Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
Andrew Douglas and the Piper's Dojo Team
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Top 10 Piper's Dojo Audio Experience Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Piper's Dojo Audio Experience episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Piper's Dojo Audio Experience for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Piper's Dojo Audio Experience episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
How To Play Embellishments Like You Mean It (Episode 77)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
06/10/24 • 29 min
Do your embellishments enhance your playing, or detract from it?
This week, in Part 2 of their deep dive into Chapter 9 of Andrew's book Finding Bagpipe Freedom, Andrew and Jim explore the contrast between technical proficiency and audience appreciation in bagpipe embellishments. They look at the importance of playing with intention, the balance between tradition and creativity, and the importance of purposeful practice.
Got a topic you’d like to see covered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]!
Here’s what we covered this week:
00:00 Introduction: The Bagpipe Experience
01:09 Understanding the General Public's Perception
02:01 The Complexity of Bagpipe Embellishments
05:09 Intentionality in Bagpipe Playing
07:34 The Value of Traditional Techniques
12:32 Practical Exercises for Improvement
16:46 The Joy of Progress and Overcoming Challenges
27:25 Conclusion: Embracing Creativity and Fun
443 - Our Top Hacks For Grade 5 Pipe Bands (Dojo Conversations Episode 113)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
02/17/25 • 32 min
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 low-hanging fruit for bands to drastically improve their sound and performances – by reducing mistakes, tuning drones properly, and playing clean embellishments.
Got a question you’d like covered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]
Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 Confession Time: Turning to Reddit for Inspiration
00:13 Reddit's Band Improvement Tips: An Overview
01:16 The Importance of Basics: Basketball Analogy
04:05 Breaking Down the Basics: Clean Starts and Stops
06:24 Andrew's Take: The Real Essentials for Band Improvement
12:24 Tuning the Drones: A Crucial Step
15:47 Identifying Individual Weaknesses in the Band
16:31 The Power of Individual Recitals
17:12 Overcoming Performance Anxiety
18:11 The Importance of Individual Competence
19:16 Avoiding Common Mistakes in Competitions
21:35 Clean Embellishments: A Must for Success
24:24 Addressing Crossing Noises
26:46 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
452 - Could Fear of Being Wrong Be Blocking Your Piping Progress? (Dojo Conversations Episode 122)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
04/21/25 • 46 min
Ever hold back in a practice session because you're worried you'll mess it up?
Or stay quiet in band because you're afraid your idea might be wrong? In this episode, we’re diving into a powerful idea from philosophy called fallibilism—the belief that no matter how much you know, you could still be wrong.
And honestly? That’s a gift. Especially in a pursuit like piping, where tradition runs deep and gatekeeping can shut down growth.
We’re talking about why embracing mistakes, questioning ‘the rules,’ and letting go of the fear of being wrong might be exactly what you need to become a better, bolder, more creative piper.
Let’s rethink what it means to play it “the right way.”
Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode?
Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]
Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 Introduction to Amateur Philosophy Hour
00:16 Discussing David Deutsch's The Beginning of Infinity
00:46 Empiricism and Fallibilism Explained
01:24 The Enlightenment and Its Impact
02:36 The Role of Observation in Knowledge
03:22 Fallibilism in Everyday Life
06:09 Fallibilism in Bagpiping
06:41 The Myth of Infallibility in Bagpiping
14:12 Teaching and Learning in Bagpiping
20:57 The Journey of Improvement in Bagpiping
23:58 Mad Genius and the Reality of Creativity
25:03 The Concept of Fallibilism
25:49 Balancing and Adaptation
27:30 Growth Mindset in Piping
32:25 Criticism and Learning
36:22 The Role of Tradition
39:21 Fallibilism in Governance
41:45 Embracing Imperfection in Piping
398 - The Ultimate Secret To Being a Better Bagpiper (Or Drummer) (Episode 68)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
04/08/24 • 27 min
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 better musician – immersion!
This week, we're discussing why certain families and geographies seem to foster world class players. Is it just boundless talent passed along in their bloodlines... or is it the world-class piping and drumming they've been absorbing since before they could talk? Immersion in the best of your craft is the single greatest correlate to ongoing success in anything. So how can you replicate that if you're not living in a hive of pipe band activity, or surrounded by top class pipers everyday? We have some ideas for you...
Got a question you want us to discuss on a future episode? Leave a comment or send it to [email protected].
Highlights of this week's episode:
00:00 Have you heard of a little podcast called 'Droning On'?
