507 - Threaded drone reeds, competition grades and tempos, and using a hygrometer (Dojo U Q&A Session)
44 minutes Posted May 11, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
– Welcome & intro
– Threading drone reed seats: the pros, cons, and ongoing debate. Does it change the sound? Is it reversible? And should you do it on vintage or high-end pipes?
– What actually separates the grades? A practical breakdown of Grade 5 through Professional, including what players should realistically be aiming for at each level
– Using the Two-Week Tune of the Week process for competition prep: applying the freedom phase approach to building and polishing solo or band repertoire
– Andrew’s move to St. Andrew’s College: will he continue playing with Inveraray? A look at how yearly “renewals” work and what he shared during the interview process
– Do bagpipes make people look better in photos and videos? Why posture matters more than you think, and the four key points that change everything
– What’s a safe tempo for a Grade 4 2/4 march? Live metronome demos using Siege of Delhi, Iron Division, and Prince Charles, plus why groove matters more than raw BPM
– Decoding judge feedback on tempo: how to turn “too fast” or “too slow” comments into practical adjustments
– Willie’s Glenfiddich tempo check: Mike’s rule that Grade 4 players probably shouldn’t be playing faster than 58 BPM
– Adding phase-passing recordings to Dojo-U congratulation posts: logistics, community feedback, and possible improvements
– Reed selection: when is a reed truly bad, and when is it just a poor match for your setup? Including the “90% rule” for chanter and drone reeds
– Why trial and error is still the best teacher: how running a band, experimenting with chanters, and buying cheap used gear speeds up learning
– Reed humidity prep: Andrew’s Ziploc bag and cigar humidification pack method for conditioning reeds before testing
– Hygrometer accuracy: why Andrew replaced his old hygrometers, and how unreliable readings can quietly sabotage your setup
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Show notes
This week on Dojo U’s "Strike-In" Q&A, Andrew and Carl tackle students' top-voted questions covering everything from competition tempos and reed setup to drone threading, posture, and grading standards.Here’s what we cover this week: