Does Bad Band Culture Drive Players Away For Good? (Dojo Conversations Episode 143)

Does a good – or bad – band experience just come down to luck?

This week, Jim and Andrew dig into a listener’s story about tough instructors, how to keep having fun when you're burned out, and how band culture can either make or break whether players stick around in bands for the long-term.
Tune in for some practical advice for both learners and instructors on how to keep the spark alive, make music a joy again, and create a healthier piping community for everyone.

Got a question or 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 – Andrew: the “Man, Myth, Legend”
01:00 – A virtual Scotland tour guide
05:40 – Listener mail: The uphill battle of learning bagpipes
08:00 – The impact of negative instructors and band culture
12:00 – Why finding a good teacher is often luck
15:00 – Ego, exclusivity, and the “only one way” mindset
18:00 – Band stress, tradition vs. progress, and hazing
22:00 – Is this unique to bagpipes?
25:00 – Advice for learners: Diversify your influences
27:00 – Advice for instructors: Foster excitement and joy
30:00 – Advice for band members: Welcoming new players & preserving tradition
33:00 – Final thoughts: Keeping the spark alive

Episode Highlights
• The problem with negative instructors and gatekeeping band culture
• Why luck often determines whether you find a good teacher
• The myth of “only one right way” to learn bagpipes
• Practical advice for learners: diversify your influences and keep it fun
• Tips for instructors: focus on excitement, joy, and growth

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Dojo University is the longest-running and most successful online bagpiping and drumming school in the world.

We teach thousands of students around the world how to play good music – mastering the art of learning and playing the bagpipes and drums 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 and drummers were struggling out there in the world. Bagpiping should be a joyful experience, each and every day you pick up your instrument. If it's not, we strive to fix that before it's too late.

And whether you're a complete beginner, a parade or experienced player, a pipe major or drum sergeant, 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. We'd love to welcome you back and show you around!

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