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The Piper's Dojo We make world-class music instruction accessible to any piper or drummer, anywhere in the world.

The leading online bagpiping school for more than a decade, Dojo University is your home base for becoming a better musician.

10/12/2026

The Two Biggest Seasoning Mistakes You Can Make (Dojo Conversations Episode 169)

What makes a tune special? How do you keep a sheepskin bag in good shape? And why would a pigeon stand its ground while an entire pipe band bears down on it?

This week... they're back! Andrew joins Jim from his new Canadian base to dissect three piping questions. They explore how to find tunes that really speak to you, what it takes to season a sheepskin bag properly, and what science can tell us about the famously unfazed pigeon at this year's World Pipe Band Championships.

Along the way, Andrew shares his approach to discovering great tunes, explains two common seasoning mistakes, and takes a surprisingly deep dive into pigeon hearing. Join us for a mix of practical piping advice, musical discoveries, and some gloriously niche bird science.

Here's what we cover in this episode:

00:00 – Andrew's Canadian exile, calendars, haircuts, and the mail situation
03:12 – Getting back into bagpipe mode after a long break
04:02 – Finding cool tunes with something special
12:52 – How your taste in tunes changes as you develop as a piper
16:36 – Sheepskin bag maintenance: why your bag neck keeps drying out
17:16 – Seasoning mistake #1: not getting it hot enough
18:30 – Seasoning mistake #2: not applying enough pressure
20:20 – Why Andrew swears by sheepskin bags, despite the extra work
20:48 – The brave pigeon of Glasgow Green at the Worlds
25:20 – Pigeon superpowers: infrasound, 0.5 Hz, and the science of bird hearing
26:14 – Finding the music right in front of you

10/05/2026

Practice Planning, Piobaireachd, Chanter Care & Finding Your Groove | Friday Strike-In Q&A

How should you organise your practice time? Does a Blackwood chanter actually need oiling? And do Piobaireachd time signatures really matter?

Tune in for this week’s Friday Strike-In with Carl as he answers questions on practice planning, the Blair chanter, band rehearsal expectations, Blackwood chanter care, Piobaireachd time signatures, finding great light music, and what’s happening with Worlds coverage.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here’s what we cover this week:

0:00 – Organising your practice: journals, spreadsheets, recordings and AI-generated practice plans
2:57 – The Blair chanter: why a less-forgiving chanter can improve your playing
5:37 – Practice chanter vs. pipes: when to use each for learning and practice
6:13 – Practice, learning and rehearsal: what’s the difference?
7:47 – Coming prepared for band rehearsal: why learning tunes at home matters
11:34 – Blackwood chanter care: playing regularly, oiling and avoiding cracks
14:40 – Piobaireachd time signatures: do 3/4, 4/4 and 6/8 actually matter?
20:40 – Finding your light music groove: podcasts, Celtic bands, Worlds medleys and more
23:07 – BBC dropping Worlds coverage: what could replace it?
24:37 – Drone bore tool marks and wood grain: what’s normal, and does bore smoothness affect tone?

09/28/2026

Bagpipe Tuning, Hide Bags, Reeds & Gigging Tips | Friday Strike-In Q&A

Should you add tape before breaking in a new reed? Is a zipper really necessary on a hide bag? And what’s the best way to find more gigs as a bagpiper?

Tune in for this week’s Friday Strike-In with Carl as he answers questions on chanter tape, hide bag setup, stock installation, reed maintenance, gigging, and how bands can keep young players excited and involved.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here’s what we cover this week:

0:00 – Chanter tape and new reeds: how much tape to add before you start playing
4:11 – Does low G tape affect other notes? Understanding cross-note effects
6:01 – Installing stocks in a zipperless hide bag: tips, tricks and common methods
13:36 – Finding bagpipe gigs: weddings, funerals, networking and online listings
17:33 – Reed pokers and mandrels: can they extend the life of a dying reed?
24:41 – Hide bags: zipper or no zipper, and choosing the right bag size
27:20 – Keeping younger players engaged: giving new pipers meaningful roles and responsibilities

09/21/2026

The Secrets to Better Strike-Ins & Stable Tuning (Dojo U Q&A Session)

What’s the easiest hide bag to maintain? Why is your bass drone striking in before the tenors? And what does a spinning stock tell you about your bag?

Tune in for this week’s Friday Strike-In with Carl as he tackles listener questions on hide bags, drone reed calibration, strike-ins, loose stocks, cold tuning before a gig, snare harnesses, and where to look when you’re competing.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here’s what we cover this week:

0:00 – Hide bags: maintenance, seasoning and cowhide
3:10 – Hide bags with zippers: grommets, tie-ins and the easiest setup
11:26 – Stocks in a zipperless bag: what you need to know
11:47 – Drone reed calibration vs. strike-in: getting your drones to start together
23:10 – Spinning stocks: what they reveal about leaks and loose tie-ins
30:55 – Cold tuning before a gig: keeping your pipes stable between warm-up and performance
40:11 – French snare harnesses: the counterbalance design used by top bands
41:42 – Where should you look when competing? Staying focused under pressure

🔥 CHECK IN EARLY NEXT JAN FOR A WINTER WARM-UP! 🔥 Our Winter Warm-Up workshop is coming to Kansas City from January 10–1...
09/15/2026

🔥 CHECK IN EARLY NEXT JAN FOR A WINTER WARM-UP! 🔥

Our Winter Warm-Up workshop is coming to Kansas City from January 10–13, 2027 – just before Winter Storm kicks off.

Spots are strictly limited and filling fast, so don't miss out!

