Speaking of dogs and cats, have you ever gone into a house of a friend and have been near overcome with the stench and wonder how they can stand the smell? Well this is how...they are so used to it, they don't know they stink. As a friend, you, of course, don't tell them so as not to offend.
Well, how many of us playing tunes don't know we reek? We ask our friends how we are doing and they tell us how well we are doing.
My question is, are there any clues that we are doing poorly with the music when we can't depend on our friends and other polite company to tell us the truth?
For example...we start a tune and nobody recognizes it until we tell them the name, then everyone joins in.
People move away from you so that they can "be with other woodwinds" or whatever.
On the other hand, what are the clues that you are doing well?
Example, you are invited to closed sessions.
When playing a solo, there are no glassed-over eyes in the circle or you grab the attention of the punters.
What are the clues we should watch for if you don't have the privilege to play with Llig who wouldn't mind telling you how you are stinking up the session?
Your point about the others' inability to recognize what you are playing is valid.
Another one: you are playing with veteran traditional musicians. They start playing a tune you recognize at what seems to be reasonable pace - not too slow, not too fast - but you keep speeding up and crashing while they keep plugging away at their reasonable, steady pace. If you find yourself doing that, you need to A) take a deep breath B) take another deep breath C) RELAX D) Listen to everyone else and E) try to match them. They might have more lift and bounce in their playing while you have internalized a more driving rhythm; it's good to recognize when this is happening and make yourself play with their lift.
We talked about some aspects of this recently. The ultimate accolade when you are playing well is that in the silence after you finish someone asks what was the name of the tune.
Once Bill Philips told me that my flute was a bit flat. A little later he said he hoped I hadn't been offended, and I replied that if he was kind enough to take enough interest in my playing to tell me when I needed to tune then I counted myself priveleged.
I have sitting in on local sessions for over a year now - doing more listening than playing.
Recently, I was asked to start a slow aire "Down in the Sally Gardens" for one of the fiddlers who couldn't remember the tune. I took it as an indication of acceptance.
Perhaps it wasn't. Maybe they were telling me I am incapable of playing anything fast and I should should stick to only slow tunes.
Someone asks you, "How long have you been playing?" after the set you lead ends. I don't know how to take this, as it's the most ambiguous question in the world. It could mean, "Wow, you really suck but maybe you're forgiven 'cause you've not been playing long." Or it could mean, "Wow. You're amazing. I wonder how long it takes to get that good on (insert instrument here)." Or it could be genuine curiosity without any ulterior motives. I think I posted a discussion about this a while back and found people's reading of it varied extensively. So I've tried to be less freaked out by it. It might not necessarily be an indictment of your playing. Or it might be. But maybe not.
Then there is this one, which is less ambiguous:
session member 1: *plays something*
session member 2 (who is a very experience Irish trad player and knows every tune): What tune was that?
session member 1: Er....... the Sligo Maid.
It's still not entirely clear to me whether the first post in this is about playing quality, bodily odour, or that particulary unpleasant smell that comes out of mouth blown bagpipes.
Sorry feardearg - I meant to answer your question above - we talked about this sometime in the past 6 weeks. Can't remember just now quite which thread.
There are very few topics with regard to session behaviour / manners / etiquette that don't come up every month or so - it's the structure of this site which makes each one a new thread, rather than having recourse to a thread which has been going on since God was in shorts.
You say you are "very interested in this topic" - are you fearful that perhaps you are not playing well enough for your local session? or are you looking for advice on how to tell someone else that he/she isn't playing well?
The best comment that I truly believed? "You add a touch of grace to every instrument you play." The worst? "When you play fast, you get really sloppy."
It is what it is.
But I will give you this piece of advice: Record yourself playing a few tunes, then listen to it. Put it away for a few months so that you'll forget what you were trying to do at the time. Then listen to the recording with fresh ears, like you were listening to someone else. If it sounds good, even surprising, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If you cringe, you've got your answer. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Clues for the Clueless
Clues for the Clueless
Speaking of dogs and cats, have you ever gone into a house of a friend and have been near overcome with the stench and wonder how they can stand the smell? Well this is how...they are so used to it, they don't know they stink. As a friend, you, of course, don't tell them so as not to offend.
Well, how many of us playing tunes don't know we reek? We ask our friends how we are doing and they tell us how well we are doing.
My question is, are there any clues that we are doing poorly with the music when we can't depend on our friends and other polite company to tell us the truth?
For example...we start a tune and nobody recognizes it until we tell them the name, then everyone joins in.
People move away from you so that they can "be with other woodwinds" or whatever.
On the other hand, what are the clues that you are doing well?
Example, you are invited to closed sessions.
When playing a solo, there are no glassed-over eyes in the circle or you grab the attention of the punters.
What are the clues we should watch for if you don't have the privilege to play with Llig who wouldn't mind telling you how you are stinking up the session?
