The Piper's Dojo

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.

02/16/2026

Dojo U Guest Lecture: Adrian Melvin's Deep Dive on Bagpipe Chanter Reed Making

Great tone doesn’t start on stage, or even in the practice room… it starts at the workbench.

This week on the Dojo University Friday Strike-In, Andrew and Carl welcome piping legend and master reed-maker Adrian Melvin for a deep dive into reed making, tone production, band leadership, and the lessons that only come from years at the top level of piping.

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Adrian’s Background & Piping Journey
03:00 – Getting Started in Reed Making
04:54 – Understanding Cane: Arundo donax & Material Variability
05:18 – Staples Explained: Brass vs. Copper & Eye Shape
06:44 – Shaping the Reed: Curve, Sound Box & Precision Tools
09:14 – Sourcing Cane from Spain & France
11:16 – Tying the Reed: Technique & Setup
13:41 – Finishing Process: Varnish, Pitching & Final Adjustments
18:11 – Cane vs. Synthetic Reeds: Ease vs. Tone
22:01 – Band Management & Avoiding Burnout
25:40 – Last-Minute Competition Disasters (And What They Teach You)
31:25 – Backup Reed Systems & Moisture Control
33:19 – Tuning Stability: Temperature & Humidity Factors
35:52 – How to Select a Quality Reed
37:50 – Cane Yield, Staple Differences & Scale Balance
40:16 – Testing & Quality Control Before Shipping
42:03 – Playing Career Highlights & Major Wins
44:53 – Ridge Cut vs. Straight Cut Reeds
46:05 – Adjusting Reed Strength (Including the “McAllister Wiggle”)
50:29 – Closing Thoughts, Resources & New Chanter Design

02/13/2026

What is “the beat” in music?

This week, Andrew and Jim step back from fingerwork and technique to tackle something far more fundamental: rhythm as the organising force of all music, and even of time itself. What starts as a discussion about rhythm for pipers quickly becomes a deeper exploration of pulse, perception, subdivision, and why so many piping problems are actually time problems in disguise.

Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

02/11/2026

Sir Richard Parkes leads the assembled Winter Storm faculty and guests to perform a medley of tunes to close out the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

02/10/2026

Kerr McQuillan and Cameron Bonar perform Joe McGann’s Fiddle, Zeeto the Bubble Man, Last Tango in Harris and Ray Anderson at the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

02/10/2026

Rhythm isn’t just something you add to music. It’s the thing that makes music possible in the first place.

This week, Andrew and Jim step back from fingerwork and technique to tackle something far more fundamental: rhythm as the organising force of all music, and even of time itself. What starts as a discussion about rhythm for pipers quickly becomes a deeper exploration of pulse, perception, subdivision, and why so many piping problems are actually time problems in disguise.

Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

02/09/2026

Callum Beaumont performs a selection of tunes at the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

02/08/2026

Sir Richard Parkes leads the Winter Storm faculty to perform Carradale Bay and Troy's Wedding at the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

02/07/2026

Stephen Creighton, Margaret Houlihan and Donald McPhee perform an MSR: Hugh Kennedy, Shepherd’s Crook, Thomson’s Dirk.

Performed at the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

02/06/2026

Richard Parkes leads the Winter Storm faculty and guests to perform an arrangement of Lochanside at the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

02/05/2026

Matt Wilson, Paul Mackay and Bea Carter from Dollar Academy join Kerr McQuillan to perform the Mason’s Apron and Rory MacLeod.

Performed at the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

02/04/2026

Andrew Douglas performs his own composition of Hans Zimmer's Inception score mashed up with The Little Cascade.

Performed at the Winter Storm Concert in Kansas City on Saturday, January 17th, 2026.

This video was clipped from the Winter Storm Concert livestream provided by the Piper's Dojo / Dojo University.

Events like Winter Storm are possible thanks to donations from kind supporters – help them continue to bring this world-class event to the United States (and the world via livestream!) each year by donating to the Midwest Highland Arts Fund today: https://mhaf.org/product/donations-payments/

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