👉 Register now: pipersdojo.com/winterwarmup

Spend three focused days getting hands-on instruction, coaching and piping time with world-class tutors Carl Donley, Griffin Hall and Zephan Knichel, then roll straight into Winter Storm at the same hotel.

This year, we’re offering two tracks to suit pipers at different stages of their journey.

🥁 BACK TO BASICS
• For newer, returning and frustrated pipers.
• Get hands-on help with setup, maintenance, tuning, troubleshooting, fingerwork, rhythm, phrasing and practice techniques.

🎯 PERFORMANCE LAB
• For experienced pipers ready to refine a real performance tune with focused coaching on technique, tone, tuning, rhythm, phrasing and performance.

🔥 AND THERE’S MORE…

Register by October 15 and you can add the Winter Storm workshop package for just $199, including six master classes, the Saturday night concert, a Winter Storm T-shirt, vendor access and more.
🔥 WINTER WARM-UP
⏰ Early Bird Pricing ends October 15
📍 Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza
📅 January 10–13, 2027

👉 Register now: pipersdojo.com/winterwarmup

09/14/2026

High A vs. Low A: How Should You Tune Your Pipes? Plus Practice, Reeds & More (Dojo Q&A Session)

Should you tune your drones to high A or low A? What’s the best way to get back into piping after time away? And how should you look after new cane reeds when they arrive dry from shipping?

Tune in for this week's Friday Strike-In as Andrew and Carl break down a beginner-friendly approach to tuning, share practical advice for getting back into regular practice, and tackle questions about band changes, bass drone reeds, mixed drone setups, and reed storage.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here's what we cover this week:

0:30 – High A vs. low A: which note should you use to tune your drones?
6:48 – A beginner-friendly tuning strategy
13:40 – Why low A is your tuning reference point
17:21 – Do beginners really need to balance the chanter? Plus the Scotland the Brave test
19:14 – Getting back into piping after time away: where should you start?
23:07 – The piper development pyramid: immersion and small daily actions
30:13 – Band-jumping season: when should you consider switching bands?
33:52 – Inverted bass drone reeds: the pros and cons
38:06 – Drones with a different-bore middle tenor: what happens to your tuning?
39:25 – How should you store new cane reeds? Humidity, drawers and storage devices
42:34 – New reeds arriving completely dry: how to hydrate and test them

09/07/2026

Chanter Reeds, Bag Sizes & Band Changes: Your Questions Answered (Dojo Q&A Session)

Why are you holding on to those old chanter reeds? What actually changes when you move to an extended small bag? And why does your blowstick keep popping out of your mouth?

Tune in for this week's Friday Strike-In with Carl as he tackles listener questions on drone and chanter reeds, bag sizes, blowstick problems, Grade One medleys, tuning high A, and the ever-present question of band changes.

Want to join these live Q&A sessions, ask your own questions, and learn from world-class instructors every week? Join us at Dojo University today: https://pipersdojo.com/store

Here's what we cover this week:

0:00 – How old is too old for your drone reeds? Storage, bridles and O-rings explained
7:04 – Small vs. extended small bags: what actually changes?
22:06 – Why does your blowstick pop out? Tie-ins, ball joints and DIY fixes
26:33 – When should you throw out a chanter reed? The backup reed rule
30:02 – Understanding Grade One medleys: bridges, transitions and reprises
34:50 – Worlds tickets for next year: what to expect
35:35 – High A squealing: is it the reed, the player or the sweet spot?
41:44 – Band jumping season: is anyone thinking about switching bands?

09/03/2026

What did piping sound like 100 years ago?

Play along with one of “Jim’s Dumb Games” this week, as Andrew listens to nine mystery recordings spanning almost 100 years of pipe band history and tries to identify the decade, the exact year, and the band behind each one.

See if you can guess them all before Andrew does – check out the full episode on YouTube, Facebook or wherever you listen to podcasts!

🎵 NEW AT DOJO U: THE MATT MACISAAC SESSIONSSix weeks. Six tunes. One very special opportunity to learn directly from leg...
09/02/2026

🎵 NEW AT DOJO U: THE MATT MACISAAC SESSIONS

Six weeks. Six tunes. One very special opportunity to learn directly from legendary piper and composer, Matt MacIsaac!

👉 Join The Matt MacIsaac Sessions: https://pipersdojo.com/matt-macisaac-sessions

Starting September 14, we're excited to be welcoming Matt for an exclusive six-week live series exploring tunes from his music book, The MacIsaac Collection, Vol. I – sharing his insights into rhythm, phrasing, ornamentation, variation and musical expression along the way.

🎵 6 live classes with Matt MacIsaac
📅 Mondays, 6pm EST, Sept 14–Oct 19
🎶 A new tune each week, with music provided
🎥 Recordings available if you can't attend live
🎓 All grades and levels of experience welcome
💡 Fresh ideas you can take into your wider repertoire
🔓 Exclusive to Dojo U Premium – 30-day FREE trial for new members + 25% OFF The MacIsaac Collection, Vol. I

Matt has spent decades performing, touring and collaborating as a Cape Breton piper, composer and multi-instrumentalist. Now you can spend six weeks learning his music and exploring his approach, live at the Dojo.

👉 Join now: https://pipersdojo.com/matt-macisaac-sessions

We’ll see you in the Sessions! 🎵

09/02/2026

Can you guess the mystery band and decade just by listening to the audio?

Play along with one of “Jim’s Dumb Games” this week, as Andrew listens to nine mystery recordings spanning almost 100 years of pipe band history and tries to identify the decade, the exact year, and the band behind each one.

See if you can guess them all before Andrew does – check out the full episode on YouTube, Facebook or wherever you listen to podcasts!

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