All Episodes
Episodes
411 - The Bagpiping AI Revolution (Dojo Conversations Episode 81)
Could AI ever replace bagpipers? This week, Andrew and Jim dive into the potential impact of AI on the bagpiping community and creativity in general, and AI's capabilities and limitations in generating music, writing,...
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410 - The Dangers of Solo Competing (Dojo Conversations Episode 80)
Would you rather perform at a wedding, or compete solo in front of a judge?Â
This week, Andrew and Jim look at the world of solo bagpipe competing, focusing on both the fun and the potential challenges involved. They...
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409 - What To Expect at Band and Solo Competitions (Dojo Conversations Episode 79)
How should you prepare for your first solo competition? What should you do the night before? On the day? And what can you expect when you arrive, during, and after you compete in both band and solo contests? This...
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408 - The Secret to Learning New Tunes Is... Fun! (Dojo Conversations Episode 78)
Do you struggle to learn new tunes? Get stressed trying to get all those band sets ready for the circle? The solution could lie in… making it fun!
This week, Andrew and Jim look at how to find fun in the process of...
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How To Play Embellishments Like You Mean It (Episode 77)
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...
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406 - Do You Need To Play Tunes With All The Embellishments? (Dojo Conversations Ep 76)
Why do pipers at all levels obsess over embellishments and deep-and-meaningful expression, when they can’t play to the beat, or without crossing noises? This week, Andrew and Jim jump back into Andrew’s book, Finding...
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405 - What If There Were NO Bagpipes? (Dojo Conversations Episode 75)
What would your life look like if bagpipes had never been a part of them? Pipers (and drummers) are a passionate bunch – so have you ever considered how different your life would be if you'd never picked up the pipes?...
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404 - Reddit Q&A: What's The Hardest Tune Ever Written and much more (Dojo Conversations Ep 74)
What's the hardest tune ever written? What's the best pipe band performance ever? How should you travel with pipes? How do you choose tunes for your MSR? And what's the best way to fix a funky-sounding high G?
What do...
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403 - How To Find Your Ideal Chanter Reed Strength (Dojo Conversations Episode 73)
Chanter reeds are often sent from the manufacturer labelled as "easy", "hard", or anything in between – but how do you know which one is going to be right for you?
This week, Andrew and Jim are putting chanter reeds...
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402 - 10 Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks (Dojo Conversations Episode 72)
Pipe band can be a source of joy, fun, and fulfilment. But the person in charge matters… and it can be really demotivating when weaknesses in their leadership start to affect your enjoyment of this hobby we all know...
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401 - Is Bass Drone Tuning "Hard"? (Dojo Conversations Episode 71)
Pipers around the world find bagpipe tuning one of the hardest skills to master. Why? This week, we're using the physics of sound to explain why, as we look in-depth at how the harmonics of bagpipe chanter and drone...
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400 - Play It Like You Sing It (Dojo Conversations Episode 70)
Learning tunes can be hard, especially if you struggle with sight-reading. But there's a step that makes it much easier – and helps speed up a bunch of other skills too, including your ability to play the right rhythm...
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