does ne body sing besides play tunes on the session. also do u find that somedays u can be really on song and other days u sound worse then a cat being beaten wit a violin. Just wot ive noticed when im singing. only problem is whenever im on song its when im on my own Lol.
I get to sing from time to time, but only when asked to do so (or when I trick people into asking me to sing). The reason is, I am much better a singer than player. And girls prefer singers to backers.
As to better and worse days in singing, you can abate this effect by acquiring a good technique of singing (I was lucky enough to meet a teacher who knew the Way - a rare thing, unfortunately), and by warming up. Still, mornings will never be good for singing for anyone, no matter how good they are
"worse then a cat being beaten wit a violin" - in a situation like this, where does your sympathy go - to the cat or the violin?
"but only when asked to do so" - Ah Ha! Just one of those tricks, used regularly by singers to mussle in on a tune session!
You shout across at another known singer in the company to encourage them to sing, knowing full well that they will ask you in turn to sing when they have finished.
I've noticed these singy chaps & chappesses usually hunt in packs!
Ach ye're getting too long in the tooth Ptarm (addressing you directly hoping constitutes a peace offering ---- leave my sandwich alone ya monster! I said peace, not piece!), thinking that singers aren't a scarcity these days. Yep, I've been in sesh's over the years where you get a tunes:songs ratio of anything between 30:70 to 80:20, but nowadays even 80:20 is too much. There are at least 2 fine singers on this site: Helen Roche and Aidan Crossey, and I'm just talking those I know in London.
But since there has been a bifurcation of traditions in recent years, where you get tune sessions and singing sessions being seperate entities, and the dancers a third split . Dow did a thread on this a few years ago, the splitting of the leaves of the shamrock or somethingbut where we sessionned then we did get all 3 together. That in retrospect, was the exception rather than the rule.
My singing has always been an acquired taste (acquired mainly by drunks and my cat), but in recent years my singing voice has gotten weaker. As I’ve moved into late middle age, I’ve lost some of my lower range. I think it’s because of larger tonsils and maybe flabbier throat tissue. And maybe I don’t sing enough any more.
Maybe I should get some training to rescue what voice is left for my dotage.
Personally, I love to sing when I'm all by myself in my nice safe house with no one else around except the cat. When I sing in front of other people, I get nervous and don't sound nearly as good as when I'm by myself. Although, the cat never does stick around when I sing to her... Maybe I'm worse than I thought!
Neighbor told me the other day that she likes my singing better when I'm mowing than when I'm performing. Which is embarrassing, I only sing out there because that tractor is so dang (ed) loud I thought I could get away with it. She ventured that the band wantn't loud enough to challenge my lungs.
Suspect nerves as with TJ. I don't have a cat, this may explain why......
I gave up singing as a teenager (some years ago)when a kind friend pointed out that I looked as if I was in pain and that maybe it should have been the audience that looked like that. He was at least kind enough to say that my guitar playing was cool (back when cool was cool for the first time - before it came back into fashion).
I enjoy singing, am very good in the church choir, even when I am the only one on my part (tenor). But singing alone in public tends to bring out the nerves, so I always feel a bit frustrated after I sing something at the pub, it is never as good as it was at home. That is one thing I like about the session tradition, I guess I am happier as a herd animal, not as a "lone wolf."
Our session gets led by a singer/drummer on alternating weeks, and on his nights it is about 50/50 tunes and songs, and even on the other week, there is often an odd song sung here and there, without anyone feeling it is taking away from the session. So as far as our little pub goes, there is no competition between the singing and playing traditions, only pleasant co-existance.
Hey Bob, old singers in this area, who sung on & even recorded long into their dotage, never mind their late middle age, include Eddie Butcher & Joe Holmes so I'd say you have a few years of ticking ye olde tonsils left in you.
Indie, is it OK to mention peace here, cause the way I see it, as soon as someone says peace, don't we all automatically think of the wa..... no, I'd better not say the W word!
I don't know of Heln Roche but I do have a couple of Aidan's CDs here & he sure is a fine singer.
By the way Al, I'm not implying that sessions shouldn't have singers - ever good session, in my book, should have one, or two.
What I was thinking of were those packs that hunt at fleadhs. When they move in on you & that old "well he got to sing so surely you'll let me sing too!" takes over, & before you know where you are, half an hour has elapsed & all the tunesters brain's have gone numb!
Like a lot of folk I also enjoy singing, when I'm alone & I find the car is the best place. As I trundle along I have the drone of the engine for backing & nobody to give me dirty looks when I hit a bum note.
