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SFU Pipe Band at the line at the World Pipe Band Championships -- one of the most high pressure situations any piper can face. Since many of the world's pipers are right in the middle of the competition season, with some of the most important competitions of the year coming in the next two months, I thought today would be the perfect time to revisit this very important topic.   Most piping-related topics can be categorized in three main subject areas: technique, tone, and expression. Technique – fingering, execution, doublings, taorluaths, crossing noises, keeping the hands relaxed and close to the chanter, etc. Tone - blowing, squeezing, reed selection, reed manipulation and set up, moisture control, chanter tuning, drone tuning, etc. Expression - timing, tempo, rhythm, dynamics, phrasing, dot-cut, etc. You've put a lot of effort and thought into these three skill areas. But there’s an additional important element that can make of break your ...