Pipers start their journey on a practice chanter – but can you do more with a practice chanter than just… well, practice? 

This week, Jim and Andrew discuss practice chanters – should be seen as standalone instruments or just tools for learning the bagpipes? The conversation touches on competitive piping cultures in Scotland and North America, the introduction of practice chanter contests in CLASP, and debates the benefits and potential downsides of fancy chanters, friends' experiences, and the influence of stereotypes on the piping image. Join the debate on whether practice chanters deserve more respect!

Got a topic you’d like us to cover in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 Introduction and Catching Up

01:04 Discussing Practice Chanters

01:49 The ES Session Chanter Debate

06:27 Practice Chanter Competitions

15:00 Cultural Differences in Bagpiping

19:57 Personal Bagpiping Stories

23:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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 shiny distraction? This week, Andrew and Jim look at the pros and cons of digital bagpipe tuners, ignited by a listener's question about digital and analog tuners. Got a topic you’d like us to cover in future? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]. Here’s what we cover on this episode: 00:00 Introduction and Initial Reactions 01:53 Diving into the Topic: Bagpipe Tuners 04:02 Historical Anecdotes and Tuning Practices 06:18 The Role of Digital Tuners in Modern Piping 08:53 Developing a Good Ear for Tuning 16:54 Analogies and Deeper Insights into Tuning 31:05 The Perpetual State of Tuning 33:11 Struggling with Bagpipe Tuning 34:31 The Training Wheels Analogy 35:45 The Role of Digital Tuners 37:24 Learning to Tune by Ear 37:41 Top Bands and Tuning Practices 40:17 The Importance of Developing Your Ear 58:48 Practical Tips for Tuning 01:03:44 Final Thoughts on Tuning and Tuners

Ever tried something new and thought, "Easy! I could do that"—only to fail spectacularly? That’s the hierarchy of competence in action. It’s the universal journey from complete ignorance to effortless mastery. And guess what? You’ve been through it more times than you can count.

This week, Andrew and Jim break down the hierarchy of competence, explaining the four stages: unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence, and unconscious competence. They stress the importance of moving beyond conscious competence to perform skills effortlessly, applying this concept to various aspects of bagpiping, such as learning new tunes and tuning drones. 

Got a topic you’d like addressed in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here’s what we cover this week: 

00:00 Old Injury Recap

00:45 The Intensity Equation Explained

02:13 Peer Pressure in Gym and Pipe Band

03:21 Understanding the Intensity Equation in Bagpiping

07:35 Commandment 8: Strive for Unconscious Competence

09:56 The Hierarchy of Competence

12:44 Learning New Skills and Overcoming Challenges

18:32 Bagpiping and Musical Mastery

26:55 Pursuing Personal Interests

27:25 From Conscious to Unconscious Competence

28:31 Angus McCall's Electronic Chanter

29:52 The Hierarchy of Competence

30:52 Learning New Tunes

34:06 Avoiding Demoralization

37:30 Memorization Techniques

48:30 Unconscious Competence in Action

53:51 Commandment 9 Preview

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 start by dissecting a Reddit user’s advice, then dive into Andrew’s top observations as a competition judge and instructor for lower grade bands, breaking down the low-hanging fruit for bands to drastically improve their sound and performances – by reducing mistakes, tuning drones properly, and playing clean embellishments. 

Got a question you’d like covered in a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 Confession Time: Turning to Reddit for Inspiration

00:13 Reddit's Band Improvement Tips: An Overview

01:16 The Importance of Basics: Basketball Analogy

04:05 Breaking Down the Basics: Clean Starts and Stops

06:24 Andrew's Take: The Real Essentials for Band Improvement

12:24 Tuning the Drones: A Crucial Step

15:47 Identifying Individual Weaknesses in the Band

16:31 The Power of Individual Recitals

17:12 Overcoming Performance Anxiety

18:11 The Importance of Individual Competence

19:16 Avoiding Common Mistakes in Competitions

21:35 Clean Embellishments: A Must for Success

24:24 Addressing Crossing Noises

26:46 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Ever been frustrated by vague, subjective feedback from a judge or teacher? 

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, pass-or-fail result. 

