529 - The Two Biggest Seasoning Mistakes You Can Make (Dojo Conversations Episode 169)

What makes a tune special? How do you keep a sheepskin bag in good shape? And why would a pigeon stand its ground while an entire pipe band bears down on it?

This week... they're back! Andrew joins Jim from his new Canadian base to dissect three piping questions. They explore how to find tunes that really speak to you, what it takes to season a sheepskin bag properly, and what science can tell us about the famously unfazed pigeon at this year's World Pipe Band Championships. Along the way, Andrew shares his approach to discovering great tunes, explains two common seasoning mistakes, and takes a surprisingly deep dive into pigeon hearing. Join us for a mix of practical piping advice, musical discoveries, and some gloriously niche bird science. Here's what we cover in this episode:

• 00:00 – Andrew's Canadian exile, calendars, haircuts, and the mail situation
• 03:12 – Getting back into bagpipe mode after a long break
• 04:02 – Finding cool tunes with something special
• 12:52 – How your taste in tunes changes as you develop as a piper
• 16:36 – Sheepskin bag maintenance: why your bag neck keeps drying out
• 17:16 – Seasoning mistake #1: not getting it hot enough
• 18:30 – Seasoning mistake #2: not applying enough pressure
• 20:20 – Why Andrew swears by sheepskin bags, despite the extra work
• 20:48 – The brave pigeon of Glasgow Green at the Worlds
• 25:20 – Pigeon superpowers: infrasound, 0.5 Hz, and the science of bird hearing
• 26:14 – Finding the music right in front of you