18 Amazing tips from Rob. Let's dive in! Tip #1: Play your pipes a little bit, more often. (As opposed to long marathon sessions) Tip #2: Monitor Each person's individual pipe setup and tonal quality at practice. Identify the best bagpipe and "time" how long it takes to settle in. Tip #3: Plan and Adopt a "Band tone policy", and expect every piper to live up to it. Tip #4: Attacks - High A Finger Off Hole during attacks (All pipers). Listen to attacks rank-by-rank. Tip #5: Always blow warm air into bag during last few minutes of tune up, and while waiting at the line to start competing. Tip #6: Always Play a Simple Tune when Checking Chanter-Tuning and when Tuning Drones. NEVER just a scale. Never tune drones on a constant Low A. Tip #7: Always start playing pipes at band practice at the same time. Don't allow pipers to play their pipes on the same day as practice. Tip #8: Look smart, play smart! Treating Uniform and Appearance as a team will help you perform as a team. (Fancy Sgian Dubh guy is not with the program) Tip #9: When you have blown in a good chanter reed, take it out and save it as a backup reed. Tip #10: When taking a break from playing on performance day, make sure pipes are all resting in the EXACT SAME ENVIRONMENT and in the EXACT SAME SETUP. ie - chanters in, all pipes on the same side of bus. Tip #11: Watch and observe the top bands' setup process as they approach their competition. Tip #12: Appoint a Bagpipe Maintenance Inspector Tip #13: When training/practicing, play longer sets to build stamina (repeat certain tunes in sets). Tip #14: Bag Slippage - Practice with band jacket on. Tip #15: Record yourself playing band sets. Then adjudicate your performance and identify the weakest parts. Tip #16: Hold extra band practices the week leading up to a competition. Tip #17: Practice as a band on practice-chanters and pads. Tip #18: Get practice chanters in tune.