This week, we’re diving into the sixth commandment in Andrew’s 11 Commandments of Mastery: You Shalt Practice Objectively (And Reject Subjectivity). We explore the difference between objective and subjective goals and why aspiring pipers should focus on measurable, objective criteria to improve their skills. We look at the pitfalls of practicing with vague, subjective goals and discuss the need for clear, pass-fail criteria if you want to improve. 

Got a topic you’d like covered on a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected]

Here’s what we cover this episode: 

00:00 A Shattered Dinner Incident

00:45 The Nature of Objectivity

01:38 Philosophical Musings on Reality

02:09 Quantum Computing and Parallel Universes

03:37 Objectivity in Practice

04:51 Subjective vs Objective Goals in Practice

09:43 Breaking Down Objective Practice Elements

14:34 Colorblindness and Context Clues

17:23 Understanding Subjective Feedback in Music

17:48 The Challenge of Translating Subjective Terms

18:24 The Ego in Teaching and Judging

20:00 Objective Feedback for Beginners and Intermediates

21:16 Advanced Players and Subjective Mastery

24:01 Decoding Judging Sheets

28:10 The 11 Commandments of Mastery Course

31:27 Making Practice Fun and Effective

34:37 Objective Practice and Pass-Fail Criteria

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 – while still having fun. A sneak preview – some tips include playing all tunes as daily as possible in order of importance, trying NOT to memorize, and recording yourself to make sure you get it right rather than practicing it wrong. Rethinking traditional approaches to practice can lead to better performance and more fun and satisfaction along the way… Got a topic you’d like us to cover on a future episode? Leave a comment or send us an email: [email protected] Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 Introduction and New Year's Resolutions 00:25 The Challenge of Learning New Tunes 01:37 Strategies for Efficient Practice 02:53 Personal Experiences and Insights 04:54 Five Principles for Learning Tunes 06:19 Tip 1: Play Through All Tunes Daily 17:18 Tip 2: Never Play By Yourself 29:19 The Power of Subconscious Learning 29:55 The Miraculous Process of Memorization 30:41 Daily Practice and Improvement 31:11 Handling Missed Practice Days 31:35 The Importance of Enjoying the Process 36:26 Prioritizing Tunes and Practice 41:41 Learning Tunes the Right Way 41:57 Vertical and Horizontal Learning Methods 47:32 The Role of Fun in Learning 55:29 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

When was the last time you learned a new tune? This week, Andrew and Jim are diving into “constant variance” - that is, constantly and consistently trying new things, whether that’s trying to play new music regularly, changing practice routines, environments, and other approaches to become a better musician. It has so many benefits, including making you a better, more well-rounded musician, not just a “competent” bagpiper or drummer. Got a topic you’d like us to discuss on a future episode? Leave a comment or email us: [email protected] Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 Morning Greetings 00:23 The Importance of Variance in Practice 01:24 CrossFit and Fitness Analogies 02:40 Musical Flexibility and Mastery 08:14 The Value of Learning New Tunes 18:10 Specialization vs. Generalization in Bagpiping 25:38 Exploring Beyond the Familiar 26:42 The Importance of Diverse Learning 26:58 Historical Perspectives on Literacy 28:41 Learning Through Variance 34:38 Practical Tips for Bagpipe Practice 45:14 The Value of Feedback and Adaptation 47:49 Final Thoughts on Variance

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, Andrew and Jim and talking about all things recording – why to do it, our up to date recommendations on how to do it and what equipment to use, and how to analyze recordings for musical improvement. 00:00 A Pleasant Encounter 00:46 The Charm of Chivalry 01:16 Recording Challenges for Musicians 07:06 The Importance of Self-Recording 11:48 Advanced Recording Techniques 13:53 The Superiority of Single-Source Recording 19:27 The Importance of Stereo Microphones 21:25 Golden Rules of Recording 24:09 Ideal Recording Locations 27:30 DIY Recording Tips and Tools 30:05 Recording for Self-Improvement 36:36 The One Take Rule

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 their craft, and not at all suited for beginners or intermediates. 

Yet, more often than not, a piping beginner has a bagpipe setup that is radically too complex, which creates many more problems for them than it solves.  

