This week, we sit down with renowned piper and composer John Dew for a deep dive into his latest project, John Dew's Pipe Suites. From the story behind the book to the evolution of harmony in bagpipe music, John walks us through his approach to writing suites, the influences that shaped his sound, and why understanding chord progressions is becoming essential for today’s pipers. We also explore his brand-new album, the tools he uses to compose, and what’s ahead for bands travelling to competitions. 🎵 Tune in and join the conversation at pipersdojo.com! Check out John and his music here: https://www.johndew-composition.com/ Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 – Meeting John Dew & Early Background01:11 – Inside the Pipe Suite Book: The USB Format & Features02:40 – How the Community Reacted: Sales & Feedback03:40 – What’s Actually in the Book? (11 Suites Explained)05:10 – John’s Compositional Approach & Influences08:50 – Harmony, Chord Progressions & the Modern Piping Mindset13:45 – Teaching, Arranging & Why Harmony Matters for Leadership17:23 – Tools of the Trade: Sibelius & Other Software17:55 – Live Demo: Navigating the Book & Listening to Tracks21:19 – John’s New Album: Marches & Fresh Compositions23:20 – The Value of Musical Variety24:49 – Interactive Learning Tools at the Dojo25:45 – Q&A: Lessons, Pipe Majors, Contest Logistics & More36:03 – Do Pipers… Talk to Their Pipes?40:18 – Chicago Games & Band Travel Plans43:56 – Chanter & Reed Talk: Mark II Shepherd, Tuning & Comparisons46:15 – Drone Tuning Tips for Performances49:41 – Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up