All Episodes
Episodes
445 - Do You REALLY Need a Digital Tuner? (Dojo Conversations Episode 115)
Do you rely solely on your digital tuner to get your pipes in tune? Digital bagpipe tuners have become as commonplace in the piping world as the smartphones they often operate on. But are they a necessity, or just a...
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444 - Why Learning Bagpipes Feels Harder Before It Gets Easier (Dojo Conversations Episode 114)
Ever tried something new and thought, "Easy! I could do that"âonly to fail spectacularly? Thatâs the hierarchy of competence in action. Itâs the universal journey from complete ignorance to effortless mastery. And...
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443 - Our Top Hacks For Grade 5 Pipe Bands (Dojo Conversations Episode 113)
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...
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442 - Why Subjective Feedback Is Confusing (And How to Decode It) (Dojo Conversations Episode 112)
Ever been frustrated by vague, subjective feedback from a judge or teacher?Â
Only things that can be measured can be improved. So how do you measure your progress? We need to find ways to get an objective,...
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441 - How To Learn a Stack oâ Tunes (Dojo Conversations Episode 111)
Have you ever had to learn a bunch of new tunes all at once?
This week, Andrew and Jim talk through the best ways to tackle learning a huge stack of bagpipe tunes quickly â while still having fun.
A sneak preview â...
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440 - How Often Should You Learn a New Tune? (Dojo Conversations Ep 110)
When was the last time you learned a new tune?
This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into âconstant varianceâ - that is, constantly and consistently trying new things, whether thatâs trying to play new music regularly,...
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439 - How To Beat The Danger of Distractions (Dojo Conversations Episode 109)
Ever tried to multitask? Putting aside the fact that multitasking is a myth (more on that in the episode...) did you end up doing any of those many things *well*? Â
Multitasking doesnât work, especially if youâre...
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438 - The Game-Changing Power of Recording Your Practice (Dojo Conversations Ep 108)
Do you avoid recording yourself? Get nervous at the idea of people listening to you play?
Although it can be nerve wracking, recording yourself for analysis is a must if you want to improve your playing.
This week,...
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437 - Why Simple Tools Build Better Pipers (Dojo Conversations Ep 107)
Would you want to learn to drive in a Formula 1 race-car, or learn to fly an airplane in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner?
 Even if it sounds really cool, in reality, high-end sophisticated tools are designed for masters of...
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436 - Another Year In The Bag (Dojo Conversations Ep 106)
Happy New Year â almost!
This week Andrew and Jim revisit some of the highs, the lows, and everything in between â including Jim's hair, which is basically a third host at this point â as we reflect on the pod's...
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435 - St Blow's Blessings for the Season(ing) (Dojo Conversations Ep 105)
In this festive episode, Jim and Andrew present another AI-penned Christmas poem: 'A Piper's Night Before Christmas,' featuring Jolly St Blow, the mythical Highland Loon, and an oddly defensive AI author... Enjoy,...
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434 - Do You Need A Second Instrument for Solo Contests? (Dojo Conversations Ep 104)
The mailbag has arrived again! This week, Will asks: ââŚI want to build a set of pipes, specifically for solo competition⌠what should I look at for a purpose built solo bagpipe?â Â
Andrew and Jim chat through whether...
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