On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I've never been to one.
Let's have a moment of silence for that.
*ahem* Anyway, how do those go, exactly? Do you play traditional tunes, improv things, little of both? Are there some songs you just wouldn't go to a session without knowing?
I mostly play bluegrass/gospel type music with my family at various churches (they ask us to play, lord knows why). Some of the songs I know, others they give me the key they're playing in and I have to wing it. Wonder if it's anything like that.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
On the off chance this isn't a wind up, I can say that you can do all these things at a session and they have been done. However, this is not what is expected at a typical Irish Session where you are expected to be a lot more focused. My colleagues here will explain further while I have a little sing song at my local lesure centre.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
A newcomer is expected to buy drinks for everyone (as often as asked), but must not on any account play anything that isn't on the playlist for the evening. This playlist is obtained from the Session Leader, but is only available to people who have been coming to the session for several years. Any playing of a wrong tune, or holding your instrument in a non-approved way will result in you being (a) laughed out and (b) banned.
At least that's what you'd sometimes think from some of the stuff you read here.
There is no substitute for simply going along to a session. If you get there and you are not made welcome - don't go again. It really really really is that simple. A session is a gathering of people with the object of playing a few tunes together. That's all.
I could write so much more about this but I want to get home before Christmas.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
You’ll get a few smart-ass answers because everyone here was born with da music and a fiddle in their
hand and never had to ask a question (there I used one of those smilie faces that I swore I never would!)
But a trad session would normally consist of mainly melody players and one or two accompanists
(guitar/bouzouki/bodhran) playing straight tunes (jigs/reels mainly) organised in sets.
Singing is often frowned upon, especially if it’s too frequent and more of the “come-all-ye” type
There are thousands of trad tunes, but knowing 50-100 of the main ones should mean that
you could join in most sessions.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
What if they're playing the other 50-100?
Sorry, I wasn't meaning to be smart a--ed but, really, you can get all sorts of sessions with varying levels of ability, styles and genres of music. It's a case of going along for the first time-possibly without an instrument -and judging for yourself whether or not you will(or will want to ) fit in. Some will be very welcoming and others very exclusive. You may be invited to sing a song or play a tune you know or you might be expected to "fit in". It all depends.
As this is an Irish Music site, you'll get a specific view from most of the members here but not all sessions are the same and they're not all Irish.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Give us a clue Grainya - where would a session have to be to be near you?
Tell us where you are (you don't need to give a full address and the combination to your personal safe) and you may be pleasantly surprised to find that someone will, either openly or by private email, tell you of a session near you - possibly one that isn't listed on the sessions list here.
I don't think anyone has tried to be a smart ass here. I would hope that the irony of my first paragraph above is plain to anyone who takes the trouble to read the remainder.
There is a slight risk that you might interpret BefF's post to mean that you couldn't hope to start joining in until you know 50-100 tunes. I'm sure this is not the intended meaning. (After all, logically, if you simply learn all the tunes in the world you can join in with all tunes at all sessions.)
Sessions differ as much from one another as do, for example, wars, shopping malls, or scuba-diving expeditions. Sure they have a common theme, but each one is a gathering of individual people and as such it will depend on the character of those people.
From your description of your experiences with the church music, I would think that you could slot into any reasonably friendly session with no problems at all.
Good luck with it - remember to tell us whereabouts you are so we can help.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I wrote that before I read your post, so I wasn’t referring to you at all (or anyone in particular for that matter)
For the records I meant funny smart-ass rather than nasty smart-ass.
You’re dead right about what you say regarding the 50-100 tunes.
Never, I mean never spell my name wrong again, OK ?
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Good point bri... sometimes, the fact that my intstrument case looks more like a camera case can be a problem if I'm hoping to be invited to play. On the other hand -- it can work to my advantage on occassion as well from time to time.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I'm out in the boonies of Southwestern Pennsylvania, actually. I seem to find a lot more groups that lean towards bluegrass than irish, so that's what I know at the moment. It's the hillbilly area that I live in, I believe. And whenever I play with the family, it's actually more focused on backing up the singers, with a bit of tinkering around between verses and such. I'd like to find some people more focused on playing music. I've noticed playing with a group of people had helped improve my fiddling (and it's how I learned to play guitar in the first place).
