The Piper's Dojo

10/28/2025

When something goes wrong with your pipes, it’s important to have a troubleshooting process to fall back on.

This episode, Andrew and Jim take a joyride through the surprisingly parallel worlds of mechanical tinkering and musical maintenance – from leaky fuel lines to temperamental reeds.

Like, subscribe, and share your best (or worst) mechanical mishap in the comments!

10/27/2025

Ever wondered if playing in a band might sabotage your solo piping?

This week, Andrew and Carl dive into the age-old struggle between band tempos, solo control, and the chaos that happens when adrenaline meets bagpipes, as they unpack how to stay in control when the bandroom gets loud – literally and figuratively.

The chat then veers into classic Dojo territory: why most practice chanters sound like sad recorders, whether synthetic reeds will ever be a thing, and the art of mic’ing drones without breaking your neck. There’s also a few strong opinions about hard vs. easy reeds, and the eternal mystery of how long you should really hold that E before a pickup.

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

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Can Being in a Band Sabotage Your Playing?
08:00 – Developing Control and Mastery
13:00 – Practice Chanters: Why Aren’t They Standardized?
22:00 – Jack Lee Steps Down as Pipe Sergeant of SFU
31:00 – Will Synthetic Chanter Reeds Ever Become a Thing?
36:00 – How Long Should You Hold E Before a Pickup Note?
41:00 – Micing Bagpipe Drones: Gear Recommendations
46:00 – Does a Hard Reed Equal Better Tone?
51:00 – Closing Thoughts and Q&A

10/22/2025

Early bird pricing for our pre-Winter Storm workshop ends soon (October 28th) – don’t miss out!
👉 Register now: https://pipersdojo.com/b2b

Kick-start (or reboot) your bagpipe journey at our Back to Basics Workshop – reset your fundamental skills before enjoying the excitement of Winter Storm!

🔗 REGISTER NOW: http://pipersdojo.com/b2b

🔁 Back to Basics Workshop
📍 Kansas City, Missouri
📅 Jan 12–14, 2026

Join us right before Winter Storm for 3 days of hands-on instruction, personal feedback, and a reset of your piping foundations with Andrew Douglas, Carl Donley & Griffin Hall.

👉 Small group learning and personalized attention (strict limit of 24 spots)
👉 Tools & workbook you’ll continue to use for years
👉 A fun, supportive community of pipers and instructors
👉 Social activities and a group lunch at Joe’s KC BBQ 🍖

🎟 Early Bird Special: $399 until Oct 28, 2025 (midnight NY time)

Reset your fundamentals. Rebuild your confidence. Walk into Winter Storm ready to play your best.

🔗 REGISTER NOW: http://pipersdojo.com/b2b

10/22/2025

What do old cars and bagpipes have in common? More than you might think...

This week, Andrew and Jim take a joyride through the surprisingly parallel worlds of mechanical tinkering and musical maintenance – from leaky fuel lines to temperamental reeds.

Whether you’re tuning pipes or turning wrenches, this episode is a reminder that mastery isn’t about perfection — it’s about patience, curiosity, and a good sense of humor.

Like, subscribe, and share your best (or worst) mechanical mishap in the comments!

10/20/2025

Bagpipes, Breakdowns, and Life Lessons (Dojo Conversations Episode 146)

What do old cars and bagpipes have in common? More than you might think...

This week, Andrew and Jim take a joyride through the surprisingly parallel worlds of mechanical tinkering and musical maintenance – from leaky fuel lines to temperamental reeds.

Along the way, they swap stories about car ownership philosophies, creative DIY fixes, and the lessons learned from both engines and chanters that just won’t behave. It’s a lighthearted look at frustration, persistence, and knowing when to hold on… and when to finally let go.

🚗🎶 Whether you’re tuning pipes or turning wrenches, this episode is a reminder that mastery isn’t about perfection — it’s about patience, curiosity, and a good sense of humor.

Like, subscribe, and share your best (or worst) mechanical mishap in the comments!

Here’s what we cover this week:�
00:00 – Morning routines & setting the tone�
03:20 – Car ownership philosophies: new, old, or leased?�
08:10 – Jim’s decades-long car saga�
13:45 – The pickup truck dream (and nightmare)�
22:00 – DIY repairs and mechanical mayhem�
28:30 – The great gasoline leak incident�
33:00 – What cars teach us about bagpipes�
37:00 – The sunk cost fallacy and moving on�
41:00 – Toyota Camry wisdom: choosing reliability�
45:00 – Diagnosing problems: first principles & learning by doing�
50:00 – Mechanics, community, and quirky gas stations�
54:00 – Wrap-up & what’s next

10/16/2025

Ever wished your band could learn tunes faster?

Designed to feel like having a teacher by your side 24/7, this powerful tool – the interactive player – puts total control of your learning in your hands.

We walk through how it works – toggling between video and sheet music, looping tricky spots, slowing things down, adding a metronome, and building up speed for tough passages to help pipers learn smarter, faster, and more musically.

If you’ve ever wished your practice sessions could be more focused and more fun – this episode will show you how. Check it out on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts

🎶 Try the Interactive Player today with a Dojo U membership: https://pipersdojo.com/store (sign up with a free trial!)

10/14/2025

Ever been practicing a tune and hit that one impossible bar... and no matter how many times you rewind the recording, your fingers just won’t cooperate?

What if you had a way to slow everything down – literally – and focus just on what needs work?

That’s exactly what our new Interactive Player is designed to do! It's an on-demand virtual piping coach that never gets frustrated, never loses interest, and is always available to help you practice – effectively and at your own pace.

