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"Andrew Douglas here, founder and creator of the Piper's Dojo and I just wanted to say thank you so much for purchasing your course."
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The course you just purchased is actually part of a huge library of courses, and the email we’re going to send you is the key to accessing that vault of information.
The Course “vault” is where the course you've purchased lives, as well as where all of our other courses live – and at this point we’ve amassed quite a few. And, you’ve already purchased this one, so it will be visible and available when you log in. On top of that though, all of the other courses are sitting on this page, already with your name on them – they just need to be unlocked.
Indivudually, courses like the ones you just purchased are at least $47, but I want you to have them ALL as my gift, – for just $1 when you upgrade to Dojo U Premium below…
Hi, I'm Andrew Douglas. I'm a 2x World Champion, a multi-prize winner at the Silver Medals in Oban and Inverness, and a certified bagpiping examiner with the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
If any aspect of your piping is a struggle, don't settle! Let's build great fundamentals from the ground up so we reconnect with why we wanted to do this in the first place – to truly express ourselves!
We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes in the process – in a highly accessible way that is completely unlike anything else you'll find online or in person, anywhere in the world.
We created Dojo U because we noticed that too many pipers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up the pipes. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.
And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade player, an experienced piper, a pipe major, or a pro-level competitor... you can free yourself from musical frustration at Dojo U.
At Dojo U, we do things a little differently to how you may have approached learning to play the bagpipes before.
One of the key reasons for our ongoing success is that we're always evolving, improving, and growing, so if you've been a student and left us for any reason – you'll probably notice that the Dojo looks a bit different to what you might remember (and has a lot more value to explore).
We'd love to welcome you back and show you around!
Many students start with us wanting to 'choose their own adventure', hoping to find quick solutions to specific topics – like 'fixing' their embellishments, blowing, tuning, and instrument maintenance.
And you definitely can find courses, resources, articles, and classes that cover all of those things (and so much more) in our in-depth, self-paced course catalogue...
However, most students eventually realize that the fastest path to mastery (and the best value in being a Dojo U member) is to follow our main teaching stream, which our live classes and supporting resources complement.
Our Dojo University team are led by world-champion bagpipers who have been master instructors for decades, working with bands and soloists all over the world, from complete beginners all the way up to professional pipers and Grade 1 bands.
Our teaching faculty are similarly skilled – all leaders in their own bands and extremely experienced instructors with a wealth of knowledge to guide you on your path to Bagpipe Freedom.
As a Dojo U student, you'll be getting the best advice in the world, from people who don't just talk the talk; we've walked (and won!) just about every walk there is at every level in the bagpiping world.
Andrew is a prolific practitioner of the bagpipe, active at the highest level of pipe bands, solo competition, teaching, and creative endeavors for the past 20 years. He was 2017 & 2019 World Champion with Inveraray and District Pipe Band, 2017 Winner of the USA Silver Medal for Piobaireachd, 2008–2013 Pipe Major of Grade 1 Oran Mor Pipe Band, multi-prize winner of Silver Medals at Oban and Inverness, the 2004 B-Grade Winner Strathspey/Reel at Oban. Andrew published his debut and award-winning book, Finding Bagpipe Freedom, in 2021. He's also an Accredited Bagpipe Teacher and Examiner (Scottish Qualifications Authority) and holds a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts from Simon Fraser University.
Carl is a professional piper who hails originally from Chicago. Over 25 years of playing, he has taken numerous prizes in solos throughout his rise to the professional grade. Carl started with the Ft. Lauderdale Highlanders in south Florida, and played in the Grade 2 Chicago Midlothian Scottish Pipe Band during high school, before joining the Oran Mor Pipe Band in 2008. Carl was also the Pipe Major of The Iona College Pipe Band and a major influence on the band during his four years at Iona College. Carl helped found Dojo University and runs several popular weekly classes. More recently, Carl has also been exploring bagpiping and bagad culture in France, after moving there in 2018, and still plays with local bands and musicians there.
Andra is the Pipe Major of the Pikes Peak Highlanders, a local competition, performance, and training band in Colorado Springs, CO. They are a band with a large number of military and first responders (as well as some other great non-service people). Andra has been an avid Dojo member for nearly a decade and has been integral to the smooth technical operation of Dojo U's business and classes since 2017. She is a full time pipe teacher and lifelong learner who works hard to become a better piper and leader every day.