Ptarmigan, you could also include Geordie Hannah, Robert Cinnamond, Sarah and Paddy Tunney, Sarah Makem and Packie Manus Byrne among others. The 'Wee North' certainly produced and still produces great singers in relative profusion in relation to 'The South'.
It is indeed a rare occasion when I am not asked to sing a song at a session. Even when I attend a session for the first time I am usually asked to sing. I suspect the give away is my guitar case as I am certainly, and rightfully, not a well known commodity. I’ve only been to a few sessions where songs out paced tunes. Mostly this was a late night phenomenon when there has been a good bit of whiskey poured down.
Inconsistencies in ones vocal prowess I believe are the same as those one might experience with their playing of any other instrument. Practice, concentration, and familiarity with the emotion of the song and story are three great ways to try to get around such inconsistencies in singing. That said I have found that when I am tired my singing is not my best. I suspect this has to do with my reduced ability to concentrate. When I actually live, albeit it in my mind, the story of the song, or feel what I believe to be the passion of the composer, I find my performance of the song much more gratifying. If the response from those around me is any measure than I would say they too find my performance more satisfying when I can achieve this emotional connection. When I am tired it is difficult for me to emotionally transport myself into the story.
does ne body play besides sing songs on the session. also do u find that somedays u can be really on tune and other days u play worse then a cat being beaten wit a violin. Just wot ive noticed when im playing. only problem is whenever im on tune its when im on my own Lol.
I sing at home a lot. I really cannot bear to hear myself sing, but I think it is a lot of fun. The only time I sing at sessions is if there are more than three people singing with me or I am doing backup. That way I can't hear myself too well. But people tell me that I have a wonderful voice. What do they know ?!
Ne body sing here
Ne body sing here
does ne body sing besides play tunes on the session. also do u find that somedays u can be really on song and other days u sound worse then a cat being beaten wit a violin. Just wot ive noticed when im singing. only problem is whenever im on song its when im on my own Lol.
# Posted on October 5th 2005 by S.McMullen
Re: Ne body sing here
"problem is whenever im on song its when im on my own" - funny thing, that's the story of my love life, right there!
# Posted on October 5th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ne body sing here
I get to sing from time to time, but only when asked to do so (or when I trick people into asking me to sing). The reason is, I am much better a singer than player. And girls prefer singers to backers.
As to better and worse days in singing, you can abate this effect by acquiring a good technique of singing (I was lucky enough to meet a teacher who knew the Way - a rare thing, unfortunately), and by warming up. Still, mornings will never be good for singing for anyone, no matter how good they are
# Posted on October 5th 2005 by Janek
Re: Ne body sing here
"worse then a cat being beaten wit a violin" - in a situation like this, where does your sympathy go - to the cat or the violin?
"but only when asked to do so" - Ah Ha! Just one of those tricks, used regularly by singers to mussle in on a tune session!
You shout across at another known singer in the company to encourage them to sing, knowing full well that they will ask you in turn to sing when they have finished.
I've noticed these singy chaps & chappesses usually hunt in packs!
Are you a pack animal S McMullen or a lone wolf?
# Posted on October 5th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ne body sing here
Ach ye're getting too long in the tooth Ptarm (addressing you directly hoping constitutes a peace offering ---- leave my sandwich alone ya monster! I said peace, not piece!), thinking that singers aren't a scarcity these days. Yep, I've been in sesh's over the years where you get a tunes:songs ratio of anything between 30:70 to 80:20, but nowadays even 80:20 is too much. There are at least 2 fine singers on this site: Helen Roche and Aidan Crossey, and I'm just talking those I know in London.
But since there has been a bifurcation of traditions in recent years, where you get tune sessions and singing sessions being seperate entities, and the dancers a third split . Dow did a thread on this a few years ago, the splitting of the leaves of the shamrock or somethingbut where we sessionned then we did get all 3 together. That in retrospect, was the exception rather than the rule.
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Rudall the time
Re: Ne body sing here
My singing has always been an acquired taste (acquired mainly by drunks and my cat), but in recent years my singing voice has gotten weaker. As I’ve moved into late middle age, I’ve lost some of my lower range. I think it’s because of larger tonsils and maybe flabbier throat tissue. And maybe I don’t sing enough any more.
Maybe I should get some training to rescue what voice is left for my dotage.
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Ne body sing here
Personally, I love to sing when I'm all by myself in my nice safe house with no one else around except the cat. When I sing in front of other people, I get nervous and don't sound nearly as good as when I'm by myself. Although, the cat never does stick around when I sing to her... Maybe I'm worse than I thought!
