This week on Dojo U’s "Strike-In" Q&A, Andrew and Carl dig into everything from reed disasters and confusing judges’ comments to tuning, piobaireachd mindset, and band dynamics. Here’s what we cover this week: 00:00 – Exhibit D: introducing the new segment breaking down piping-related social media images 01:25 – A crushed, darkened reed: what it reveals about mold, storage, and poor setup habits 06:18 – Another smashed reed: how it happens (yes, the chanter cork) and a simple pre-play check to avoid it 10:01 – Matching shirts Q&A: “Who’s the nice one?” (inspired by Ed Best) 12:45 – Piobaireachd: is it more about mental endurance or technique? 20:38 – “Pipes tuned too close”: making sense of confusing or contradictory judge feedback 27:46 – Struggling to hear locked-in drones: how to actually develop your ear (and why it never really ends) 37:20 – Favourite places to play: from the World’s to the band hall when everything clicks 40:56 – Demoting players in a band: how to handle it clearly, fairly, and without unnecessary friction 46:00 – Blowing inconsistencies at band: what helps, what doesn’t, and why the real work happens at home