Originally from upstate New York, Andy is now well and truly a Las Vegas local. In addition to running the Las Vegas Pipe Band as Pipe Major for more than a decade, Andy performs and teaches bagpipes full-time, is a kit drummer for two Vegas rock bands, and co-hosts a notoriously popular piping podcast. Andy has played in the World Pipe Band Championships several times and enjoys travelling overseas to play at competitions and events. Andy has been a popular weekly class tutor at the Dojo for many years, and is also a Dojo U workshop, cruise, and special event regular.
Having been one of the dominant players on the World scene for more than 30 years, Bruce barely needs any introduction! He has won the World Pipe Band Championships with the 78th Fraser Highlanders, Gold Medals for Piobaireachd at The Northern Meeting (Inverness), the Argyllshire Gathering (Oban), the Bratach Gorm (Blue Banner) in London, and The Silver Star for Former Winners. Bruce has published four books of music, developed his own pipe chanter with McCallum Bagpipes and has been a valued Dojo Premium Class Instructor for many years.
Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, Cameron is a full-time professional piper and plays for the World Pipe Band Champions, Inveraray & District Pipe Band. Besides a World Pipe Band Championship title, Cameron has also been successful at the highest level of solo competition in both Light Music and piobaireachd, taking some top prizes including the Silver Star at Inverness and the Silver Chanter on the Isle of Skye. Cameron has been a valued and popular member of the Dojo U teaching faculty for many years for his gentle, good-humoured approach and fun selection of repertoire to work on in his weekly classes.
Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Chance is an Eastern United States Pipe Band Association professional solo competitor, who has played with the Oran Mor Pipe Band and the Stuart Highlanders Pipe Band in Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships. Chance has been a full-time musician for over a decade, teaching piping and serving as Pipe Major in his local pipe band. A long-serving beginner tutor with Dojo U, our students love Chance's classes and his calm, encouraging approach for new starters.
Ed is a 40+ year veteran of snare drumming, A level drumming and ensemble judge (WUSPBA / EUSPBA), and a qualified educator with a B.A. in Music Education and Percussion, who has won North American Champion, East Coast Champion Supreme, Ontario Champion Supreme, West Coast Champion of Champions, and Canadian Champion. Ed has placed in Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships, previously served on the Music Board of WUSPBA and is currently the WUSPBA Southern Branch President. His valuable drumming expertise has helped our piping students master rhythm since Ed joined the Dojo team as our rhythm guru in 2020.
Glenn is a professional piper from Milton in Ontario, Canada, who was pipe sergeant of Grade 1 band Shotts and Dykehead for several years, with whom he won three World Pipe Band Championships. Glenn’s also an accomplished solo competitor with multiple A-Grade medal wins – the Canadian Gold Medal, The Dunvegan Medal and The Northern Meeting Gold Medal for piobaireachd, and several A Grade medal wins for marches at the Argyllshire Gathering and MRS at Bratach Gorm in London. Glenn is a panel judge at Play For Sheets, and is a popular instructor for his regular piobaireachd classes at Dojo University.
A piper with the two-time grade 1 World Champions Inveraray & District Pipe Band, Greig is a regular prize winner and A-Grade light music competitor on the highland games circuit, regularly competing at the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting. His 9–to–5 job is as a full-time bagpipe instructor for West Lothian Council, where he is also the pipe major and lead instructor of the West Lothian Schools Pipe Band, and he is also a skilled reed-maker. Greig is a valued part of the Dojo U Team, who records our 'Tune of the Week' videos to demonstrate how to play each part, and grades student submissions every week.
Rab is a legend in the Scottish bagpiping scene who needs little introduction! Among his many accolades, Rab won the World Pipe Band Championships 5 times as Pipe Major of Grade 1 band Shotts and Dykehead, has won around 40 RSPBA Major Championships, and won the Macallen Trophy twice at the Interceltic Music Festival in Lorient, France. Rab has published several collections of his own tunes, released recordings, and also runs The Kilt Centre in Hamilton, Scotland. Rab has been a valued Premium Class Instructor at Dojo University for many years.
