Piper's Dojo Blog: Tips and Inspiration for Bagpipe Enthusiasts

Can Learning Other Instruments Improve Your Piping? Jan 25, 2026

Have you ever been so focused on your piping, and then got the itch... to pick up another instrument?

Maybe a snare drum, maybe a bass. Maybe somethi...

The Truth About Bagpipe Tone Enhancers Jan 19, 2026

If you’ve been playing bagpipes for a while, chances are you’ve come across tone enhancers – those little devices tucked into your drone stocks that p...

Level Up Your Piping: Why You Need a Six-Month Plan (And How to Create One) Jan 11, 2026

Picture this: it’s three weeks before competition season and you suddenly realise you don’t actually have your tunes learned yet.

Sound

...

Playing the Bagpipes in Cold Weather: What Actually Works Jan 04, 2026

If you’ve ever played a Christmas parade, dawn service, winter competition, or outdoor gig where you can’t feel your fingers, you already know this tr...

When Should You Buy Your First Set of Bagpipes? Dec 14, 2025

You’ll never forget the moment you pick up a real set of bagpipes for the first time. It’s equal parts thrill, fear, and “wow, this is heavier than I ...

Why Failing Faster Makes You A Better Piper Dec 07, 2025

Ever walked away from a practice session frustrated by the same mistakes popping up again and again?

Every piper hits those moments. But the path to ...

Black vs Yellow Waxed Hemp: Is There a Difference? Nov 16, 2025

If you’ve ever re-hemped your joints and noticed that your black waxed hemp feels (and behaves) a bit different from your yellow, you’re not imagining...

Do Hard Reeds Produce Better Tone? Nov 09, 2025

If you’ve hung around pipers long enough, you’ve probably heard this common bit of “wisdom” tossed around: “Real pipers play hard reeds.”

It’s one of...

How to Mic Bagpipe Drones (Without Making Them Sound Awful) Nov 02, 2025

If you’ve ever tried to amplify or record your bagpipes, you already know: getting the drones to sound right can be… tricky.

Using a microphone for ...

Why Do Practice Chanters All Sound So Different (And Bad)? Oct 29, 2025

If you’ve ever picked up a practice chanter and thought, “Why does this thing sound so weird?” — you’re in good company.

Ask ten pipers to play their...

Can Playing in a Band Sabotage Your Solo Piping? Oct 26, 2025

If you’re juggling both band and solo playing, you’ve probably had that uneasy thought: Is my band style wrecking my solo control?

It’s a fair questi...

The Art of Not Losing It Oct 19, 2025

Ever notice how the way you start your day – or your piping session – sets the tone for everything that follows?

Whether it’s how you warm up your pi...

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