This is for you seasoned folk. What would you think. He's new, brought a capoed 5 string banjo to the session and knew two songs, played one too slow and messed the other up completely and for the rest of the night sat and listened.
The question is should a newbee get his tunes together first or, as I was invited to do, 'practice at the session'?
I've just realised how negative the title looks; its not meant as a statement, just would appreciate some feedback from experienced people about new people.
Depends on several things.
eg
The level of the session.
How badly you think - or others think - you, sorry, your friend, messed up - probably not as bad as you think.
How tolerant the main players are.
If as you say your friend sat and listened for the rest of the night then the tolerance levels of the he-men- or alpha-female- players wouldn't be stretched too much, so that sounds fine. Yes go back to the bedroom and practice practice practice, but it sounds like your friend got the debut just about right. Not that I know anything anyway.
Learning learning ... I recon he might come back the next time with a better idea of what is expected. He might even come back and listen some more, or he might go away never to return. I recon it might be up to you to advise him how to procede, or he might end up rotting away at home, never going to be good enough ... sigh! Ho hum!
Everyone has to start somewhere right? So yes I would definitely encourage someone to practice more and I would also encourage them to come to the sessions and at least listen if you can't keep up. But then again who brings a Five String Banjo to a session. Four strings is all you need! The Tenor Reigns Supreme!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ceol tráidisiúnta ó gach gairim breatha!!! clachtadh clachtadh clachtadh!
The only way to learn how to play with other people is to do it... It sounds to me like he was considerate. So, unless your session is short on seating, I don't see the harm in it!
...and I'm sure there isn't a player here without a horror story of how they started a tune they could play perfectly at home, but made a real hash of at their first public 'outing'.
I'm still doing it, and I've been sessioning for years
Yeah, it took me three goes before I was game enough to walk through the door into the pub ... after months of practicing, mulling and procrastinating over it, I spent those first two attempts at attending my first ever session, propped up against the wall listening from out on the street.
personally i think you need to get a ned kelly mask and ambush the session armed with as many instruments as you can, especially a mcknowall special 4 footer and tipper strapped to your ankle like a surf board!!
He probably plays his 2 songs perfectly fine when he is at home in his bedroom. Nerves can have an effect too. Ultimately he spent the rest of the night listening. As has been said above welcome him in with open arms. If he had spent the rest of the night busking on his banjo then that would be another matter entirely but he sounds like a very considerate chap and would be welcome in my book even though we don't have many songs in the sessions I go to.
....NEWS FLASH..... Report just in , the local pub at glenrowen where regular session takes place has just been ambused and burnt down!!! and the only survivor was a an iron mask and a mcknowall tipper.... amongst all the chaos someone managed to find a 4 foot bodhran and managed to put the fire out!
Just because Luke Kelly played a 5-string in the Dubliners doesn't mean it's ok for a session. Mind you, I'd say the same about a tenor banjo, unless the owner has taken off the resonator and/or put a sock in it.
BUT learning your way round session etiquette, and getting your repertoire up to speed, can take some time. Having a go at two numbers, and sitting listening the rest of the time, sounds pretty good to me as a starter attempt.
Yes thank you Duijera Dubh, locals claim that at approximately 10 pm a masked one man band brandishing everything from banjos to the bodhran came into the session and started playing two tunes over and over again....one serious trad player indignant because the session was wrecked dosed whisky all over the 4 footer and attempted to light the deceased goat....... it was carnage and alas.... as we can see another beginner taking mcknowall's advise....you are never ready to play a bodhran in a session!
Know a fellow who shows up with a 5 string, and he's good. He only knows the tunes he knows, and politelly sits out, but sometimes he brings a tune, we hadn't heard him play before and its usualy spot on. He clearly stays home and practices, then only shows up now and again.... he shows up rarely enough, that he causes a stir, then quickly regains his street cred when people find out he can actually play. He's a fun addition when he comes.
These are very encouraging and insightful comments. Thanks. Am now owner of a shiny new tenor and looking forward to next session. Repretoire now up to a giddying half dozen tunes.
Sounds like he needs a good teacher. But don't discourage him from attending the session! good sessions need good listeners and the best way to learn new tunes is to hear what they're playing at the session
I don't see anything wrong with that really...he came and had a go, and sat and listened when others played. Surely a good way to learn. Just be thankful he had some tact.
As has been said...he can probably play those tunes fine at home! I've been to so many sessions where there are less than average musicians (usually fiddle players, or pokerwork melodeboxes!) who insist on inflicting their scrappy versions of tunes on people all night, and when someone else finally manages to butt in, they show off their "improvisation"...
newbees: stay at home and practice
newbees: stay at home and practice
This is for you seasoned folk. What would you think. He's new, brought a capoed 5 string banjo to the session and knew two songs, played one too slow and messed the other up completely and for the rest of the night sat and listened.
The question is should a newbee get his tunes together first or, as I was invited to do, 'practice at the session'?
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Eòsaph
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
I've just realised how negative the title looks; its not meant as a statement, just would appreciate some feedback from experienced people about new people.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Eòsaph
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Depends on several things.
eg
The level of the session.
How badly you think - or others think - you, sorry, your friend, messed up - probably not as bad as you think.
How tolerant the main players are.