After beginning on pipes as a teenager playing for RAF Waddington Pipe Band, Sally took a hiatus from piping to start a family. Sally joined the Dojo teaching team as a beginner's tutor in 2020, and has been helping brand-new pipers find their way around the Dojo University Tutor ever since, teaching the fundamentals of rhythm, reading music, and playing a practice chanter in multiple classes every week.
Hailing from Altoona, Pennsylvania, Tim joined Dojo University in 2011. In late 2017, he began the process of building a competitive band, Rail City Pipes and Drums, which he now leads alongside his non-competitive Shrine Highland Band. In 2020, Tim extended his piping goals to improve a little bit every day to other Dojo U students, starting a Dojo U class all about improving fingerwork, timing and embellishments.
Bagpipe music has a fairly simple set of fundamentals that expand outward to encompass all bagpipe music. Our fully interactive online courses are designed to train you on these fundamentals, so you're ready to fully participate in the greater bagpiping world.
We run 20+ live classes through Zoom every single day of the week, where you can ask questions and get feedback on your playing – but if you're more of a 'in my own time' kind of person, you can also choose from any one of our 50+ bagpipe courses to begin your own individual, skill-specific training.
Dojo U Premium Membership is your VIP ticket to all* existing Dojo U courses, and we're adding new ones all the time!
Our courses average about 5 hours of video content in length (though some are shorter, and others significantly longer and more in-depth), and they come with all relevant downloadable handouts, as well as module-specific quizzes and usually a final exam.
The course levels are usually beginner to intermediate (some are more advanced, and are clearly signposted as such so you don't get in way over your head!), and are the exact same methodology and approaches that we've applied to pro-level players and world-class pipe band environments with great success!
* All of the courses listed below are included in Premium Membership except for the 'special events' noted, which are run as additional workshop-style events.
11 Commandments of Mastery
And Introduction to Bagpipe Freedom
The Dojo U Beginner's Tutor: The Bagpipe as an Extension of your Self
Transitioning to the Bagpipes
Rhythm for Bagpipers
Fingerwork Fundamentals
Instrument Fundamentals
Bagpipe Composing Foundations (12-month course)
Introduction to Piobaireachd (Years 1–4)
4 Steps to an Easy Bagpipe
The Steady Blowing Trifecta
6 Steps of the Bagpipe Tuning Cycle
2 Steps to Great Expression
The Low G Embellishment Perfection System
The Tune Building Process
Sight Reading Mastery
Mastering Cane Drone Reeds
6 Months to the Next Level Game Plan
3-Stage Gig Perfection System
Defeat Performance Nerves with Digital Recording
PipePsych - Get Your Head in the Game!
The Strike-In Perfection System
How to Tie In Hide Pipe Bags
Drone Reeds and Calibration
Chanter Reed Manipulation
Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board (PDQB) Placement Course
Prep Course: PDQB Level 2
Prep Course: PDQB Level 3
Prep Course: PDQB Level 4
Prep Course: PDQB Level 5
Prep Course: PDQB Level 6
Prep Course: PDQB Level 7
Prep Course: PDQB Level 8
The Dojo University Tuning Clinic (annual, in-person)
The Dojo University Bagpipe Cruise (annual, in-person)
The 30 Day Bagpipe Makeover (bi-annual, online)
The Bagpipe Freedom Intensive (bi-annual, online)
"Through Dojo U I’m finally getting much of the formalized and theoretical training I never obtained through private instruction in the past. On top of this, I’m regularly able to have my playing constructively critiqued to continue to focus my improvement areas and moving forward.
Dojo U has been very accommodating with their instruction from all sources and I feel a genuine sense of belonging with so many that participate in the various programs. Thanks Dojo U!"
“In today’s technological age, Dojo University has created an educational institution where pipers of all levels can obtain much needed instruction. Offering not only live weekly classes that suit anyone’s schedule, they also have a full back catalog of old lessons covering all aspects of piping.
Living in Memphis, I am devoid of higher instruction, so the Dojo has given me an extremely affordable outlet where I can learn on my time from some of the top pipers in the world!"
