Start your year strong—wherever you are in your piping journey.

January 10-13, 202 • Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza

Nearly 20 hours of instruction, guided activities, and hands-on piping immersion.

Wherever you are in your piping journey, there is always a meaningful next step.

Winter Warm-Up brings pipers together for three focused days of instruction before MHAF's Winter Storm event. Choose the learning track that matches your experience, work closely with Carl Donley, Griffin Hall, and Zephan Knichel, and begin the year feeling more confident, motivated, and excited about your playing.

One piping school. Two focused learning tracks.

CHOOSE YOUR LEARNING TRACK:

BACK TO BASICS

For newer, returning, and frustrated pipers who want to feel more comfortable with their instrument.

The bagpipes are complicated. Even after lessons, tutorials, new equipment, and hours of practice, it can be difficult to know whether your instrument is properly set up—or what to do when something does not sound or feel right!

The Back to Basics track gives you time to slow down, ask questions, and work directly with experienced instructors on your own instrument.

You’ll work on:

Bagpipe maintenance
Instrument setup
Drone and chanter tuning
Understanding how the instrument’s components work together
Diagnosing common problems
Building a more confident approach to caring for and playing your pipes
Playing fundamentals
and more!

Is Back to Basics right for you?

This track is designed for:

Newer pipers building a strong foundation
Returning pipers who need a refresher
Adult learners who feel overwhelmed by the instrument
Pipers who feel frustrated or stuck
Players who want to understand their setup rather than rely on guesswork

Participants should already own and have begun playing a full set of bagpipes and be able to play at least one simple tune. Basic sight-reading is helpful, but not required.

Only 18 students

Two instructors will work with the Back to Basics group, allowing for hands-on help, breakouts, and direct attention.

Every participant will work with the instructors on their own bagpipes—not simply watch a demonstration from the back of a crowded room.

You’ll also receive a workbook to use during the workshop and take home as a lasting reference.

Back to Basics Pricing

Early Bird: $449 until October 1, 2026.
Regular Price: $549

Only 18 places are available!

Secure your place with a $150 nonrefundable deposit. Your remaining balance will be invoiced and due November 15, 2026.

PERFORMANCE LAB

For experienced pipers ready to spend more time playing and refining real performance material.

Performance Lab is an intensive, eligibility-based track limited to just six students.

Each participant will submit one tune that they are actively preparing by December 1, whether it be light music, piobaireachd, or any other performance selection. That selection will become the foundation for three days of performance coaching, group learning, tuning work, structured listening, and individualized feedback.

The goal is not simply to improve one tune. It is to help you understand your music more deeply, communicate musical ideas more clearly, and connect performance challenges back to fundamentals such as:

Rhythm and steadiness
Technique and embellishment quality
Tone and tuning
Tempo control
Musical structure
Expression and phrasing
Performance readiness

A highly personal six-student experience

Every participant will have dedicated time to play for the group and receive focused coaching.

You will also learn by listening, playing through material together, observing the work of the other students, and participating in guided peer feedback.

The final day will bring the work together through tuning, performance preparation, structured listening, and a performance-style wrap-up.

With only six students and one instructor working closely with the group at a time, this is an active workshop—not a lecture.

Who qualifies for Performance Lab?

Performance Lab is open to experienced pipers who meet at least one of the following qualification criteria:

[DOJO U FREEDOM PHASE CRITERION] (Dojo U membership is NOT required.)
[CURRENT COMPETITION GRADE OR LEVEL CRITERION]
[RECENT PRIZE OR RESULT CRITERION]
[BAND, SOLO, EXAMINATION, OR PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE CRITERION]
[OTHER RELEVANT EQUIVALENT EXPERIENCE]

Performance Lab Pricing

Early Bird: $599 until October 1, 2026.
Regular Price: $699

Only 6 places are available!

Secure your place with a $200 nonrefundable deposit.Your remaining balance will be invoiced and due November 15, 2026.

Why Attend Winter Warm-Up?

Start the year with momentum.

January is the perfect time to reset your habits, reconnect with your goals, and take meaningful action. Rather than beginning another year simply hoping to improve, spend three focused days building confidence and creating a clearer path forward.

Get real hands-on attention.

There is no substitute for having an instructor hear your pipes in the room, work directly with your instrument, and respond to what is happening in real time. This is practical, personalized instruction built around your actual playing and equipment.

Learn in a Small, Supportive Group

With only 18 Back to Basics students and six Performance Lab students, you will not disappear into a crowd. Small class sizes create more opportunities to ask questions, receive feedback, participate actively, and spend meaningful time with all three instructors.

Reconnect with the Piping Community

Winter Warm-Up gives you uninterrupted time to learn, play, practice, eat, and socialize with people who share your enthusiasm for piping. You will leave with new ideas, stronger connections, renewed motivation, and friendships that continue beyond the workshop.

Turn one trip into an immersive piping week.

Winter Warm-Up takes place immediately before Winter Storm at the same hotel. Stay for the competitions, workshops, concert, and social events—and take advantage of an exclusive early bird add-on discount on Winter Storm workshop registration available through Dojo U!

Experience the Sights, Sounds, and Tastes of Kansas City

Make the most of your time outside the classroom by exploring Kansas City’s restaurants, neighborhoods, music, and famous barbecue. Tuesday’s group lunch at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que is included, with plenty of additional dining and sightseeing options nearby and along the city’s streetcar route.

