440 - How Often Should You Learn a New Tune? (Dojo Conversations Ep 110)

Piper's Dojo Audio Experience

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