The Piper's Dojo

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Troy, NY
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.

11/13/2025

MUSIC, NOT JUST DRUMMING: Master Scottish-Style Drumming with Dojo University • Learn to play or level up your skills with our comprehensive program for snare, tenor and bass drummers – trial it FREE for 30 days!

11/12/2025

How do you know which feedback to listen to, and which to ignore?

This week, Andrew and Jim unpack the messy, meaningful world of critique: how to receive it without spiraling, how to give it without crushing someone’s spirit, and why feedback is one of the most powerful tools musicians (and humans) have.

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

11/10/2025

Why You Can’t Hear Your Own Mistakes

Ever wondered why those pesky crossing noises always show up when you’re playing in front of a judge?

This week, Andrew and Carl tackle one of piping’s most frustrating mysteries: how nerves mess with your finger control... and what you can actually do about it. From understanding what judges really mean by “crossing noises” to using recordings to hear what they hear, this episode is packed with practical advice for improving your competition performances.

The guys also talk about the difference between live band workshops and online learning, and weigh in on everything from smallpipe design to jig interpretation and drum setups.

🎵 Tune in and join the conversation at pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – How to Fix Crossing Noises Under Pressure
03:45 – Why You Might Not Hear Your Own Mistakes
07:30 – The Power of Recording Yourself
11:00 – Finger Control, Nerves, and Bandwidth
16:00 – Should the Dojo Build a Troubleshooting Course?
21:00 – Band Workshops vs. Dojo Membership: What’s Best?
27:00 – Will Inveraray at Chicago Games Attract More Grade One Bands?
30:30 – Why Practice Chanters Have Cylindrical Bores
33:00 – Jigs: Pointed or Straight Eighth Notes?
37:00 – Which Drum Brands Are Worth It?
39:00 – Does Manometer Tubing Size Matter?
41:00 – Software for Playing Along with Your Tunes
44:30 – Why Bands Use Two Tenors and One Bass
48:00 – Baritone Drones and Their Role in Pipe Tuning

💬 Like, comment, and subscribe for more piping discussions!

11/06/2025

The dos and don’ts of criticism…

This week, Andrew and Jim unpack the messy, meaningful world of critique: how to receive it without spiraling, how to give it without crushing someone’s spirit, and why feedback is one of the most powerful tools musicians (and humans) have.

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

11/04/2025

Do you embrace criticism?

This week, Andrew and Jim unpack the messy, meaningful world of critique: how to receive it without spiraling, how to give it without crushing someone’s spirit, and why feedback is one of the most powerful tools musicians (and humans) have.

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

11/03/2025

How To Take And Give Criticism (Dojo Conversations Episode 147)

Why does criticism feel so uncomfortable, and yet matter so much for growth?

This week, Andrew and Jim unpack the messy, meaningful world of critique: how to receive it without spiraling, how to give it without crushing someone’s spirit, and why feedback is one of the most powerful tools musicians (and humans) have.

From creative-writing workshops to piping circles, they share real stories and practical strategies for handling feedback with curiosity, humility, and a little bit of humor. Whether you’re tackling musical critique, professional feedback, or that one opinionated bandmate… this episode gives you a playbook for navigating it all.

🎧💭 Criticism stings — but learning to embrace it might just be your super-power.

Like, subscribe, and tell us in the comments:
💬 What’s the best (or worst) critique you’ve ever gotten?
🎵 How do you approach giving feedback in your band or creative life?

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Intro & banter: apartment amenities & ceiling fan chaos
02:00 – Modern marketing and the “what really makes a home?” rant
04:00 – Why criticism matters (especially in music)
06:00 – Why critique hurts — and why it helps
10:00 – How to receive criticism
18:00 – When to ignore feedback (jealousy, noise, or tradition-policing)
22:00 – How to give criticism
30:00 – The social side: culture, groupthink, and competition
35:00 – Criticism in systems: loyal opposition & why institutions need critique
40:00 – Final thoughts: embracing feedback as fuel for growth

Related reading:
Check out this article for a deeper dive on giving effective feedback: https://internationalwriterscollective.com/dos-and-donts-of-critiquing/

10/30/2025

Are you a Toyota Camry bagpiper too?

This episode, Andrew and Jim take a joyride through the surprisingly parallel worlds of mechanical tinkering and musical maintenance – from leaky fuel lines to temperamental reeds.

Like, subscribe, and share your best (or worst) mechanical mishap in the comments!

10/28/2025

When something goes wrong with your pipes, it’s important to have a troubleshooting process to fall back on.

This episode, Andrew and Jim take a joyride through the surprisingly parallel worlds of mechanical tinkering and musical maintenance – from leaky fuel lines to temperamental reeds.

Like, subscribe, and share your best (or worst) mechanical mishap in the comments!

10/27/2025

Ever wondered if playing in a band might sabotage your solo piping?

This week, Andrew and Carl dive into the age-old struggle between band tempos, solo control, and the chaos that happens when adrenaline meets bagpipes, as they unpack how to stay in control when the bandroom gets loud – literally and figuratively.

The chat then veers into classic Dojo territory: why most practice chanters sound like sad recorders, whether synthetic reeds will ever be a thing, and the art of mic’ing drones without breaking your neck. There’s also a few strong opinions about hard vs. easy reeds, and the eternal mystery of how long you should really hold that E before a pickup.

🎵 Tune in and join the conversation at pipersdojo.com!

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Can Being in a Band Sabotage Your Playing?
08:00 – Developing Control and Mastery
13:00 – Practice Chanters: Why Aren’t They Standardized?
22:00 – Jack Lee Steps Down as Pipe Sergeant of SFU
31:00 – Will Synthetic Chanter Reeds Ever Become a Thing?
36:00 – How Long Should You Hold E Before a Pickup Note?
41:00 – Micing Bagpipe Drones: Gear Recommendations
46:00 – Does a Hard Reed Equal Better Tone?
51:00 – Closing Thoughts and Q&A

Address

Troy, NY

Website

http://pipersdojo.com/

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