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Some of the best piping tunes are strathspeys — an up-tempo style of pipe tune that evolved with a type of Highland dance.  Strathspeys are some of the hardest pipe tunes to play well.  This is because of several factors: Tempo: strathspeys are played faster than most other tunes. Rhythms: lots of quick notes. Execution: lots of doublings, triplets, and other bits of technique. Confusing wording: I will explain the commonly used terms "strong-weak-medium-weak" and "pointing" and why I think they add to the confusion about strathspeys, hence I never use them. Strong expressive style: strathspey expression is unforgiving. The dot-cuts must be played properly and the 1 & 3 beats must be played long — or else it doesn't sound like a strathspey. Proper expression of strathspeys requires you to do two things: a. Dot-Cut: exaggerate the length of the dotted notes, and exaggerate the shortness of the cut notes. b. 1 & 3: lengthen the first ...