Schedule of Events

Sunday: Arrive, Settle In & Meet the Group

Check into the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza and join us that evening for an informal lobby meet-and-greet. Grab a drink, introduce yourself to the instructors and fellow students, and ease into the week in a relaxed, social setting. Non-piping guests are welcome to join.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Nearly 20 Hours of Piping Immersion

Spend three focused days in your chosen learning track, with daily shared opening and closing sessions, small-group instruction, hands-on coaching, and time with all three instructors. Your registration also includes Tuesday’s group lunch outing to Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, with optional evening practice and social outings on Monday and Tuesday.

Thursday through Sunday: Continue the Experience at Winter Storm

You may choose to extend your trip at the same hotel to enjoy Winter Storm, featuring world-class solo competitions, workshops, performances, a concert, and social events. Winter Warm-Up participants may add discounted Winter Storm workshop registration through Dojo U, creating one seamless and immersive week of piping.

What’s Included?

Your Winter Warm-Up registration includes:

Nearly 20 hours of instruction, guided activities, and piping immersion
Daily shared welcome and closing sessions
Track-specific small-group instruction
Hands-on access to all three instructors
Sunday’s informal meet-and-greet
Tuesday lunch at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que
Coffee, tea, and water throughout the workshop
Optional evening access to the workshop rooms on Monday and Tuesday
Informal dinners and social opportunities
A workbook or track-specific learning materials
Access to the Winter Storm hotel room block
The opportunity to purchase discounted Winter Storm workshop registration

Participants are responsible for their own accommodations, transportation to Kansas City, and meals other than Tuesday’s included lunch.

Meet Your Instructors

CARL DONLEY

Co-founder and Head Instructor

Carl is a professional piper who hails originally from Chicago. Over 25 years of playing, he has taken numerous prizes in solos throughout his rise to the professional grade. Carl started with the Ft. Lauderdale Highlanders in south Florida, and played in the Grade 2 Chicago Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band during high school, before joining the Oran Mor Pipe Band in 2008.

Carl was also the Pipe Major of The Iona College Pipe Band and a major influence on the band during his four years at Iona College. Carl helped found Dojo University and runs several popular weekly classes. More recently, Carl has also been exploring bagpiping and bagad culture in France, after moving there in 2018, and still plays with local bands and musicians there.

GRIFFIN HALL

Professional Bagpiper

Griffin Hall is a professional bagpiper based in Kansas City. He plays with the Grade 2 City of Dunedin Pipe Band, competing at the World Pipe Band Championships, and serves as Pipe Sergeant for the Kansas City St. Andrew Pipes and Drums.

Griffin began piping at age 12 and quickly advanced under the mentorship of Dr. Donald McBride, with additional instruction from top players like Willie McCallum, Brian Donaldson, and others. He is an active solo competitor in the Open/Professional grade.

In addition to performing, Griffin is a composer and recording artist whose music has been played by pipers and bands worldwide, including on the biggest stages in pipe band competition. He holds a degree in Recording Arts and Audio Engineering, producing media for himself, other artists, and organizations like the American Opera Studio.

Griffin is also the manager at J. Higgins Ltd., one of the leading highland wear and bagpipe suppliers in North America. As a teacher, he runs a successful studio both in-person and online, with students achieving success in solo contests and band settings.

ZEPHAN KNICHEL

Professional Bagpiper

Zephan Knichel began piping in 1999 and has played in Grade 1 bands since 2003. He joined the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band in 2014 after spending ten years with the Grade 1 Alberta Caledonia Pipe Band.

As an Open-level soloist, Zephan competes throughout North America and Scotland. He has competed multiple times at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting, earning prizes in B Grade Light Music and the Silver Medal for Piobaireachd.

Zephan teaches full-time through private lessons, group classes, pipe bands, and piping schools across North America. He is a regular instructor at Piping Hot Summer Drummer and teaches weekly beginner classes at the Celtic Arts Foundation in Washington. His teaching has been strongly influenced by Jack Lee and Dr. Stephanie Burns, whose books on practice, memorization, and beginner instruction he helped review and develop.

Our Treat: Joe's KC Bar-B-Que Lunch

One afternoon, we’ll break away from the classroom and head out together for an authentic Kansas City BBQ lunch at one of our favorite spots, Joe's KC Bar-B-Que's original gas station restaurant. Think beef brisket, smoked turkey, pulled pork, and all the fixings – and yes, lunch is on us (included with your registration)!

Not a carnivore? Have dietary restrictions? Don’t worry – there will be options for vegetarians, gluten-free folks, and everyone in between. Take a look at the menu here.

More real results...

CAROL B
Pennsylvania, USA

"...more useful than many other bagpipe workshops that I've attended..."

"My purpose in signing up was to get "unstuck" and get help with specific issues that I had not been able to understand, and I did get the help that I wanted in these areas. In this sense, it has been more useful than many other bagpipe workshops that I've attended."

DAVE O
Alberta, Canada

"I would recommend this event to every piper."

"I have been playing for 35 years, have attended several piping schools, attended, and even helped teach pipe maintenance courses, but I have never been exposed to such a wealth of information in such a short period of time. I would recommend this course to every piper."

CURT
Massachusetts, USA

"Yes, it was/is worth the price."

"I thought the expense was significant (which is typical from a good Scotsman irrespective of price). That being said, yes, it was/is worth the price. I believe I have gained such knowledge and, more importantly, an approach to the pipes that is extremely helpful. I am now much more comfortable with my pipes.”

REGISTER NOW

Back to Basics Workshop - Early Bird Special

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STAY INFORMED

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

If you fully participate and don’t walk away from the Back to Basics Workshop feeling like you’ve got a new lease on your bagpiping, just let us know within 7 days after the workshop and we’ll refund you. Plain and simple.