I have checked the sessions listing, but by all means if anyone's somewhere near my area, let me know.
Heh, and I'm amazed by how quickly new posts get put up. I think I've found my new substitute for doing actual work...
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I once took part in a session in a shopping mall, and now that you mention it there was a war on at the time. Can't swim, though, so had to miss the scuba diving.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I haven't seen much in the way of sessions, Irish traditional or otherwise, in the Boston area yet - but maybe I need to check the website on a more regular basis. I was in Virginia for six years, and the coffee house down the street held open mike sessions every Saturday night, year round, and it was great fun. Generally, anyone who wanted to perform had the mike for a half-hour. If there was more evening than performers, sometimes we jammed a bit to close up the evening. A most comfortable bunch of folks whom I miss enormously.
If any of you are in northern Virginia, check out The Coffee House of Occoquan. It makes for a fine Saturday evening.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
"there can be some real jerks present, sometimes just asses drinking in the pub slobering and talking s**t but sometimes these people are the people hosting the session"
That sounds just like my regular session ... except we talk s**te
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
"there can be some real jerks present, sometimes just asses drinking in the pub slobering and talking S**t but sometimes these people are the people hosting the session"!!!???????
Um, dont worry about what I was saying in the other thread about maybe knowing you bribanjo! I can tell already that its not the same person. Cheers.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
And I thought you had to play Jimmy Allen slowly 10 times, then shout across the room whilst someone sang (sic) a song for 20 verses. Then, refuse to play the next tune because it was in C major (melodians dont do C), then bang a goatskin 4 in a bar to the next set of jigs, finally, ending the evening with six slow airs in succession.
I am sure thats what happens wherever I go.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Heh, it's my favorite euphemism for hillbilly town. I actually live in a coal patch town from way back - it's like projects for miners.
We're pretty far from Philly, I think it's a 5 or 6 hour drive. I'm a lot closer to Pittsburgh, and I know we have a few pubs there... mayhaps I'll have to check those ones out.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
projects in the boondocks for miners = cooncil hooses in the sticks of Fife (like Cowdenbeath or somewhere)
according to my translation programme.
"where it's dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew ...".
Coming from the wrong side of the tracks always stood musicians in good stead.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
oh my lord that song...
My dad, when he was young, learned to play guitar. And he found that Dark as a Dungeon song and thought - hell, I can sing this! So he learned to play it (and he's a genius on the guitar), but his singing is absolute shite. His parents found something nice to say about it, because he was young, but he was always just the most tone deaf singer.
For their 50th anniversary, just this past weekend, my grandparents decided they wanted to have a Roast, like the Friar's club does. And low and behold, dad brings out the Dark as a Dungeon song - worst thing I've ever heard in my life. Around the second verse, I brought him out a bucket, to carry his tune in. It was hilarious. I have a whole new level to enjoy that song on now.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
and he's even worse, I mean we like to encourage our kids but even the dog covers his ears when the lad starts his growling..... However he plays guitar much better than me. If only he would stick to being a good instrumentalist and forget about being a moody teenage troubadour.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Luckily my dad has no delusions of grandeur on the singing front. He gave up on that one pretty early on, so now I do the singing and he does the playing.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Hi Grainya, I've passed through your area (near Donegal?--Donegal, PA, that is!). Do go to Pittsburgh if you get a chance, there are regular sessions there and some really good musicians. Whether or not you play, if you find the session with Carla Dundes and Oliver Browne (and others of course) you'll no doubt enjoy yourself. (Let us know if you need help finding out recent session info--there are many websites but you should e-mail someone, probably Carla, for recent info before venturing out. Tell Carla Larry sent you.)
There's another regular session (don't recall how often) in Athens, Ohio, perhaps that's also within driving distance. This is often led by Ged Foley, I understand, who lives there.