If as you say your friend sat and listened for the rest of the night then the tolerance levels of the he-men- or alpha-female- players wouldn't be stretched too much, so that sounds fine. Yes go back to the bedroom and practice practice practice, but it sounds like your friend got the debut just about right. Not that I know anything anyway.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Rudall the time
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Welcome him. encourage him. he's has the sense of it. He spent the rest of the night listening.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Learning learning ... I recon he might come back the next time with a better idea of what is expected. He might even come back and listen some more, or he might go away never to return. I recon it might be up to you to advise him how to procede, or he might end up rotting away at home, never going to be good enough ... sigh! Ho hum!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Clear Drops
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Everyone has to start somewhere right? So yes I would definitely encourage someone to practice more and I would also encourage them to come to the sessions and at least listen if you can't keep up. But then again who brings a Five String Banjo to a session. Four strings is all you need! The Tenor Reigns Supreme!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ceol tráidisiúnta ó gach gairim breatha!!! clachtadh clachtadh clachtadh!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Páistí na nGael
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
The only way to learn how to play with other people is to do it... It sounds to me like he was considerate. So, unless your session is short on seating, I don't see the harm in it!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Reverend
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
If you chase away all the new players, the sessions will die
after a while.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Hup
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
If you chase away the new players, the session has died. It just hasn't stopped twitching yet.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Do what every good teacher does; evaluate, diagnose, and encourage. It sounds to me like you are on the right track.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
...and I'm sure there isn't a player here without a horror story of how they started a tune they could play perfectly at home, but made a real hash of at their first public 'outing'.
I'm still doing it, and I've been sessioning for years
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by bc_box_player
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Yeah, it took me three goes before I was game enough to walk through the door into the pub ... after months of practicing, mulling and procrastinating over it, I spent those first two attempts at attending my first ever session, propped up against the wall listening from out on the street.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Clear Drops
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Ohhh you puir wee thing
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by mcknowall
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
personally i think you need to get a ned kelly mask and ambush the session armed with as many instruments as you can, especially a mcknowall special 4 footer and tipper strapped to your ankle like a surf board!!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by fiddly dee fiddly doo oh how all take it so seriously!
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
better still take one of his wash boards....goes lovely with the irish washer women
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by fiddly dee fiddly doo oh how all take it so seriously!
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
"a mcknowall special 4 footer" - now there's a scary thought!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by bc_box_player
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
He probably plays his 2 songs perfectly fine when he is at home in his bedroom. Nerves can have an effect too. Ultimately he spent the rest of the night listening. As has been said above welcome him in with open arms. If he had spent the rest of the night busking on his banjo then that would be another matter entirely but he sounds like a very considerate chap and would be welcome in my book even though we don't have many songs in the sessions I go to.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by No Cause For Alarm
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
....NEWS FLASH..... Report just in , the local pub at glenrowen where regular session takes place has just been ambused and burnt down!!! and the only survivor was a an iron mask and a mcknowall tipper.... amongst all the chaos someone managed to find a 4 foot bodhran and managed to put the fire out!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by fiddly dee fiddly doo oh how all take it so seriously!
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
come in, skinner!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Just because Luke Kelly played a 5-string in the Dubliners doesn't mean it's ok for a session. Mind you, I'd say the same about a tenor banjo, unless the owner has taken off the resonator and/or put a sock in it.
BUT learning your way round session etiquette, and getting your repertoire up to speed, can take some time. Having a go at two numbers, and sitting listening the rest of the time, sounds pretty good to me as a starter attempt.
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Yes thank you Duijera Dubh, locals claim that at approximately 10 pm a masked one man band brandishing everything from banjos to the bodhran came into the session and started playing two tunes over and over again....one serious trad player indignant because the session was wrecked dosed whisky all over the 4 footer and attempted to light the deceased goat....... it was carnage and alas.... as we can see another beginner taking mcknowall's advise....you are never ready to play a bodhran in a session!
# Posted on November 14th 2009 by fiddly dee fiddly doo oh how all take it so seriously!
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Know a fellow who shows up with a 5 string, and he's good. He only knows the tunes he knows, and politelly sits out, but sometimes he brings a tune, we hadn't heard him play before and its usualy spot on. He clearly stays home and practices, then only shows up now and again.... he shows up rarely enough, that he causes a stir, then quickly regains his street cred when people find out he can actually play. He's a fun addition when he comes.
# Posted on November 15th 2009 by SandyBottoms
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
These are very encouraging and insightful comments. Thanks. Am now owner of a shiny new tenor and looking forward to next session. Repretoire now up to a giddying half dozen tunes.
# Posted on November 15th 2009 by Eòsaph
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
Sounds like he needs a good teacher. But don't discourage him from attending the session! good sessions need good listeners and the best way to learn new tunes is to hear what they're playing at the session
http://fiddleworld.ning.com
# Posted on November 17th 2009 by celticagent
Re: newbees: stay at home and practice
I don't see anything wrong with that really...he came and had a go, and sat and listened when others played. Surely a good way to learn. Just be thankful he had some tact.
As has been said...he can probably play those tunes fine at home! I've been to so many sessions where there are less than average musicians (usually fiddle players, or pokerwork melodeboxes!) who insist on inflicting their scrappy versions of tunes on people all night, and when someone else finally manages to butt in, they show off their "improvisation"...
Kat
# Posted on November 20th 2009 by KatHurdley