His playing and repertoire reflects his deep interest in the piping traditions of Gaelic Scotland, and particularly of South Uist and Skye. Decker still competes, occasionally, although his musical activity has broadened in more recent years to include a range of group performances, recitals and recording projects. He received a PhD from St Andrews University and the RSAMD in 2009 for a thesis and audio recordings of his playing he submitted which explored the change and performance-practice of ceòl beag (marches, jigs reels, etc.) between 1819 and 1966 and, since then, has continued to lecture and research the development of bagpipe music, particularly in relation to ethnology. He lives on a busy croft in Skye with his wife and three young sons.