You must have heard of Augusta Irish Week at Davis-Elkins College in WV? Not far from you, I suspect, and well worth going to (or so I hear--for one reason or another I've never been able to make it myself). You'll have to wait another 11 months for it, unfortunately...
Finally, if you check out some session listings you'll find that there are a few in central PA. I forget where, exactly, though. Maybe Harrisburg.
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Thanks, Zina. I can't take any credit for that, Georgi set it up (I just gave him the idea, I think). I do take (a little) credit for Wikipedia, though--that was my idea, too!
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Pittsburgh would be grand, it's not too far of a drive. They have an Irish festival as well, but I haven't been so I don't know how good theirs is (or isn't). So where can I find this elusive Carla?
On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I've never been to one.
Let's have a moment of silence for that.
*ahem* Anyway, how do those go, exactly? Do you play traditional tunes, improv things, little of both? Are there some songs you just wouldn't go to a session without knowing?
I mostly play bluegrass/gospel type music with my family at various churches (they ask us to play, lord knows why). Some of the songs I know, others they give me the key they're playing in and I have to wing it. Wonder if it's anything like that.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by grainya
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
On the off chance this isn't a wind up, I can say that you can do all these things at a session and they have been done. However, this is not what is expected at a typical Irish Session where you are expected to be a lot more focused. My colleagues here will explain further while I have a little sing song at my local lesure centre.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
A newcomer is expected to buy drinks for everyone (as often as asked), but must not on any account play anything that isn't on the playlist for the evening. This playlist is obtained from the Session Leader, but is only available to people who have been coming to the session for several years. Any playing of a wrong tune, or holding your instrument in a non-approved way will result in you being (a) laughed out and (b) banned.
At least that's what you'd sometimes think from some of the stuff you read here.
There is no substitute for simply going along to a session. If you get there and you are not made welcome - don't go again. It really really really is that simple. A session is a gathering of people with the object of playing a few tunes together. That's all.
I could write so much more about this but I want to get home before Christmas.
Dave
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
You’ll get a few smart-ass answers because everyone here was born with da music and a fiddle in their
(there I used one of those smilie faces that I swore I never would!)
hand and never had to ask a question
But a trad session would normally consist of mainly melody players and one or two accompanists
(guitar/bouzouki/bodhran) playing straight tunes (jigs/reels mainly) organised in sets.
Singing is often frowned upon, especially if it’s too frequent and more of the “come-all-ye” type
There are thousands of trad tunes, but knowing 50-100 of the main ones should mean that
you could join in most sessions.
Also check this out….
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/728/comments
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by BegF
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
" 50-100 of the main ones " yeah that should get you started. ;o)
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Well if you know 50-100 of the old standards there's a good chance you'll know at least
one of the tunes played at most sessions!!!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by BegF
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
What if they're playing the other 50-100?
Sorry, I wasn't meaning to be smart a--ed but, really, you can get all sorts of sessions with varying levels of ability, styles and genres of music. It's a case of going along for the first time-possibly without an instrument -and judging for yourself whether or not you will(or will want to ) fit in. Some will be very welcoming and others very exclusive. You may be invited to sing a song or play a tune you know or you might be expected to "fit in". It all depends.
As this is an Irish Music site, you'll get a specific view from most of the members here but not all sessions are the same and they're not all Irish.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Hi grainya and welcome.
I think Daves got it in a nutshell; turn up and if you get good vibes, your off.
Good luck
PP
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Pied Piper
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Give us a clue Grainya - where would a session have to be to be near you?
Tell us where you are (you don't need to give a full address and the combination to your personal safe) and you may be pleasantly surprised to find that someone will, either openly or by private email, tell you of a session near you - possibly one that isn't listed on the sessions list here.
I don't think anyone has tried to be a smart ass here. I would hope that the irony of my first paragraph above is plain to anyone who takes the trouble to read the remainder.
There is a slight risk that you might interpret BefF's post to mean that you couldn't hope to start joining in until you know 50-100 tunes. I'm sure this is not the intended meaning. (After all, logically, if you simply learn all the tunes in the world you can join in with all tunes at all sessions.)
