All Episodes
Episodes
400 - Play It Like You Sing It (Dojo Conversations Episode 70)
Learning tunes can be hard, especially if you struggle with sight-reading. But there's a step that makes it much easier – and helps speed up a bunch of other skills too, including your ability to play the right rhythm...
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399 - The Sticky Truth About Chanter Tape (Dojo Conversations Episode 69)
Why don't they just make bagpipe chanters that don't need tape? This week, we delve into why – the physics behind why all chanters inevitably require tape, misconceptions about tape usage, and detailed instructions...
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398 - The Ultimate Secret To Being a Better Bagpiper (Or Drummer) (Episode 68)
You're stuck on a desert island. Would you rather have your practice chanter, or an endless playlist of great pipe band tunes? If you didn't say the latter, you're missing the number one secret ingredient to being a...
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397 - Has Bagpipe Pitch Gone Too High? (Dojo Conversations Ep 67)
Do bagpipes seem sharper in pitch than they used to be? That's because they are... This week, Andrew and Jim answer a listener question about why bagpipes have become sharper over time. We look at the history of...
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396 - Finding Your Perfect Drone Reed Setup (Dojo Conversations Ep 66)
Should you use cane or synthetic drone reeds? Is it good or bad to mix and match them? Does ‘perfect bagpipe tone’ exist? Can you achieve it if your band plays different reed setups? And does a bit of imperfection in...
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395 - Have You Tried The "Set and Forget" Method? (Dojo Conversations Ep 65)
Do you struggle to get your pipes into tune when you first start to play? You may be trying to tune too soon... This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into the 'set and forget' method of warming up your pipes. While...
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394 - Listener Q&A: Tiny Pipers, Moving Tunes Onto Pipes, and Finding A Kiwi Tutor (Dojo Conversations Ep 64)
This week, we're diving into the mailbag to answer your submitted questions!
First up, we talk through how to help a young piper's transition to pipes, and how to adapt the instrument for small pipers.
Next -...
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393 - How To Construct a Winning Medley (Dojo Conversations Episode 63)
Pipe band medley sets are the perfect chance to showcase your band's musical range and creativity. But why do some medleys sound more musical than others? Should you use harmonies in every tune, or is less more? Plus,...
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Unlock Your Bagpipe Tuning May 31st
Rescue Your Bagpipe Sound May 31 - June 2, 2024 in Troy, New York at our Tuning Clinic! You don't have to be "that person" who loves bagpipes but can't figure out how to make them sound good. Make May 31st the last...
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392 - Dialling Into 4 Layers of Bagpipe Sound (Dojo Conversations Ep 62)
Ever wondered why your drones seem to make a bunch of different sounds when you strike in (or if you don't cut them off quickly – an auditory experience affectionately know as "the dying cow")?
This week, Andrew and...
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391 - Are You Getting The Most Out Of Band Practice? (Dojo Conversations Ep 61)
Most of us show up for band practice like clockwork each week – maybe even a few times a week. But are you showing up in all the right ways to improve your own playing, and contribute to the improvement of your whole...
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390 - Do You Play in the "Tone Zone"? (Dojo Conversations Ep 60)
"Just blow tone!" Sound familiar? Most of us know we should be blowing a certain way to sound better, but many pipers don't know how to really get into the "tone zone".
This week, Andrew and Jim delve into the...
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