460 - Prescribed Tunes: Test, Trap... or Trying To Tell Us Something? (Dojo Conversations Episode 130)

Are the RSPBA’s prescribed tunes just tough? Or are they trying to tell us something?

This week, Jim and Andrew dive into a juicy listener-submitted topic: the sometimes frustrating, always challenging world of the RSPBA prescribed tunes list. Are some of these tunes meant to weed bands out? We explore the theories, the difficulties, and the real reasons these tunes exist.

From choosing the right music for your band’s skill level to balancing challenge with enjoyment, they unpack it all, complete with cooking analogies, personal stories, and a few cheeky conspiracy theories along the way. Whether you're a band leader or just curious about the logic behind tune lists, this one’s got food for thought.

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

Here’s what we cover this week:

00:00 – Intro & listener topic

00:29 – What’s the deal with the prescribed tunes?

01:46 – Are they intentionally hard?

03:26 – Why these tunes exist in the first place

04:43 – What judges are looking for

07:45 – Picking tunes for different skill levels

16:34 – What counts as an “acceptable” variation?

22:13 – Keeping the music challenging but fair

26:33 – What to do when you’ve got newbies

27:25 – Tales from the trenches: tough tunes

28:33 – Striking the right balance

29:38 – Repertoire choices that work

31:38 – More on performance standards

32:22 – Cooking up a good analogy

34:30 – Why the basics still matter

37:22 – Final thoughts and takeaways