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by TJ
Re: Ne body sing here
Neighbor told me the other day that she likes my singing better when I'm mowing than when I'm performing. Which is embarrassing, I only sing out there because that tractor is so dang (ed) loud I thought I could get away with it. She ventured that the band wantn't loud enough to challenge my lungs.
Suspect nerves as with TJ. I don't have a cat, this may explain why......
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Owell Mabee
Re: Ne body sing here
I gave up singing as a teenager (some years ago)when a kind friend pointed out that I looked as if I was in pain and that maybe it should have been the audience that looked like that. He was at least kind enough to say that my guitar playing was cool (back when cool was cool for the first time - before it came back into fashion).
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Donough
Re: Ne body sing here
I enjoy singing, am very good in the church choir, even when I am the only one on my part (tenor). But singing alone in public tends to bring out the nerves, so I always feel a bit frustrated after I sing something at the pub, it is never as good as it was at home. That is one thing I like about the session tradition, I guess I am happier as a herd animal, not as a "lone wolf."
Our session gets led by a singer/drummer on alternating weeks, and on his nights it is about 50/50 tunes and songs, and even on the other week, there is often an odd song sung here and there, without anyone feeling it is taking away from the session. So as far as our little pub goes, there is no competition between the singing and playing traditions, only pleasant co-existance.
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Ne body sing here
Hey Bob, old singers in this area, who sung on & even recorded long into their dotage, never mind their late middle age, include Eddie Butcher & Joe Holmes so I'd say you have a few years of ticking ye olde tonsils left in you.
Indie, is it OK to mention peace here, cause the way I see it, as soon as someone says peace, don't we all automatically think of the wa..... no, I'd better not say the W word!
I don't know of Heln Roche but I do have a couple of Aidan's CDs here & he sure is a fine singer.
By the way Al, I'm not implying that sessions shouldn't have singers - ever good session, in my book, should have one, or two.
What I was thinking of were those packs that hunt at fleadhs. When they move in on you & that old "well he got to sing so surely you'll let me sing too!" takes over, & before you know where you are, half an hour has elapsed & all the tunesters brain's have gone numb!
Like a lot of folk I also enjoy singing, when I'm alone & I find the car is the best place. As I trundle along I have the drone of the engine for backing & nobody to give me dirty looks when I hit a bum note.
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ne body sing here
Oooops Bob, musn't forget to include John Kennedy in that list of local great singers!
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ne body sing here
Ptarmigan, you could also include Geordie Hannah, Robert Cinnamond, Sarah and Paddy Tunney, Sarah Makem and Packie Manus Byrne among others. The 'Wee North' certainly produced and still produces great singers in relative profusion in relation to 'The South'.
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Ian Stevenson
Re: Ne body sing here
Aye, yer right there Ian, Laddie - must be a' thon gid Scots blood in their veins! ........ducks to avoid scud missiles
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Ne body sing here
The other way round Ptarmigan.
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by dafydd
Re: Ne body sing here
Scud missiles are a bit over the top for a duck shoot. We use a shotgun around these parts, its much cheaper.
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by Bernie
Re: Ne body sing here
It is indeed a rare occasion when I am not asked to sing a song at a session. Even when I attend a session for the first time I am usually asked to sing. I suspect the give away is my guitar case as I am certainly, and rightfully, not a well known commodity. I’ve only been to a few sessions where songs out paced tunes. Mostly this was a late night phenomenon when there has been a good bit of whiskey poured down.
Inconsistencies in ones vocal prowess I believe are the same as those one might experience with their playing of any other instrument. Practice, concentration, and familiarity with the emotion of the song and story are three great ways to try to get around such inconsistencies in singing. That said I have found that when I am tired my singing is not my best. I suspect this has to do with my reduced ability to concentrate. When I actually live, albeit it in my mind, the story of the song, or feel what I believe to be the passion of the composer, I find my performance of the song much more gratifying. If the response from those around me is any measure than I would say they too find my performance more satisfying when I can achieve this emotional connection. When I am tired it is difficult for me to emotionally transport myself into the story.
Peace,
Ed
# Posted on October 6th 2005 by ejsant
Re: Ne body play here
does ne body play besides sing songs on the session. also do u find that somedays u can be really on tune and other days u play worse then a cat being beaten wit a violin. Just wot ive noticed when im playing. only problem is whenever im on tune its when im on my own Lol.
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by geoffwright
Re: Ne body sing here
I sing at home a lot. I really cannot bear to hear myself sing, but I think it is a lot of fun. The only time I sing at sessions is if there are more than three people singing with me or I am doing backup. That way I can't hear myself too well. But people tell me that I have a wonderful voice. What do they know ?!
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by Red Crow