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.

04/23/2026

Ever get cramps or rush the beat while you’re playing?

This week, Andrew and Jim explore what real control and calm actually look like in practice, why rushing and cramping show up when they do, and how many players end up stuck in a kind of “false chill” that can limit progress.

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

04/20/2026

The Myth of Relaxed Playing (Dojo Conversations Episode 159)

What if trying to be relaxed when you play is actually a kind of denial – one that could affect your overall development as a piper?

This week, Andrew and Jim explore what real control and calm actually look like in practice, why rushing and cramping show up when they do, and how many players end up stuck in a kind of “false chill” that can limit progress.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:
00:30 – Why “just relax” isn’t helpful advice
01:10 – The myth of the chill player (and a Bob Marley detour)
01:36 – The chill–tension continuum: finding your baseline
05:29 – Recording anxiety and the tendency to rush
06:05 – Hand cramping and fears around focal dystonia
06:46 – Stuart Liddell’s playing and the sound of real ease
09:57 – Reactive vs proactive rhythm: why rushing happens
10:59 – “Pretending to be relaxed” – spotting avoidance
11:16 – How responsibility changes your relationship to “chill”
12:51 – Pre-chill, false chill, and what’s really going on
13:34 – Why most “chill” is actually denial
14:58 – Pre-chill vs post-chill: earning relaxation
16:39 – What genuine relaxation actually feels like
19:40 – Posture, tension, and diagnosing cramping
25:02 – “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” in real practice
26:16 – Is it fast playing, or just well-controlled?
28:22 – The “victory lap” trick: can you fake relaxation?
28:45 – Avoiding avoidance: the real solution
35:40 – Preparation vs relaxation in great players
37:33 – Competition chaos: making it up mid-performance
38:27 – A practical action plan: record, assess, adjust
40:34 – What “wealth” looks like in your playing
41:13 – Finger tension: finding the balance

04/16/2026

Are there any reasons you should manipulate your reed?

This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of reed manipulation — pinching, licking, shaving, bridling, and everything in between. Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

04/15/2026

Should you pinch your chanter reed before you play?

This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of reed manipulation — pinching, licking, shaving, bridling, and everything in between. Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

04/13/2026

Stop Blaming the Reed: Fix Your Setup Instead (Dojo U Q&A Session)

This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In Q&A, Andrew and Carl tackle a wide range of piping questions – from chanter choices and reed behaviour to rhythm fundamentals, travel tips, and getting the most out of your Dojo membership.

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Poly vs. blackwood chanters: are plastic chanters becoming the new standard?
04:12 – Retuning on the fly: what to listen for when your drones drift mid-performance
06:38 – Tapping your foot while playing: why it’s harder than it sounds (and how to build it)
12:32 – Why reeds change day to day: consistency, moisture, and the real culprit
21:30 – Teaching beginners: should you learn all 11 Commandments of Mastery?
24:17 – Flying with your pipes: what you actually need (and what you don’t)
37:28 – Submitting recordings for feedback: how to get the most from Dojo coaching
39:41 – Basic vs. Premium: what solo pipers unlock with a premium membership

04/09/2026

Should you just buy hard reeds and shave them down? Or is there a better way?

This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of reed manipulation — pinching, licking, shaving, bridling, and everything in between. Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

04/06/2026

The Hidden Cost of “Fixing” Your Reed (Dojo Conversations Episode 158)

Should you be messing with your chanter reeds?

This week, Andrew and Jim discuss the pros and cons of reed manipulation — pinching, licking, shaving, bridling, and everything in between. Are these habits actually helping your playing, or just creating more problems?

