All Episodes
Episodes
447 - The Cheat Code to Becoming Great at Bagpipes (Dojo Conversations Episode 117)
Is there a cheat code to becoming truly great at bagpipes?
In this episode, Jim and Andrew conclude their Commandments series with insights on how to learn in the right order and the importance of balancing focused...
View Episode
446 - Is the Practice Chanter a "Real" Instrument? (Dojo Conversations Episode 116)
Pipers start their journey on a practice chanter – but can you do more with a practice chanter than just… well, practice?Â
This week, Jim and Andrew discuss practice chanters – should be seen as standalone instruments...
View Episode
445 - Do You REALLY Need a Digital Tuner? (Dojo Conversations Episode 115)
Do you rely solely on your digital tuner to get your pipes in tune? Digital bagpipe tuners have become as commonplace in the piping world as the smartphones they often operate on. But are they a necessity, or just a...
View Episode
444 - Why Learning Bagpipes Feels Harder Before It Gets Easier (Dojo Conversations Episode 114)
Ever tried something new and thought, "Easy! I could do that"—only to fail spectacularly? That’s the hierarchy of competence in action. It’s the universal journey from complete ignorance to effortless mastery. And...
View Episode
443 - Our Top Hacks For Grade 5 Pipe Bands (Dojo Conversations Episode 113)
Are lower-grade pipe bands missing out on easy wins by focusing on the wrong things?
This week, Andrew and Jim chat through how lower grade pipe bands (Grade 4 and 5) can improve their sound with minimal effort. They...
View Episode
442 - Why Subjective Feedback Is Confusing (And How to Decode It) (Dojo Conversations Episode 112)
Ever been frustrated by vague, subjective feedback from a judge or teacher?Â
Only things that can be measured can be improved. So how do you measure your progress? We need to find ways to get an objective,...
View Episode
441 - How To Learn a Stack o’ Tunes (Dojo Conversations Episode 111)
Have you ever had to learn a bunch of new tunes all at once?
This week, Andrew and Jim talk through the best ways to tackle learning a huge stack of bagpipe tunes quickly – while still having fun.
A sneak preview –...
View Episode
440 - How Often Should You Learn a New Tune? (Dojo Conversations Ep 110)
When was the last time you learned a new tune?
This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into “constant variance” - that is, constantly and consistently trying new things, whether that’s trying to play new music regularly,...
View Episode
439 - How To Beat The Danger of Distractions (Dojo Conversations Episode 109)
Ever tried to multitask? Putting aside the fact that multitasking is a myth (more on that in the episode...) did you end up doing any of those many things *well*? Â
Multitasking doesn’t work, especially if you’re...
View Episode
438 - The Game-Changing Power of Recording Your Practice (Dojo Conversations Ep 108)
Do you avoid recording yourself? Get nervous at the idea of people listening to you play?
Although it can be nerve wracking, recording yourself for analysis is a must if you want to improve your playing.
This week,...
View Episode
437 - Why Simple Tools Build Better Pipers (Dojo Conversations Ep 107)
Would you want to learn to drive in a Formula 1 race-car, or learn to fly an airplane in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
 Even if it sounds really cool, in reality, high-end sophisticated tools are designed for masters of...
View Episode
436 - Another Year In The Bag (Dojo Conversations Ep 106)
Happy New Year – almost!
This week Andrew and Jim revisit some of the highs, the lows, and everything in between – including Jim's hair, which is basically a third host at this point – as we reflect on the pod's...
View Episode
