463 - Are You Dialling In The Right Knobs? (Dojo Conversations Episode 133)

What if better playing was as simple as turning the right knob?   In this episode, Andrew and Jim turn up the dial on a piping metaphor you didn’t know you needed. They explore how every element of your piping – and life – is adjustable. Need more lift in your tune? Twist the tempo knob. Feeling too flashy? Ease off the complexity knob. Wondering why your pipes sound dull? Could be your moisture knob is overworked. So, whether your piping feels a bit... off, or you just love a good metaphor taken too far, this episode is your chance to grab hold of your own personal knobs and start turning with purpose.   Got a topic you’d like us to talk about in future? Leave a comment or email us: [e-mail]   Here’s what we cover this week: 
 00:00 – Shower Thoughts: Discovering the knobs of life
 01:17 – Soviet lasers, childhood, and precision tweaking
 02:21 – Composing with context: the musical control panel
 05:04 – Balancing nostalgia with new sounds
 08:44 – Volume, dynamics, and piping subtlety
 12:36 – Why your audience should influence your knob settings
 14:34 – Harmonies, embellishments, and tonal flavour
 17:53 – Context is king: adjusting for the venue, not your ego
 24:08 – Moisture control and the quest for tonal bliss
 26:23 – Political knobs (careful, they’re sensitive)
 28:22 – When to tweak vs. when to trust the process
 29:15 – Final thoughts: Keep your knobs flexible