integrating melody notes and grace notes. Each successive layer becomes more complex, with emphasis on learning only one type of embellishment at a time.     Episode highlights: 02:07 The Importance of Simplifying Tunes 03:15 The Right and Wrong Ways to Simplify 07:27 The Bagpipe Freedom Process 08:42 Breaking Down 'Bonnie Anne' 22:34 Adding Grace Notes to a Simplified Tune 26:00 The Importance of Writing Music by Hand 26:44 Grace Notes 28:54 Simplifying the Setting: Adding and Removing Grace Notes 31:07 The Process of Building a Tune:

  • 385 - Can Rest Be Productive? (Dojo Conversations Episode 55)

    08/01/2024 Duración: 25min

    Do you ever feel burned out at the end of competition season? This week, Andrew and Jim look at the merits of rest. It's a necessity in the fitness world to recover and restore yourself to be stronger – so could the same be true for your piping? High-pressure performances and competition can certainly be draining if you're pouring time into them, and the downtime can have negative effects on your motivation and creativity. But consistency is really important to stay motivated – so could taking a short sabbatical reinvigorate you, or could it be a fast track to throwing in the towel?  On this week's show: 00:31 The Importance of Recovery in Fitness01:22 The Need for Breaks and Off Seasons01:42 The Philosophy of Prolonged Breaks02:14 The Role of Consistency in Success02:58 The Impact of Burnout03:25 The Joy of Bagpiping03:35 The Aftermath of Intense Bagpiping07:58 The Concept of Taking a Break18:05 The Importance of Creativity in Bagpiping20:27 The Role of Competition in Bagpiping22:39 The Need for Breaks

  • 384 - Everything Auld Is New Again (Dojo Conversations Episode 54)

    01/01/2024 Duración: 42min

    Should 'auld' episodes be forgot and never brought to mind? Not a chance! As 2024 dawns, we're taking a moment to pause and reflect – it's been just over a year since the podcast went live, so this week Andrew and Jim revisit some of the highs, the lows, and the bits we can't remember as we look back on the Dojo Conversations journey so far... and where we're headed in 2024 and beyond! If you have a topic you'd like us to cover in a future episode, leave us a comment or send it to support@pipersdojo.com. To register for the first ever EPIC Cruise Journey North, visit DojoUniversity.com/Cruise ____ 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 n

  • 383 - A Highland Piping Christmas Carol (Dojo Conversations Episode 53)

    24/12/2023 Duración: 13min

    'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the Dojo, we've enlisted AI for some festive mojo! This week, Andrew and Jim detour for a special Christmas episode, enlisting the writing and artistic talents of very special guest to pull together the most bagpipey version of A Christmas Carol and The Grinch ever conceived (by AI)... Wishing all our followers and listeners a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! ____ 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

  • 382 - Jack Lee on Cruise Journey North (Dojo Conversations Episode 52)

    18/12/2023 Duración: 29min

    This week, Andrew and Jim welcome special guest and piping legend Jack Lee to talk all things piping, drumming and… cruising?! The upcoming Piper’s Dojo and Piping Hot Summer Drummer collaboration 'Cruise Journey North' departs from Seattle to Alaska on May 4th, 2024, with regular classes, private sessions, tune workshops, tune composition sessions, and opportunities to interact with local pipe bands in Alaska, all mixed in with a luxury cruise holiday in the idyllic American north. Learn more about how this all came about, as well as a preview of a fun new tune composed just for this new adventure on the high seas!  Learn more about Cruise Journey North or register: pipersdojo.com/cruise     Episode highlights: 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Planning the Cruise 00:49 The Story Behind the Cruise Idea 01:17 Collaboration and Challenges 02:11 The Role of the Travel Agent 03:23 The Evolution of Andrew's Nickname 04:24 Details about the Cruise 05:21 Meeting Local Pipers in Alaska 08:03 The Cr

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

    12/12/2023 Duración: 32min

    Do your pipes ever feel hard to play? If you’re not asking these 4 questions every time you pick them up out of the box, you’re setting yourself up to fail before you play a single note… This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the 4 questions of bagpipe maintenance that are a ‘pre-flight’ checklist to make sure you’re set up for success every time you play. By making a system of these and building it into your piping routine, you’ll avoid future problems and have the best chance at a great practice or performance, every time.  Check out our free PDF that outlines these essential questions: pipersdojo.com/4questions Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or send it to support@pipersdojo.com!   Topics covered this week: 00:00 Introduction and Initial Discussion 00:01 The Importance of Pre-Flight Checklist in Bagpipe Playing 01:44 Understanding the Concept of Air Tightness and Efficiency 04:24 The Role of Bagpipe Maintenance in Performance 06:57 The Four Questions of Bagpipe

  • 380 - Finding Drumming Freedom with Ed Best (Dojo Conversations Episode 50)

    04/12/2023 Duración: 55min

    This week, we're welcoming special guest Ed Best – Dojo U's drumming instruction lead, rhythm guru and dad joke connoisseur – to chat about his approach to helping drummers find their own musical freedom. We dive into the ways piping and drumming can be similar (and how similar approaches between the two corps can benefit a band); how rhythm is the crucial foundation to all music; how drummers approach writing their scores compared to pipers; and how great players don't always make great teachers. Plus some incidental parenting hacks for good measure! Interested to learn more about Dojo U's Drumming program? Check it out for free for the first week: pipersdojo.com/drumming Got a question you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or shoot us an email at support@pipersdojo.com. 

  • 379 - Are Your Bagpipes Playing You? (Dojo Conversations Episode 49)

    27/11/2023 Duración: 45min

    Do your bagpipes fit your body – or do you make your body fit to your bagpipes?   Continuing last week's conversation about posture, this time Andrew and Jim challenge the idea that bagpipes are hard to play – according to Andrew they should be easy to play, always, but we all know that's often easier said than done... especially for newer players. So they follow up with some great tips on how to work on your posture, whether you could 'wear your bagpipes to outer space', and how to improve your maintenance systems to make sure you never have to worry about playing a 'hard' instrument ever again.   Got a question or topic you'd like answered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email it to support@pipersdojo.com!

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