All Episodes
Episodes
413 - How To Be A Great Piper on Autopilot (Dojo Conversations Episode 83)
What if you could play your bagpipes without ever worrying about tuning or technique again? How much faster could you improve if you didn't have to think about every little step in your bagpipe practice? Couldn’t you...
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412 - Portant Parade Principles (Dojo Conversations Episode 82)
Like death and taxes, parades are an inevitable part of life for a piper. They can be long, hot, and exhausting. But they can also be a lot of fun if you approach them the right way! So how do you set yourself up for...
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411 - The Bagpiping AI Revolution (Dojo Conversations Episode 81)
Could AI ever replace bagpipers? This week, Andrew and Jim dive into the potential impact of AI on the bagpiping community and creativity in general, and AI's capabilities and limitations in generating music, writing,...
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410 - The Dangers of Solo Competing (Dojo Conversations Episode 80)
Would you rather perform at a wedding, or compete solo in front of a judge?Â
This week, Andrew and Jim look at the world of solo bagpipe competing, focusing on both the fun and the potential challenges involved. They...
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409 - What To Expect at Band and Solo Competitions (Dojo Conversations Episode 79)
How should you prepare for your first solo competition? What should you do the night before? On the day? And what can you expect when you arrive, during, and after you compete in both band and solo contests? This...
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408 - The Secret to Learning New Tunes Is... Fun! (Dojo Conversations Episode 78)
Do you struggle to learn new tunes? Get stressed trying to get all those band sets ready for the circle? The solution could lie in… making it fun!
This week, Andrew and Jim look at how to find fun in the process of...
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How To Play Embellishments Like You Mean It (Episode 77)
Do your embellishments enhance your playing, or detract from it?
This week, in Part 2 of their deep dive into Chapter 9 of Andrew's book Finding Bagpipe Freedom, Andrew and Jim explore the contrast between technical...
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406 - Do You Need To Play Tunes With All The Embellishments? (Dojo Conversations Ep 76)
Why do pipers at all levels obsess over embellishments and deep-and-meaningful expression, when they can’t play to the beat, or without crossing noises? This week, Andrew and Jim jump back into Andrew’s book, Finding...
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405 - What If There Were NO Bagpipes? (Dojo Conversations Episode 75)
What would your life look like if bagpipes had never been a part of them? Pipers (and drummers) are a passionate bunch – so have you ever considered how different your life would be if you'd never picked up the pipes?...
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404 - Reddit Q&A: What's The Hardest Tune Ever Written and much more (Dojo Conversations Ep 74)
What's the hardest tune ever written? What's the best pipe band performance ever? How should you travel with pipes? How do you choose tunes for your MSR? And what's the best way to fix a funky-sounding high G?
What do...
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403 - How To Find Your Ideal Chanter Reed Strength (Dojo Conversations Episode 73)
Chanter reeds are often sent from the manufacturer labelled as "easy", "hard", or anything in between – but how do you know which one is going to be right for you?
This week, Andrew and Jim are putting chanter reeds...
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402 - 10 Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks (Dojo Conversations Episode 72)
Pipe band can be a source of joy, fun, and fulfilment. But the person in charge matters… and it can be really demotivating when weaknesses in their leadership start to affect your enjoyment of this hobby we all know...
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