A Dojo U Premium Exclusive
The Matt MacIsaac Sessions: Six Tunes, Six Weeks
Expand your repertoire and rethink the way you play as you learn six tunes from the composer himself in a live, six-week class seriesÂ
Starting September 14th, 2026 – Mondays, 6pm EST
JOIN TODAYTry Dojo U Premium free for 30 days – $45 per month after that. No strings attached. Cancel anytime.
Sign up now and get 25% off The MacIsaac Collection, Vol. I.
Six Weeks. Six Tunes. A Fresh Way to Play.
Join us at Dojo U in September to spend six weeks learning music directly from legendary piping composer, teacher and performer Matt MacIsaac and discover the ideas, approaches and musical choices behind his playing.
Each week, Matt will take you inside a tune from The MacIsaac Collection, Vol. I, sharing practical insights into his own compositions to give you a new sense of how to play with rhythm, phrasing, ornamentation, variation and musical expression.
You’ll build a collection of new tunes while developing ideas you can bring into your wider playing – giving you fresh material to practise, new ways to shape a tune and plenty of inspiration to keep your music moving forward.
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What you’ll explore in this series
- Expand your repertoire with six tunes from Matt's collection
- Develop your sense of rhythm and phrasing through Matt's approach to each tune
- Explore ornamentation and variation and discover ways to add your own musical character
- Strengthen your musical instincts by hearing how an experienced performer approaches the details of a tune
- Take new ideas into your existing repertoire, applying what you learn across the music you already play
- Get inspired by Matt's extensive musical experience, with examples drawn from his wider collection throughout the series
SPECIAL OFFER
25%Â Discount: The Matt MacIsaac Collection Book
Sign up as a new Dojo U Premium Member and receive 25% off The MacIsaac Collection, Vol. I.
Coupon details will be supplied to eligible new members.
Matt MacIsaac is a Cape Breton piper, composer, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist whose playing has taken him from the competition circuit to stages around the world.
He won the Silver Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering in Oban and the 2022 Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge in Glasgow. His career has included 15 years touring with Natalie MacMaster, international work as a Canadian Forces musician, and performances with acclaimed Cape Breton group Beòlach.
The MacIsaac Collection, Vol. I brings together more than 70 of Matt’s original compositions and arrangements, shaped through recital programmes, YouTube performances, and decades of playing alongside some of the world’s finest musicians.
But there’s much more to these tunes than what’s written on the page.
In this six-week series, Matt will take you inside one tune from the collection each week – sharing how he approaches it, the musical ideas behind it, and the choices that help bring it to life.
You’ll get to hear the tunes played and explored by their composer, while picking up ideas you can take straight into your own playing.
Youtube videos provided with permission from Matt MacIsaac.
 Class schedule
Classes will be at 6pm Eastern US time (EST) and run for one hour each week.Â
Attend live to interact with Matt. If you cannot make a class, the recording will be available afterward.
Week 1 – September 14: The Book and the First Tune
Meet Matt, hear the story behind the collection, and begin learning the first tune (Rosemary Leigh)Â directly from him.
Week 2 – September 21: Phrasing and Lift
Learn a second tune (Barra Head) and look beyond the written notes to pulse, shape, and the lift associated with Cape Breton-style playing.
Week 3 – September 28: Ornament Choices
Learn the clean melody first, then explore how Matt chooses embellishments and how those choices support the tune (Making a Case).
Week 4 – October 5: Variation and Personalization
Learn a fourth tune (The Cormorant) and explore how Matt makes music fit his own style – and how you can begin making thoughtful choices in yours.
Week 5 – October 12: Building a Set
Learn a fifth tune (Finding a Cup), then consider how it could pair with earlier tunes from the series or music already in your repertoire.
Week 6 – October 19: Final Tune and Masterclass
Discover a few of his larger tunes, then use part of the session for student playing and feedback from Matt.
The class plan may adapt slightly around the music Matt selects, but the central promise stays the same: at least one tune in every class.
What's Included
The Matt MacIsaac Sessions are offered exclusively as part of our Dojo University Premium Membership.
Sign up today and enjoy your first 30 days completely free – here's what's included with your membership:Â
Six Live Classes with Matt
Spend one focused hour with Matt each week and learn six tunes over the full series.Â
Music for Every Tune Taught
You do not need to own the book to participate. Music for the tunes taught will be provided.
Class Recordings
If work, travel, or family life gets in the way, use the recording to catch up or revisit Matt's teaching.
Full Dojo U Premium Access
The MacIsaac Mini Series is included exclusively with Dojo U Premium. Your membership also includes:
â—Ź 15+ weekly live classes with Dojo U instructors
â—ŹÂ Feedback and answers in the members-only community
â—ŹÂ Foundational piping courses
â—ŹÂ Deep-dive Fingerwork and Instrument Fundamentals courses
â—ŹÂ Advanced courses on tuning, composition, piobaireachd, and more
â—ŹÂ Premium faculty classes and class archives
Matt's involvement is limited to the six scheduled sessions, but the wider Dojo U faculty and community remain available through your Premium membership.
