483 - Composing the Future of Piping with John Dew

This week, we sit down with renowned piper and composer John Dew for a deep dive into his latest project, John Dew's Pipe Suites.

From the story behind the book to the evolution of harmony in bagpipe music, John walks us through his approach to writing suites, the influences that shaped his sound, and why understanding chord progressions is becoming essential for today’s pipers.

We also explore his brand-new album, the tools he uses to compose, and what’s ahead for bands travelling to competitions.

🎵 Tune in and join the conversation at pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 – Meeting John Dew & Early Background
01:11 – Inside the Pipe Suite Book: The USB Format & Features
02:40 – How the Community Reacted: Sales & Feedback
03:40 – What’s Actually in the Book? (11 Suites Explained)
05:10 – John’s Compositional Approach & Influences
08:50 – Harmony, Chord Progressions & the Modern Piping Mindset
13:45 – Teaching, Arranging & Why Harmony Matters for Leadership
17:23 – Tools of the Trade: Sibelius & Other Software
17:55 – Live Demo: Navigating the Book & Listening to Tracks
21:19 – John’s New Album: Marches & Fresh Compositions
23:20 – The Value of Musical Variety
24:49 – Interactive Learning Tools at the Dojo
25:45 – Q&A: Lessons, Pipe Majors, Contest Logistics & More
36:03 – Do Pipers… Talk to Their Pipes?
40:18 – Chicago Games & Band Travel Plans
43:56 – Chanter & Reed Talk: Mark II Shepherd, Tuning & Comparisons
46:15 – Drone Tuning Tips for Performances
49:41 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up