01:29 Diving into the World of Bagpiping Podcasts and Media
02:08 The Essence and Importance of Immersion in Bagpiping
09:13 Exploring Various Avenues for Bagpipe Immersion
20:49 The Power of Immersion in Learning and Creativity
25:23 Wrapping Up with Reflections and a Desert Island Dilemma
397 - Has Bagpipe Pitch Gone Too High? (Dojo Conversations Ep 67)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
04/01/24 • 30 min
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 pitch, how it affects tuning to mix and match old chanters and new reeds, and also at before a left turn into the implications of rising pitch for competitions (for better or worse). Plus, will we ever figure out the magic pitch that will help us make first contact with aliens? Listen in to find out!
This week, we cover:
00:00 Opening Thoughts on Competition and Aliens
00:21 A Morning Chat: From Sickness to Bagpipes
01:09 Listener's Query: The Sharpness of Bagpipes
02:31 Exploring Bagpipe History and Pitch Evolution
07:50 The Science and History of Musical Pitch
16:17 The Bagpipe Pitch Debate: Tradition vs. Modernity
20:51 Judging Bagpipe Competitions: Pitch Preferences
28:54 Concluding Thoughts on Bagpipe Pitch and Future Directions
396 - Finding Your Perfect Drone Reed Setup (Dojo Conversations Ep 66)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
03/25/24 • 28 min
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 your sound actually make your tone better?
This week, we’re talking all things drone reeds! Drone reeds are an integral part of our instrument’s sound, stability, and tone, and yet knowing how and when to use the different makes and materials is something most pipers don’t understand. Cane or synthetic? Inverted or standard? Uniformity or mix and match? Join us as we delve into the details on drone reeds...
Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at [email protected]!
Here’s a summary of what we cover this episode:
00:00 Pumpkin’s Fancy Shirt
00:40 The Journey from Synthetic to Mixed Material Drone Reeds
01:30 Exploring the Nuances of Drone Reeds
04:12 The Quest for the Perfect Drone Reed Combination
09:32 The Superiority of Cane Drone Reeds Explored
16:48 Rethinking Band Uniformity: Drone Reeds and Chanters
24:29 The Philosophy of Bagpipe Sound: Complexity and Preference
395 - Have You Tried The "Set and Forget" Method? (Dojo Conversations Ep 65)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
03/18/24 • 18 min
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 most of us know that it's important to get some air, heat and moisture into the pipes when we first get started, letting your pipes adjust to their environment before getting down to the serious business of tuning and playing can make a huge difference to how easy it is to tune your pipes. And sometimes, NOT playing can be an important part of the warm-up process too...
Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at [email protected]!
Here's what we cover this week:
00:44 The Quest for Memory Validation and the Pitfalls of Digital Permanence
01:28 Embracing the Art of Patience in Bagpipe Tuning
02:04 Learning from the Masters: Observations from the World's Best Pipe Bands
04:38 The Philosophy of Mastery: From Bagpipes to Birding
07:47 The Bagpipe's Environment: Understanding Humidity and Temperature
11:55 The Practice of Acclimatization: A Strategy for Bagpipe Tuning
17:38 Exploring the Impact of Reed Materials on Bagpipe Performance
393 - How To Construct a Winning Medley (Dojo Conversations Episode 63)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
03/04/24 • 39 min
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, what do judges actually listen for... and is that more important that putting together a creative set that an audience enjoys and players love to play?
This week, Andrew and Jim delve into what decisions and strategies you might want to consider when constructing a medley for your band, looking at how to balance the judge's expectation, the audience's enjoyment, and the performer's preference for tunes. They discuss the importance of tune selection, changes, harmonies, and how music theory ties in, and the practicalities of introducing and changing tunes mid-season...
Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email [email protected]!
This week we cover:
00:00 Introduction
00:45 Medley Construction
01:01 The Art of Building Medleys
02:11 The Role of Key Changes in Medleys
03:05 The Strategy of Starting a Medley
04:03 Balancing Judge, Audience, and Personal Preferences
11:49 The Role of Harmonies
14:06 The Impact of Tune Selection on Performance
17:20 The Secret Ingredient: Nostalgia
19:22 The Importance of Timing
19:43 The Challenge of Changing Tunes
20:10 The Value of Testing and Refining
20:49 The Influence of Popular Culture
21:02 The Art of Recycling Old Medleys
21:47 The Balance Between Creativity and Audience Expectations
22:12 Get Professional Help
22:34 The Importance of Mentorship
23:41 The Creative Process in Music
30:07 The Evolution of Harmonies
31:42 The Impact of Music Theory on Medleys
35:50 The Importance of Enjoyment
37:45 The Role of Tempo
399 - The Sticky Truth About Chanter Tape (Dojo Conversations Episode 69)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
04/15/24 • 30 min
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 for applying tape correctly. Plus, we look at how recent an innovation tape really is, and why it's such an important part of getting your pipes singing.