Reed tweaks can feel like quick fixes. But as Andrew and Jim explore, most of them are temporary, inconsistent, and quietly destructive. Drawing on personal experience (and a few cautionary tales), they unpack why so many pipers reach for manipulation in the first place — and what to do instead.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:
00:12 – Skateboarding, chess, and the joy of being bad at things
03:08 – Why reed manipulation is today’s focus
03:26 – The performance supplements analogy (and the Icarus connection)
08:57 – Reeds as precision instruments: why less is more
15:23 – Why all manipulation is (technically) destructive
17:56 – Buying hard reeds to shave down: risk vs reward
22:57 – “If it ain’t broke…” (and why no one listens)
24:55 – Pinching: what it does and how long it lasts
29:35 – The real reason pipers manipulate reeds
32:46 – Licking: pitch, vibration, and moisture science
38:23 – Bridling: the “perma pinch” trade-offs
39:57 – Reverse pinch / poking: opening the reed
40:24 – Shaving: when (if ever) it makes sense
45:07 – Jim’s lunch break experiment: resisting the urge
47:05 – Reed rituals: superstition, habit, and hidden benefits
50:02 – Final thoughts and why Icarus is worth a watch

04/02/2026

Could a stage “alter ego” help you combat performance nerves?

This week, Andrew and Jim dig into why nerves can make performing feel so different from the practice room, drawing on insights from violinist and educator Maggie Watson. Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

03/31/2026

Like most piping skills, managing performance nerves get easier with practice. But how can you simulate nerves to practice them at home?

This week, Andrew and Jim dig into why nerves can make performing feel so different from the practice room, drawing on insights from violinist and educator Maggie Watson. Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

03/30/2026

Mastering the Variables: Reeds, The Environment...& You (Dojo U Q&A Session)

This week on Dojo U’s Friday Strike-In Q&A session, Andrew flies solo to answer a wide range of student questions, from solo playing tips to tenor reed management, pitch standards, finding a practice space after moving, and more.

Here’s what we cover this week:
00:00 – Solo playing insights
03:55 – Changing tenor reeds: one at a time or both? (plus transitioning from synthetic to cane)
10:37 – Practicing full pipes in a small apartment after moving (and piping vs married life)
15:28 – How high is too high? Understanding pitch standards for bands and solos
23:02 – Do you have to join a band? Navigating limited local options
26:30 – Piping in Scottish schools: professionalism, curriculum, and the SQA
29:31 – Squeezing arm movement: when is it a red flag?
30:50 – Fixing h**p stuck in the chanter seat when removing a reed
33:18 – Practice chanter priorities: moisture control vs realistic spacing
34:21 – Drones in battle: cardio benefit or myth? (history + debate)
35:56 – Returning to traditional gear: where to start with hide bags and cane reeds
36:29 – Cleaning and polishing your piping shoes (quick-fire tip)

03/26/2026

Can you play as well when you practice as when you perform under pressure?

This week, Andrew and Jim dig into why nerves can make performing feel so different from the practice room, drawing on insights from violinist and educator Maggie Watson. Check out the full episode on Facebook, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts!

03/23/2026

How To Turn Performance Nerves Into A Superpower (Dojo Conversations Episode 157)

Ever felt your heart race, your hands shake, or your mind go blank before playing? This episode will help you understand why... and what to actually do about it.

Nerves can feel paralysing for pipers (or any performer). But they're a natural part of performance, and when understood properly they can become one of your greatest tools as a musician.

This week, Andrew and Jim dig into why performing feels so different from the practice room, drawing on insights from violinist and educator Maggie Watson. They explore how perception shapes physiology, why even highly trained players can feel more nervous than beginners, and what separates practice from performance as two completely different disciplines.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:
02:13 – Why performance nerves are today’s focus
03:11 – “I have thoughts, but I’m fallible” – Andrew’s disclaimer
04:41 – Why performance feels different from practice (Maggie Watson)
09:23 – Practice vs performance: two separate skill sets
10:40 – The lava pit analogy: how stakes change everything
14:51 – How perception drives physical response
15:04 – Why better players often feel more nervous
17:08 – Audience perception: competition vs parade mindset
22:36 – Why “just calm down” doesn’t work
23:21 – Reframing nerves as readiness
27:25 – Mental rehearsal and worst-case scenarios
28:35 – Simulating pressure at home (Jim’s Facebook Live approach)
29:56 – Quick strategies: breathing, body scans, reframing
30:14 – The real solution: practicing under pressure
30:36 – The one take rule and performance-style practice
36:22 – Alter egos: Sasha Fierce to Piper Supreme
39:42 – Performance rituals: kilts, tuning, and focus
43:40 – “Knowing the tunes is not enough”
46:31 – Performance as its own discipline
49:38 – Testing yourself under pressure

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