“I've been piping for 30 plus years and struggling along the way. The Dojo U method works! My family and pets have seen and heard the improvement in my piping!.That has been the best kind of feedback for me. The success of improvement builds on my desire and I look forward to the time of day I get on my pipes! Thank You Dojo!"
A Dojo University Premium Membership is $45 per month, and benefits all ages and stages.
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Try Dojo University Premium free for 30 days. After your trial, your membership is $45 per month. (Cancel any time before 30 days and you won't be re-billed).
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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Try Dojo University Premium for just $1 for 30 days. After your trial, your membership is $45 per month. (Cancel any time before 30 days and you won't be re-billed).
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Secure Payment
Upgrade with one click to Dojo University Premium for just $1 for 30 days. After your trial, your membership is $45 per month. (Cancel any time before 30 days and you won't be re-billed).
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Secure Payment
“I have felt "stuck" for many months in my bagpiping level. I had used up my bag of tricks in being able to progress forward. The 11 Commandments of Mastery Course* has (in just a few short weeks mind you) improved my mindset, my practice regime, and in turn my playing. I desperately needed this lifeline and for that I thank you!!"
***This course is included in a Premium Membership
“Great course! My understanding of rhythm is so much better. Broken down, there are so many simple concepts. Put together, it has moved me light years ahead in my piping experience.
Before I couldn't "see" the problem which meant I had not chance of fixing it. Now I can see what is causing the problems which at least gives me a chance a correcting them. You do great work! Keep it up!"
Creator of the Piper's Dojo and Dojo University
“My name is Andrew Douglas and I'm the founder of the Piper's Dojo and creator of Dojo University, our online learning portal for bagpipers. I'm super excited to be your guide as we drill into some of the most essential fundamental elements of being a great piper... we'd be honored to have you aboard!"
— Andrew Douglas
Believe me, you're not the first person to have doubts about the effectiveness of online bagpipe lessons.
Our school is indeed a big shift from the typical "master-->apprentice" approach to teaching bagpipes.
It is indeed harder to teach certain skills over the internet (as we can't do much that's truly "hands on.")
It's true, some of the "in person magic" that you can get from a truly great solo lesson or group session might not seem to be as magical in an online setting.
All of these difficult challenges indeed crossed my mind one beautiful day in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It was the year 2011 and my wife and I were on our honeymoon. We were sipping frozen cocktails, and daydreaming. My wife was presumably daydreaming about normal things... but not me. I was, of course, daydreaming about bagpipe stuff.
The daydream went like this:
And so, I proceeded to think about all of the incredible benefits that could be had at a fictional, mystical "online bagpipe school."
So, just over a decade ago, it became clear that I couldn't afford not to try to build the world's first "online bagpipe school." And so that's what I did (with the help of my extremely talented team, and amazing world-class instructors).
All of the challenging bits above are still challenging. It would be amazing if I could some how magically reach through my computer screen and help a student whip their pipes into tune.
But the reality is, these challenges have made student and teacher better as a result. And meanwhile, the positive benefits (many of which I predicted back in 2011) keep proving greater, and greater, and greater.
Dojo University is a fantastic product for bagpipers with and without access to in person instruction:
Bagpipers without access to in-person instruction can utilize Dojo U to (quite literally) ascend from the very first day picking up a practice chanter to becoming an advanced bagpiper. Many have already done it!
Bagpipers with access to in person instruction can and should supplement their in-person lessons with the Dojo. The Dojo can help you develop a more rounded skillset than private lessons typically offer, and can provide you with the support an community any bagpiper needs to be successful.
Here's all the reasons Dojo U works so well
Here are the downsides of Dojo U
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100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
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You are "double protected" by Andrew's Satisfaction-Guarantee. Simply keep a short-form practice journal to show that you've diligently attempted to follow our program, and we'll double your money back for up to 6 months of your membership if you're not satisfied with the results.
Yes, you can find bagpipe instruction elsewhere on the internet and in person, but Dojo University is unique because it's built and taught by real-world bagpipers who have actually built these resources based on real-world experience (read: successes).
In other words, we aren't people who couldn't do so we made a course instead. We've been in the trenches teaching AND performing - we detest untested theory and believe that the best way to learn something is to roll up your sleeves and get your hands a little dirty. If that sounds appealing, then welcome! In Dojo U you've found your bagpipe home.
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