The Piper's Dojo, Troy, NY (2025)

12/15/2025

When Your Chanter Won’t Behave (And What to Do About It)

This week on Dojo's "Friday Strike In" Q&A Hour, Andrew works through a stack of real-world piping questions, starting with how to balance low A and low G and expanding into the practical realities of tuning, setup, and consistency. The discussion covers common chanter issues, when flat notes become a serious problem, and why simple troubleshooting often beats drastic fixes.

They also shift focus from gear to players, tackling top-hand tension, posture, and why pipes feel so different from the practice chanter. Along the way, they dig into modern piping life – online lessons on full pipes, staying connected with bands from a distance, and how remote players can still show up prepared and be taken seriously.

We finish up with bigger-picture strategy around solo competition repertoire, a clear breakdown of tuning order from chanter to drones, and a look at what’s coming next.

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 – Intro & Balancing Low A and Low G
03:00 – Flat vs Sharp Notes on the Chanter
06:00 – Band Equipment Consistency & Fixes
08:00 – Relaxing the Top Hand
14:00 – Online Lessons on Full Pipes
17:40 – Staying Involved with Bands Remotely
24:00 – Changing Tunes for Solo Competition
29:00 – Tuning Order: Chanter vs Drones
38:00 – Wrap-Up & What’s Next

12/11/2025

Are your pipes hard to play? Check these four things…

In this episode, Andrew and Jim wrap up the year by rifling through the legendary “maybe later” pile – a collection of rejected ideas, abandoned plans, and almost-episodes that never quite made the cut. What starts as reflection quickly turns into some surprisingly solid piping advice, mixed with the usual chaos.

Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or our podcast, and leave us a comment if you have a topic of your own that you’d like us to cover in future!

12/09/2025

Ever wondered whether your marching style affects your competition score?

In this episode, Andrew and Jim wrap up the year by rifling through the legendary “maybe later” pile – a collection of rejected ideas, abandoned plans, and almost-episodes that never quite made the cut. What starts as reflection quickly turns into some surprisingly solid piping advice, mixed with the usual chaos.

Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or our podcast, and leave us a comment if you have a topic of your own that you’d like us to cover in future!

12/08/2025

Does Failing Faster Make You A Better Piper?

Ever wondered why some pipers seem to bounce back from mistakes effortlessly – or why your pipes sometimes feel great one day and impossible the next?

This week, Andrew and Carl dig into a whirlwind of community questions, from the end of the Insider podcast to the art of conscious practice, performance pressure, equipment choices, and knowing when you’re ready to buy your first full set of pipes.

They talk openly about experimenting (and failing) in public, why switching between pipes can throw you off, how nerves sabotage tunes you’ve played perfectly a hundred times, and why focused practice always beats endless reps. You’ll also hear their take on when in-person lessons are essential, how constraints can actually boost your creativity, and what gear Dojo instructors trust in their own playing.

🎵 Tune in at pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Why the Insider Podcast Is Ending (and what’s staying)
03:34 – Learning Through Trying, Failing, and Iterating
03:56 – How to Diagnose Hard-to-Play Pipes (Andrew’s Four Questions)
09:43 – Why Tunes Fall Apart Under Pressure
10:07 – Beating Performance Nerves & Preparing for High-Stakes Moments
21:00 – Practice vs. Repetition: Hunting for Future Mistakes
23:26 – When In-Person Lessons Matter (and when online is better)
29:39 – How Constraints Can Increase Your Musical Creativity
33:50 – What Gear Dojo Teachers Actually Use
40:00 – When You Should Buy Your First Set of Pipes

12/02/2025

Do you use pressure variance to tune your drones? Why not try… guessing?

This week, Andrew and Jim wrap up the year by rifling through the legendary “maybe later” pile – a collection of rejected ideas, abandoned plans, and almost-episodes that never quite made the cut. What starts as reflection quickly turns into some surprisingly solid piping advice, mixed with the usual chaos.

Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or our podcast, and leave us a comment if you have a topic of your own that you’d like us to cover in future!

12/01/2025

Rejected Ideas, Great Advice (Dojo Conversations Episode 149)

Some episodes are carefully planned… and some are rescued straight out of the garbage can.

This week, Andrew and Jim wrap up the year by rifling through the legendary “maybe later” pile – a collection of rejected ideas, abandoned plans, and almost-episodes that never quite made the cut. What starts as reflection quickly turns into some surprisingly solid piping advice, mixed with the usual chaos.

Along the way, they tackle big questions about marching style, presentation in solo competition, and whether looking polished actually affects results. Then it’s down the rabbit hole with pressure variance testing, tuning by intuition, and why “trial and error” might still beat science when it comes to getting your pipes locked in.

It’s messy, honest, practical… and accidentally one of the most useful episodes of the year.

They also dig into why tradition still matters – from kilts and uniforms to parade culture – and finish with quickfire advice on keeping piping fun for kids, playing without pain, and building real fluency in embellishments.

Got a topic sitting in your “maybe later” pile? Drop it in the comments – we just might pull it out next episode.