Sessions differ as much from one another as do, for example, wars, shopping malls, or scuba-diving expeditions. Sure they have a common theme, but each one is a gathering of individual people and as such it will depend on the character of those people.
From your description of your experiences with the church music, I would think that you could slot into any reasonably friendly session with no problems at all.
Good luck with it - remember to tell us whereabouts you are so we can help.
Dave
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Aaaaaaagh!
On reread I notice that I spelt BegF's name as BefF - sorry!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I wrote that before I read your post, so I wasn’t referring to you at all (or anyone in particular for that matter)
For the records I meant funny smart-ass rather than nasty smart-ass.
You’re dead right about what you say regarding the 50-100 tunes.
Never, I mean never spell my name wrong again, OK ?
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by BegF
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Grainya - welcome to theSession - see! it's one big group hug!
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I really got to put in more smiley faces, that last one sounded like I meant it !
Regards,
BefF
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by BegF
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Who had who on the floor?
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
We got a bit excited.
It's all over now.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by BegF
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Good point bri... sometimes, the fact that my intstrument case looks more like a camera case can be a problem if I'm hoping to be invited to play. On the other hand -- it can work to my advantage on occassion as well from time to time.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Phantom Button
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I'm out in the boonies of Southwestern Pennsylvania, actually. I seem to find a lot more groups that lean towards bluegrass than irish, so that's what I know at the moment. It's the hillbilly area that I live in, I believe. And whenever I play with the family, it's actually more focused on backing up the singers, with a bit of tinkering around between verses and such. I'd like to find some people more focused on playing music. I've noticed playing with a group of people had helped improve my fiddling (and it's how I learned to play guitar in the first place).
I have checked the sessions listing, but by all means if anyone's somewhere near my area, let me know.
Heh, and I'm amazed by how quickly new posts get put up. I think I've found my new substitute for doing actual work...
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by grainya
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I once took part in a session in a shopping mall, and now that you mention it there was a war on at the time. Can't swim, though, so had to miss the scuba diving.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by kris
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I haven't seen much in the way of sessions, Irish traditional or otherwise, in the Boston area yet - but maybe I need to check the website on a more regular basis. I was in Virginia for six years, and the coffee house down the street held open mike sessions every Saturday night, year round, and it was great fun. Generally, anyone who wanted to perform had the mike for a half-hour. If there was more evening than performers, sometimes we jammed a bit to close up the evening. A most comfortable bunch of folks whom I miss enormously.
If any of you are in northern Virginia, check out The Coffee House of Occoquan. It makes for a fine Saturday evening.
# Posted on August 10th 2004 by Dwatted Wabbit
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
So how far (in driving hours) are you from Philadelphia, Grainya?
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by Andee
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
"there can be some real jerks present, sometimes just asses drinking in the pub slobering and talking s**t but sometimes these people are the people hosting the session"
That sounds just like my regular session ... except we talk s**te
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by Just a person
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
"there can be some real jerks present, sometimes just asses drinking in the pub slobering and talking S**t but sometimes these people are the people hosting the session"!!!???????
Um, dont worry about what I was saying in the other thread about maybe knowing you bribanjo! I can tell already that its not the same person. Cheers.
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by bb
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
I'm sure Joyce can point you in the directions of some high-level sessions in Boston Mr Wabbit.
PP
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by Pied Piper
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
And I thought you had to play Jimmy Allen slowly 10 times, then shout across the room whilst someone sang (sic) a song for 20 verses. Then, refuse to play the next tune because it was in C major (melodians dont do C), then bang a goatskin 4 in a bar to the next set of jigs, finally, ending the evening with six slow airs in succession.
I am sure thats what happens wherever I go.
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by geoffwright
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Boondocks eh? over here we would say out in the sticks.
My dog never fetches sticks if I throw them - I wonder if he would fetch a boondock.
One final note: BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF BefF!!!!!
So sue me.
Dave ;o)
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Billy Joe Royal from 1966
"I love her, She loves me
But I don't fit in her society
Oh Lord have mercy on a boy
From down in the boondocks"
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Might have been 1965, actually.