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by feardearg
Re: Clues for the Clueless
requests to play "over the hills and far away" ?
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by selston steve
Re: Clues for the Clueless
Your point about the others' inability to recognize what you are playing is valid.
Another one: you are playing with veteran traditional musicians. They start playing a tune you recognize at what seems to be reasonable pace - not too slow, not too fast - but you keep speeding up and crashing while they keep plugging away at their reasonable, steady pace. If you find yourself doing that, you need to A) take a deep breath B) take another deep breath C) RELAX D) Listen to everyone else and E) try to match them. They might have more lift and bounce in their playing while you have internalized a more driving rhythm; it's good to recognize when this is happening and make yourself play with their lift.
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by Seosamh Ui Sinan
Re: Clues for the Clueless
a good friend tells you.
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by Ben Steen
Re: Clues for the Clueless
We talked about some aspects of this recently. The ultimate accolade when you are playing well is that in the silence after you finish someone asks what was the name of the tune.
Once Bill Philips told me that my flute was a bit flat. A little later he said he hoped I hadn't been offended, and I replied that if he was kind enough to take enough interest in my playing to tell me when I needed to tune then I counted myself priveleged.
Play with friends. That's the best way.
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Clues for the Clueless
Clue you are doing good: Mates ask you the name of the tune you just played and write it down or ask if they can record you playing it.
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by feardearg
Re: Clues for the Clueless
oops. Cross post. A second witness about asking the tune name (with intent to learn it)
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by feardearg
Re: Clues for the Clueless
showaddydadito, what thread was this discussed in. I must have missed it and am very interested in this topic.
# Posted on September 7th 2009 by feardearg
Re: Clues for the Clueless
I have sitting in on local sessions for over a year now - doing more listening than playing.
Recently, I was asked to start a slow aire "Down in the Sally Gardens" for one of the fiddlers who couldn't remember the tune. I took it as an indication of acceptance.
Perhaps it wasn't. Maybe they were telling me I am incapable of playing anything fast and I should should stick to only slow tunes.
# Posted on September 8th 2009 by Cape Cod Struggler
Re: Clues for the Clueless
When you're doing well:
The tape recorders come out.
Other players ask you to start tunes they know.
People show up to play with you who actually know you... and come back.
When you need help:
"I really like what you're trying to do there!"
"SAFE!!!"
"I didn't realize we were racing!"
"Do you mind if we play the jukebox?"
Experienced players sit at the bar rather than join in.
You're playing along with anyone playing a slow air.
# Posted on September 8th 2009 by jwvansteenwyk
Re: Clues for the Clueless
Someone asks you, "How long have you been playing?" after the set you lead ends. I don't know how to take this, as it's the most ambiguous question in the world. It could mean, "Wow, you really suck but maybe you're forgiven 'cause you've not been playing long." Or it could mean, "Wow. You're amazing. I wonder how long it takes to get that good on (insert instrument here)." Or it could be genuine curiosity without any ulterior motives. I think I posted a discussion about this a while back and found people's reading of it varied extensively. So I've tried to be less freaked out by it. It might not necessarily be an indictment of your playing. Or it might be. But maybe not.
Then there is this one, which is less ambiguous:
session member 1: *plays something*
session member 2 (who is a very experience Irish trad player and knows every tune): What tune was that?
session member 1: Er....... the Sligo Maid.
Ouch.
# Posted on September 8th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Clues for the Clueless
It's still not entirely clear to me whether the first post in this is about playing quality, bodily odour, or that particulary unpleasant smell that comes out of mouth blown bagpipes.
# Posted on September 8th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Clues for the Clueless
Sorry feardearg - I meant to answer your question above - we talked about this sometime in the past 6 weeks. Can't remember just now quite which thread.
There are very few topics with regard to session behaviour / manners / etiquette that don't come up every month or so - it's the structure of this site which makes each one a new thread, rather than having recourse to a thread which has been going on since God was in shorts.
You say you are "very interested in this topic" - are you fearful that perhaps you are not playing well enough for your local session? or are you looking for advice on how to tell someone else that he/she isn't playing well?
# Posted on September 8th 2009 by showaddydadito
Re: Clues for the Clueless
It's the latter.
# Posted on September 8th 2009 by fidkid
Re: Clues for the Clueless
The best comment that I truly believed? "You add a touch of grace to every instrument you play." The worst? "When you play fast, you get really sloppy."
It is what it is.
But I will give you this piece of advice: Record yourself playing a few tunes, then listen to it. Put it away for a few months so that you'll forget what you were trying to do at the time. Then listen to the recording with fresh ears, like you were listening to someone else. If it sounds good, even surprising, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If you cringe, you've got your answer. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
# Posted on September 8th 2009 by Ailin
Re: Clues for the Clueless
I think that is good advice Ailin and have been doing that for many years.
# Posted on September 9th 2009 by fauxcelt