Got a question for a future episode? Leave a comment or email us at [email protected].
This week, we cover:
00:00 The Great Tape Debate: Unraveling the Sticky Questions
00:40 A Sticky Situation: The Tale of a Funeral Performance
04:28 The Science of Tape: Why All Bagpipers Need It
13:28 Tape Techniques and Tales from the Field
22:29 Choosing the Right Tape: A Pipers' Guide
23:31 Cleaning Up: Tips for Maintaining Your Chanter Tape
28:16 The Evolution of Chanter Tuning: From Wax to Tape
436 - Another Year In The Bag (Dojo Conversations Ep 106)
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience
12/30/24 • 46 min
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 progress so far... and some of the exciting plans (and guests) we're cooking up for 2025!
Here's what we cover in (a LOT) of detail this week: 00:00 Happy New Year Reflections00:20 Reviewing Past Episodes02:24 Episode 55: Can Rest Be Productive?03:34 Episode 56: How to Simplify Tunes05:39 Episode 57: What's the Real Cost of Bagpiping?07:38 Episode 58: Freeing Up Your Piping Bandwidth10:11 Episode 59: Do You Own or Rent Your Piping Skills?12:31 Episode 60: The Tone Zone15:21 Episode 61: Getting the Most Out of Band Practice15:47 Episode 62: The Four Layers of Drone Reed Sound18:09 Episode 63: Constructing a Winning Medley20:06 Episode 64: Listener Q&A Mailbag20:19 Episode 65: Set It and Forget It Method20:55 Episode 66: Finding Your Perfect Drone Reed Setup21:55 Episode 67: Has Bagpipe Pitch Gone Too High?22:25 Episode 68: The Ultimate Secret to Being a Better Bagpiper or Drummer22:51 Episode 69: The Sticky Truth About Chanter Tape23:29 Episode 70: Play It Like You're Saying It23:33 Episode 71: Is Bass Drone Tuning Hard?24:39 Episode 72: Ten Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks25:58 Finding Your Ideal Chanter Reed Strength26:17 Reddit Q&A: Hardest Tune Ever Written26:54 Imagining a World Without Bagpipes27:24 The Importance of Embellishments in Bagpipe Playing29:59 Competing in Band and Solo Competitions30:33 The Bagpiping AI Revolution30:53 Portent Parade Principles32:55 Reviving Stagnant Tunes33:58 A North American Piper's Guide to Visiting Scotland35:56 More Reddit Questions and Bagpipe Topics36:40 The Intensity Equation and Finding Bagpipe Freedom37:35 How to Embrace Failure in Bagpiping37:48 Pipers of the Caribbean: A Bagpiping Cruise 38:19 Balancing Perfection and Fun in Bagpiping38:35 The Formula to Beat the Pipe Band Struggle39:26 Building Stamina and Hot Takes on Bagpipe Reddit Questions40:20 The Eleven Commandments of Bagpiping40:44 Writing the First Ever Podcast March41:06 Reflecting on 100 Episodes and the Power of Immersion42:08 Secrets of Ensemble Judges42:54 Daily Action and Upcoming Episodes44:46 Looking Forward to More Guests and Episodes
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FAQ
How many episodes does Piper's Dojo Audio Experience have?
Piper's Dojo Audio Experience currently has 442 episodes available.
What topics does Piper's Dojo Audio Experience cover?
The podcast is about How To, Podcasts, Education, Arts and Performing Arts.
What is the most popular episode on Piper's Dojo Audio Experience?
The episode title '397 - Has Bagpipe Pitch Gone Too High? (Dojo Conversations Ep 67)' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Piper's Dojo Audio Experience?
The average episode length on Piper's Dojo Audio Experience is 39 minutes.
How often are episodes of Piper's Dojo Audio Experience released?
Episodes of Piper's Dojo Audio Experience are typically released every 3 days, 21 hours.
When was the first episode of Piper's Dojo Audio Experience?
The first episode of Piper's Dojo Audio Experience was released on Jan 19, 2011.
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