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Intro & End of Year Reflections�
04:50 – The “Maybe Later” Pile: Rejected Topics�
07:50 – Marching in Solo Competition: Big Steps or Little Steps?�
10:30 – Does Presentation Matter in Competition?�
12:30 – How to Own Your Style & Marching Advice�
13:45 – The Blow Trick (Pressure Variance Testing)�
14:00 – Pressure Variance, Tuning & Trial and Error�
22:00 – Tuning Philosophy: Guessing, Intuition & Learning�
27:00 – Uniforms, Kilts & the Value of Tradition�
31:00 – Parades, Outfits & Embracing the Ridiculous�
34:00 – Quickfire: Keeping Piping Cool for Kids�
35:00 – Quickfire: Avoiding Pain (Posture & Comfort)�
37:00 – Quickfire: Embellishment Fluency & Building Blocks�
38:30 – Rhythm, Gracenotes & Abstractions in Learning�
39:30 – Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

11/26/2025

What’s the best way to start learning a tune by ear?

This week, Andrew and Jim tackle how to learn tunes by ear, using the tune “Green Monster” as their test subject. They explore what really happens when you set the sheet music aside and trust your ears, your instincts, and a little bit of trial and error.

Check out the full episode on Facebook or YouTube!

And a special shoutout to Hannah Focken, whose performance we feature on this week’s episode: https://www.youtube.com/

11/25/2025

🚨 OUR BLACK FRIDAY SALE IS LIVE! 🚨

Get $45 OFF Dojo University Premium Yearly Membership – our best deal of the year!

Sign up now 👉 https://pipersdojo.com/blackfriday

For just $450, you'll get a year's access to:
✨ FREE 2026 Tune-of-the-Week Book (printed!)
✨ 20+ live classes every week
✨ 50+ courses
✨ 2,000+ tune lessons
✨ Dojo's proven Bagpipe Freedom Process
✨ Extensive class and workshop archives
✨ Our global piping community

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to join (or re-join)… this is it.

⏳ Don't delay – ends Monday!

Sign up now 👉 https://pipersdojo.com/blackfriday

11/25/2025

Have you tried this hack to help with learning a tune by ear?

This week, Andrew and Jim tackle how to learn tunes by ear, using the tune “Green Monster” as their test subject. They explore what really happens when you set the sheet music aside and trust your ears, your instincts, and a little bit of trial and error.

Check out the full episode on Facebook or YouTube!

And a special shoutout to Hannah Focken, whose performance we feature on this week’s episode: https://www.youtube.com/

11/24/2025

Composing the Future of Piping with John Dew

This week, we sit down with renowned piper and composer John Dew for a deep dive into his latest project, John Dew's Pipe Suites.

From the story behind the book to the evolution of harmony in bagpipe music, John walks us through his approach to writing suites, the influences that shaped his sound, and why understanding chord progressions is becoming essential for today’s pipers.

We also explore his brand-new album, the tools he uses to compose, and what’s ahead for bands travelling to competitions.

🎵 Tune in and join the conversation at pipersdojo.com!

Check out John and his music here: https://www.johndew-composition.com/

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 – Meeting John Dew & Early Background
01:11 – Inside the Pipe Suite Book: The USB Format & Features
02:40 – How the Community Reacted: Sales & Feedback
03:40 – What’s Actually in the Book? (11 Suites Explained)
05:10 – John’s Compositional Approach & Influences
08:50 – Harmony, Chord Progressions & the Modern Piping Mindset
13:45 – Teaching, Arranging & Why Harmony Matters for Leadership
17:23 – Tools of the Trade: Sibelius & Other Software
17:55 – Live Demo: Navigating the Book & Listening to Tracks
21:19 – John’s New Album: Marches & Fresh Compositions
23:20 – The Value of Musical Variety
24:49 – Interactive Learning Tools at the Dojo
25:45 – Q&A: Lessons, Pipe Majors, Contest Logistics & More
36:03 – Do Pipers… Talk to Their Pipes?
40:18 – Chicago Games & Band Travel Plans
43:56 – Chanter & Reed Talk: Mark II Shepherd, Tuning & Comparisons
46:15 – Drone Tuning Tips for Performances
49:41 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up

11/18/2025

Can you learn a tune by ear?

This week, Andrew and Jim tackle how to learn tunes by ear, using the tune “Green Monster” as their test subject. They explore what really happens when you set the sheet music aside and trust your ears, your instincts, and a little bit of trial and error.

Check out the full episode on Facebook or YouTube!

11/17/2025

How To Learn Tunes By Ear (Dojo Conversations Episode 148)

Learning by ear can feel both magical and maddening… and it’s one of the most powerful skills a musician can build.

This week, Andrew and Jim tackle how to learn tunes by ear, using the tune “Green Monster” as their test subject. They explore what really happens when you set the sheet music aside and trust your ears, your instincts, and a little bit of trial and error.

🎧💡 Ear learning isn’t just possible—it’s a superpower waiting to be unlocked.

Got questions or want to share your own ear-learning tips? Drop a comment below!

And a special shoutout to Hannah Focken, whose performance we feature on this week’s episode: https://www.youtube.com/

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:24 – Intro: Why Learn By Ear?
01:07 – Where Did “Green Monster” Come From?
02:41 – Sheet Music vs. Ear Learning
05:43 – Recordings Are Your Best Friend
08:58 – Practical Tools for Ear Learning
12:53 – The Bagpipe Freedom Process
14:30 – March, Jig, Hornpipe… or Something Else?
17:00 – Build a Mental Model First
20:00 – It Gets Easier (Really)
22:00 – Private Lessons vs. Self-Discovery
27:00 – Creativity, Play, and the Joy of Ear Learning�

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