Relaxed hands beat a tight grip, every time. The 'death grip' on the chanter and tense fingers are the biggest technical setbacks I see; the fix is a simple 'puppy dog hands' exercise and keeping the two pillars of good form, hands close and relaxed, in mind on every note.
A gauge reading of 35 or higher usually means gear, not you. When a chanter reed sounds thin, sharp, or unstable on the high notes, dryness, a reed that's too easy, or seating it too deep in the reed seat are the usual culprits, and a bit of tape is almost always still part of the answer.
Confidence comes from doing the work, then letting go of the outcome. Borrowing an idea from actor Bryan Cranston, I treat every competition like an audition: prepare thoroughly, play your best, then walk away without attaching your worth to the result.
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Ask Me Anything! Live Q&A with Jori Chisholm of BagpipeLessons.com
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