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Oh now you've done it !
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by BegF
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
It was jim troy - he made me do it!
aaaaagh no! - not there! aaaaagh!
miiiiiiin me harp!
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
And let that be a lesson to the rest of ye.
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by BegF
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Heh, it's my favorite euphemism for hillbilly town. I actually live in a coal patch town from way back - it's like projects for miners.
We're pretty far from Philly, I think it's a 5 or 6 hour drive. I'm a lot closer to Pittsburgh, and I know we have a few pubs there... mayhaps I'll have to check those ones out.
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by grainya
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
If you can find a few like-minded musos in your area, why not have a house-session or two?
Trevor
# Posted on August 11th 2004 by Trevor Jennings
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
You might like to look at this:
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=boondocks
or you might not.
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
projects in the boondocks for miners = cooncil hooses in the sticks of Fife (like Cowdenbeath or somewhere)
according to my translation programme.
"where it's dark as a dungeon, damp as the dew ...".
Coming from the wrong side of the tracks always stood musicians in good stead.
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by Bren
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
As they say in Aberdeen, "A mile of the Dee's worth twa of the Don".
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by Johnny Jay
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
oh my lord that song...
My dad, when he was young, learned to play guitar. And he found that Dark as a Dungeon song and thought - hell, I can sing this! So he learned to play it (and he's a genius on the guitar), but his singing is absolute shite. His parents found something nice to say about it, because he was young, but he was always just the most tone deaf singer.
For their 50th anniversary, just this past weekend, my grandparents decided they wanted to have a Roast, like the Friar's club does. And low and behold, dad brings out the Dark as a Dungeon song - worst thing I've ever heard in my life. Around the second verse, I brought him out a bucket, to carry his tune in. It was hilarious. I have a whole new level to enjoy that song on now.
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by grainya
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
My son's got a dad like that
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by Bren
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Your poor son
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by grainya
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
and he's even worse, I mean we like to encourage our kids but even the dog covers his ears when the lad starts his growling..... However he plays guitar much better than me. If only he would stick to being a good instrumentalist and forget about being a moody teenage troubadour.
# Posted on August 12th 2004 by Bren
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Luckily my dad has no delusions of grandeur on the singing front. He gave up on that one pretty early on, so now I do the singing and he does the playing.
# Posted on August 13th 2004 by grainya
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Hi Grainya, I've passed through your area (near Donegal?--Donegal, PA, that is!). Do go to Pittsburgh if you get a chance, there are regular sessions there and some really good musicians. Whether or not you play, if you find the session with Carla Dundes and Oliver Browne (and others of course) you'll no doubt enjoy yourself. (Let us know if you need help finding out recent session info--there are many websites but you should e-mail someone, probably Carla, for recent info before venturing out. Tell Carla Larry sent you.)
There's another regular session (don't recall how often) in Athens, Ohio, perhaps that's also within driving distance. This is often led by Ged Foley, I understand, who lives there.
You must have heard of Augusta Irish Week at Davis-Elkins College in WV? Not far from you, I suspect, and well worth going to (or so I hear--for one reason or another I've never been able to make it myself). You'll have to wait another 11 months for it, unfortunately...
Finally, if you check out some session listings you'll find that there are a few in central PA. I forget where, exactly, though. Maybe Harrisburg.
--Larry Sanger
# Posted on August 15th 2004 by lsanger
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Hey, Larry, nice job on DiddlyWiki.
# Posted on August 15th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Thanks, Zina. I can't take any credit for that, Georgi set it up (I just gave him the idea, I think). I do take (a little) credit for Wikipedia, though--that was my idea, too!
--Larry
# Posted on August 15th 2004 by lsanger
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
What, the whole thing? Stellar! I'd no idea.
# Posted on August 15th 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: On the off chance I ever find a session near me...
Pittsburgh would be grand, it's not too far of a drive. They have an Irish festival as well, but I haven't been so I don't know how good theirs is (or isn't). So where can I find this elusive Carla?
# Posted on August 16th 2004 by grainya