The Piper's Dojo

05/11/2026

This week on Dojo U’s "Strike-In" Q&A, Andrew and Carl tackle students' top-voted questions covering everything from competition tempos and reed setup to drone threading, posture, and grading standards.

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Welcome & intro
00:07 – Threading drone reed seats: the pros, cons, and ongoing debate. Does it change the sound? Is it reversible? And should you do it on vintage or high-end pipes?
07:00 – What actually separates the grades? A practical breakdown of Grade 5 through Professional, including what players should realistically be aiming for at each level
14:40 – Using the Two-Week Tune of the Week process for competition prep: applying the freedom phase approach to building and polishing solo or band repertoire
19:10 – Andrew’s move to St. Andrew’s College: will he continue playing with Inveraray? A look at how yearly “renewals” work and what he shared during the interview process
21:30 – Do bagpipes make people look better in photos and videos? Why posture matters more than you think, and the four key points that change everything
23:58 – What’s a safe tempo for a Grade 4 2/4 march? Live metronome demos using Siege of Delhi, Iron Division, and Prince Charles, plus why groove matters more than raw BPM
33:00 – Decoding judge feedback on tempo: how to turn “too fast” or “too slow” comments into practical adjustments
33:54 – Willie’s Glenfiddich tempo check: Mike’s rule that Grade 4 players probably shouldn’t be playing faster than 58 BPM
33:52 – Adding phase-passing recordings to Dojo-U congratulation posts: logistics, community feedback, and possible improvements
35:12 – Reed selection: when is a reed truly bad, and when is it just a poor match for your setup? Including the “90% rule” for chanter and drone reeds
37:57 – Why trial and error is still the best teacher: how running a band, experimenting with chanters, and buying cheap used gear speeds up learning
39:52 – Reed humidity prep: Andrew’s Ziploc bag and cigar humidification pack method for conditioning reeds before testing
41:30 – Hygrometer accuracy: why Andrew replaced his old hygrometers, and how unreliable readings can quietly sabotage your setup

05/08/2026

Last time we looked at what “just intonation” is… so what is “equal temperament”, and why is it different?

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.

Check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts, or on Facebook or YouTube!

05/07/2026

Ever heard of “just intonation”? It’s part of the reason your pipes can sound so good on their own… but also the exact reason they clash with so many other instruments.

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.

Check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts, or on Facebook or YouTube!

05/04/2026

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 identity
00:22 – Intros, hats, and an unexpected Albany geography tangent
05:49 – Just vs equal temperament: what are we actually talking about?
08:03 – Why the drone locks bagpipes into just tuning
13:21 – A practical demo using 100 Hz to explain pure intervals
17:00 – The ratios behind the bagpipe scale (B, C #, D, E, F #, G)
22:32 – Equal temperament explained: 12 equal slices of the octave
27:01 – The trade-off: why “in tune” sometimes means slightly out
30:38 – 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 most
33:09 – Splitting the difference: practical tuning compromises
35:04 – 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

04/30/2026

How do you stay calm even in high intensity performance situations?

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.

Check out the full episode on YouTube, Facebook or wherever you listen to podcasts!

04/28/2026

Are you really relaxed when you play? Or are you just avoiding anything that adds friction?

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.

Check out the full episode on YouTube, Facebook or wherever you listen to podcasts!

04/27/2026

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

04/24/2026

📣 Exciting announcement! 📣

Our co-founder and principal Andrew Douglas has been appointed Director of Piping & Drumming at St Andrew’s College in Aurora, Ontario, starting fall 2026.

As former student and Pipe Major of the College’s renowned program, this is a meaningful full-circle opportunity for Andrew to mentor and develop future pipers and drummers.

Andrew will continue to be part of the Dojo – still teaching, creating and helping shape what we do.

Please join us in congratulating him on this exciting new chapter! 👏

The private, independent boarding and day school for boys from grades 5 to 12 has one of the few full-time piping/drumming teaching positions for non-College/University-level institutions in North America, and the only one in Canada. The full-time position was created in 1998.

04/23/2026

Ever get cramps or rush the beat while you’re playing?

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.

Check out the full episode on YouTube, Facebook or wherever you listen to podcasts!

04/20/2026

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

04/16/2026

Are there any reasons you should manipulate your reed?

This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of reed manipulation — pinching, licking, shaving, bridling, and everything in between. Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!