Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

Pipers start their journey on a practice chanter – but can you do more with a practice chanter than just… well, practice?    This week, Jim and Andrew discuss practice chanters – should be seen as standalone instruments or just tools for learning the bagpipes? The conversation touches on competitive piping cultures in Scotland and North America, the introductio

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 shiny distraction? This week, Andrew and Jim look at the pros and cons of digital bagpipe tuners, ignited by a listener's question about digital and analog tuners. Got

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 guess what? You’ve been through it more times than you can count. This week, Andrew and Jim break down the hierarchy of competence, explaining the four stages: un

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 start by dissecting a Reddit user’s advice, then dive into Andrew’s top observations as a competition judge and instructor for lower grade bands, breaking down the

Ever been frustrated by vague, subjective feedback from a judge or teacher?  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, pass-or-fail result.  This week, we’re diving into the sixth commandment in Andrew’s 11 Commandments of Mastery: You Shalt Practice Objectively (And Reject Subjecti

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 – some tips include playing all tunes as daily as possible in order of importance, trying NOT to memorize, and recording yourself to make sure you get it right rather

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, changing practice routines, environments, and other approaches to become a better musician. It has so many benefits, including making you a better, more well-ro

    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*?   Multitasking doesn’t work, especially if you’re trying to master a musical instrument. As soon as you allow a single distraction into a practice session, you've cheated yourself out of

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, Andrew and Jim and talking about all things recording – why to do it, our up to date recommendations on how to do it and what equipment to use, and how to analyze reco

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 their craft, and not at all suited for beginners or intermediates.    Yet, more often than not, a piping beginner has a bagpipe setup that is radically t