This week, Andrew and Jim talk through why simple tools are so important when you’re learning to play the bagpipes. Starting with a basic setup helps you become familiar with essential challenges, avoiding unnecessary gadgetry that can complicate the learning process. They discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various bagpipe gadgets such as tone enhancers, moisture control systems, and water traps, highlighting the benefits of a minimalist approach for beginners.

Here’s what we cover this time:

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches

00:55 The Devil's in the Details

01:44 Head in the Clouds, Feet in the Dirt

03:08 The Gadget Dilemma

04:41 Moisture Control Systems Explained

12:31 Commandments for Pipers

13:40 Learning with Simple Tools

33:46 Understanding Water Traps

34:11 Condensation Issues in Bagpipes

34:46 The Subtle Help of Water Traps

35:15 Ice Baths and Bagpipe Gadgets

37:31 The Importance of Simple Tools

39:25 Complexity vs. Simplicity in Bagpipes

40:18 The Karate Kid Analogy

41:23 Challenges of Learning Bagpipes

42:16 Tone Enhancers and Other Gadgets

43:36 The Case for Simple Setups

50:32 The Irony of Complex Bagpipes

53:56 Pharmaceutical Ads and Bagpipe Gadgets

57:18 Final Thoughts on Bagpipe Gadgets

01:02:35 Monty Python and Wrapping Up

Happy New Year – almost! This week Andrew and Jim revisit some of the highs, the lows, and everything in between – including Jim's hair, which is basically a third host at this point – as we reflect on the pod's progress so far... and some of the exciting plans (and guests) we're cooking up for 2025!  Here's what we cover in (a LOT) of detail this week:  00:00 Happy New Year Reflections 00:20 Reviewing Past Episodes 02:24 Episode 55: Can Rest Be Productive? 03:34 Episode 56: How to Simplify Tunes 05:39 Episode 57: What's the Real Cost of Bagpiping? 07:38 Episode 58: Freeing Up Your Piping Bandwidth 10:11 Episode 59: Do You Own or Rent Your Piping Skills? 12:31 Episode 60: The Tone Zone 15:21 Episode 61: Getting the Most Out of Band Practice 15:47 Episode 62: The Four Layers of Drone Reed Sound 18:09 Episode 63: Constructing a Winning Medley 20:06 Episode 64: Listener Q&A Mailbag 20:19 Episode 65: Set It and Forget It Method 20:55 Episode 66: Finding Your Perfect Drone Reed Setup 21:55 Episode 67: Has Bagpipe Pitch Gone Too High? 22:25 Episode 68: The Ultimate Secret to Being a Better Bagpiper or Drummer 22:51 Episode 69: The Sticky Truth About Chanter Tape 23:29 Episode 70: Play It Like You're Saying It 23:33 Episode 71: Is Bass Drone Tuning Hard? 24:39 Episode 72: Ten Clues Your Pipe Major Sucks 25:58 Finding Your Ideal Chanter Reed Strength 26:17 Reddit Q&A: Hardest Tune Ever Written 26:54 Imagining a World Without Bagpipes 27:24 The Importance of Embellishments in Bagpipe Playing 29:59 Competing in Band and Solo Competitions 30:33 The Bagpiping AI Revolution 30:53 Portent Parade Principles 32:55 Reviving Stagnant Tunes 33:58 A North American Piper's Guide to Visiting Scotland 35:56 More Reddit Questions and Bagpipe Topics 36:40 The Intensity Equation and Finding Bagpipe Freedom 37:35 How to Embrace Failure in Bagpiping 37:48 Pipers of the Caribbean: A Bagpiping Cruise 38:19 Balancing Perfection and Fun in Bagpiping 38:35 The Formula to Beat the Pipe Band Struggle 39:26 Building Stamina and Hot Takes on Bagpipe Reddit Questions 40:20 The Eleven Commandments of Bagpiping 40:44 Writing the First Ever Podcast March 41:06 Reflecting on 100 Episodes and the Power of Immersion 42:08 Secrets of Ensemble Judges 42:54 Daily Action and Upcoming Episodes 44:46 Looking Forward to More Guests and Episodes