Let's break down some of the features together.

Ever been practicing a tune and hit that one impossible bar – usually in the dreaded third part – and no matter how many times you rewind the recording, your fingers just won’t cooperate.

10/14/2025

Let’s look under the hood of one of the most exciting innovations at the Dojo yet: the brand new Interactive Player.

Designed to feel like having a teacher by your side 24/7, this powerful tool puts total control of your learning in your hands.

They walk through how it works – toggling between video and sheet music, looping tricky spots, slowing things down, adding a metronome, and building up speed for tough passages to help pipers learn smarter, faster, and more musically.

Along the way, they chat about the dream of on-demand teaching, share a demo of “Banjo Breakdown,” and talk about what’s coming next as the library grows (hint: more tunes, more instruments, more inspiration).

If you’ve ever wished your practice sessions could be more focused and more fun – this episode will show you how. Check it out on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts

🎶 Try the Interactive Player today with a Dojo U membership: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Got questions or want to share your favorite feature? Drop a comment below or email us at support@pipersdojo.com

10/13/2025

Could Singing Be the Secret to Great Piping?

This week, Andrew and Carl dive deep into one of the most expressive and mysterious corners of piping: piobaireachd singing – and the fascinating system behind it, Nether Lorn Canntaireachd.

They explore where it came from, how it works, and whether you really need to learn it to play great music. Along the way, they share practical advice for learners, uncover handy resources and archives, and show how singing can transform your understanding of a tune’s structure and emotion.

The conversation also branches into interactive tune demos (including “Thunderstruck” and “Steam Train”), band medley creativity, and even a few hot takes on h**p, wax, and bagpipe maintenance. You’ll hear how the Dojo team approaches rhythm, simplicity, and musical fundamentals – all wrapped up in the usual mix of humor, deep insight, and Friday banter.

🎶 Join the conversation and explore interactive resources at pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Intro & Piobaireachd Singing Class?
01:05 – The Role of Singing in Piobaireachd
02:30 – Nether Lorn Canntaireachd: History & Use
04:15 – Is Learning Canntaireachd Necessary?
06:00 – Practical Tips for Learning Tunes
08:00 – Resources for Canntaireachd Study
10:00 – Using Archives & Practice Advice
12:00 – Interactive Tunes & Community Requests
14:00 – Thunderstruck & Steam Train Interactive Demo
17:00 – Black vs. Yellow Waxed H**p: Is There a Difference?
19:00 – Cobbler’s Wax & Bagpipe Maintenance
21:00 – Rhythm Class Update & Why It Matters
23:00 – Behind the Scenes: The Dream Valley Medley
26:00 – What Makes a Great Band Medley?
29:00 – Balancing Judges, Audience & Band Enjoyment
32:00 – COVID-Era Band Videos & Tech Challenges
34:00 – Pentatonic Tunes & Musical Fundamentals
36:00 – The Power of Simplicity in Music
38:00 – Closing Thoughts & What’s Coming Next

10/08/2025

What if you could have a bagpipe teacher on demand – anytime, anywhere?

This week, Andrew and Jim road test one of the most exciting innovations at the Dojo yet: the brand new Interactive Player.

Designed to feel like having a teacher by your side 24/7, this powerful tool puts total control of your learning in your hands.

They walk through how it works – toggling between video and sheet music, looping tricky spots, slowing things down, adding a metronome, and building up speed for tough passages to help pipers learn smarter, faster, and more musically.

Along the way, they chat about the dream of on-demand teaching, share a demo of “Banjo Breakdown,” and talk about what’s coming next as the library grows (hint: more tunes, more instruments, more inspiration).

If you’ve ever wished your practice sessions could be more focused and more fun – this episode will show you how. Check it out on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts

🎶 Try the Interactive Player today with a Dojo U membership: pipersdojo.university/store

Got questions or want to share your favorite feature? Drop a comment below or email us at support@pipersdojo.com.

10/06/2025

This Virtual Piping Coach Revolutionizes Practice (Dojo Conversations Episode 145)

What if you could have a bagpipe teacher on demand – anytime, anywhere?

This week, Andrew and Jim road test one of the most exciting innovations at the Dojo yet: the brand new Interactive Player.

Designed to feel like having a teacher by your side 24/7, this powerful tool puts total control of your learning in your hands.

They walk through how it works – toggling between video and sheet music, looping tricky spots, slowing things down, adding a metronome, and building up speed for tough passages to help pipers learn smarter, faster, and more musically.

Along the way, they chat about the dream of on-demand teaching, share a demo of “Banjo Breakdown,” and talk about what’s coming next as the library grows (hint: more tunes, more instruments, more inspiration).

If you’ve ever wished your practice sessions could be more focused and more fun – this episode will show you how.

🎶 Try the Interactive Player today with a Dojo U membership: pipersdojo.university/store

Got questions or want to share your favorite feature? Drop a comment below or email us at support@pipersdojo.com.

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Intro & Banter
02:20 – Building a new “he shed” studio
04:40 – Outlander and epic bagpipe soundtracks
07:15 – The dream of an on-demand teacher
09:00 – Introducing the Interactive Player
11:00 – Demo: “Banjo Breakdown” lesson
14:00 – Customizing your learning experience
18:00 – Isolating tricky passages
22:00 – Speed training and memorization
25:00 – Tools for band leaders and group practice
28:00 – Expanding the library and future features
32:00 – Tips, tricks, and best practices
35:00 – Mobile experience and final thoughts
37:00 – Outro & membership info