I've been playing for about 8 years now (since i was 9) on the Highland pipes and over the last few years, Ive gotten some smallpipes in D learnt the flute and picked up a few penny whistles and now that im of age to get into the only pub around here with some celtic sessions I dont know what to expect. Do people just call tunes and hope you all know them or does someone start and others join in, im pretty nervous and would appreciate a word on what to expect
I'm not sure what part of the world you come from Spencer, but you should restrict your first few visits to a new session to listening. You'll find the answers to your questions. Best of luck!
Go and listen first without your instruments, and talk to the musicians about participating in future sessions. Ask them what to expect, as every session is different. That should ease your mind.
My military service taught me that you never engage in battle without first sending out scouts to survey the battlefield.
Not that I think the session is going to be a battleground, but hopefully you get what I mean.......
If you decide to go to a session for the first time you might want to just listen but to have an instrument along with you like a penny whistle is usually not too intrusive for a first timer. You may want to just sit and listen but you may want to join in if invited. Especially if it's a session where there aren't normally many pipers. We get a piper once in a while and it brings new life to our sessions here.
Hi Spencer - nothing will damage your confidence more than turning up, sitting in the circle with your instrument and not then knowing anyone there or any tunes! Do as the above folks have suggested, go along, buy a beer, sit and the bar and listen.
Noone will mind, and if you then find out that they play tunes you like, and that they seem a good bunch just ask one of em if you could join another week, or if you could record some tunes to work on.
Don't do as I did and turn up at a warp speed session in a famous session pub with a Bodhran and say to the glamourous flute player next to me " really looking foreward to this - its only my second session ".....................
Still break out in a cold sweat every now and then at the gross misunderstanding I had of sessioneering then!
I have to agree with the folks saying you should just drink a beer and lay low for your first visit. Pay attention to how the session is being run -- how tunes are selected, if they are announced, if there is a leader or if various folks lead at different times, etc.
By doing some observing first, you can figure out who the grouches are and who the nice folks are, and you can start to figure out which people actually know how to keep rhythm and play in tune, and which people aren't as strong of players -- all good things to know before you throw yourself into the mix.
It may be possible to get a tune list, either an "official" one that might be made available, or else just scribbling down the names of tunes, perhaps with the aid of some of the friendlier and more helpful sorts of people present.
Also, don't let the sour curmudgeons bring you down, they seem to exist no matter where you go but you don't have to let them have power over you.
Aw come on now Al, let's be honest here! How many of us hadn't been into a bar by the time we were 17? And anyway, cause he does go into a bar, doesn't mean he 'has' to drink a beer. The most popular drink at our friday night session, amongst the musicians, especially the drivers amongst us is 'Red Diesel' (Water & Blackcurrent)!
So I'd say Spencer, take all the advice you can get here, but just substitute 'soft drink' for Beer. Or at least, if you do drink Beer, please don't say we told you to!
Believe it or not, there are a few pubs in the NE US that have "most commonly played tune" lists posted on the internet. Not anything hard and fast, but it is a nice starting point for newbies. And if you learn the top 100 tunes from member tunebooks listed here on the Session, you will be able to play along for much of the evening around here! And those "100 essential tune" type books are not bad either for giving you a solid core to your developing repetoire.
my daughter comes to pub sessions with me and tentatively plays whistle/drum ...and she is 15. she gets her own drinks from the bar and often everyone elses if she doesnt get up quietly. IT IS OK TO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL. I drink soda and lime in bars and pubs. I have a very good wine cellar at home and prefer not to pay robbery prices for dodgy drinks.
What to expect at my first session
What to expect at my first session
I've been playing for about 8 years now (since i was 9) on the Highland pipes and over the last few years, Ive gotten some smallpipes in D learnt the flute and picked up a few penny whistles and now that im of age to get into the only pub around here with some celtic sessions I dont know what to expect. Do people just call tunes and hope you all know them or does someone start and others join in, im pretty nervous and would appreciate a word on what to expect
thanks
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Spencer, Pipes
Re: What to expect at my first session
I'm not sure what part of the world you come from Spencer, but you should restrict your first few visits to a new session to listening. You'll find the answers to your questions. Best of luck!
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Backer
Re: What to expect at my first session
Go and listen first without your instruments, and talk to the musicians about participating in future sessions. Ask them what to expect, as every session is different. That should ease your mind.
My military service taught me that you never engage in battle without first sending out scouts to survey the battlefield.
Not that I think the session is going to be a battleground, but hopefully you get what I mean.......
Good luck!
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: What to expect at my first session
Here are a couple of threads you might enjoy reading through Spencer:
New to Sessions:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/7375/comments#comment157390
My First Session:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/330/comments#comment4480
Introducing yourself to a new session:
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/2430/comments#comment45861
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: What to expect at my first session
If you decide to go to a session for the first time you might want to just listen but to have an instrument along with you like a penny whistle is usually not too intrusive for a first timer. You may want to just sit and listen but you may want to join in if invited. Especially if it's a session where there aren't normally many pipers. We get a piper once in a while and it brings new life to our sessions here.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by newfie percussionist
Re: What to expect at my first session
Hi Spencer - nothing will damage your confidence more than turning up, sitting in the circle with your instrument and not then knowing anyone there or any tunes! Do as the above folks have suggested, go along, buy a beer, sit and the bar and listen.
Noone will mind, and if you then find out that they play tunes you like, and that they seem a good bunch just ask one of em if you could join another week, or if you could record some tunes to work on.
Don't do as I did and turn up at a warp speed session in a famous session pub with a Bodhran and say to the glamourous flute player next to me " really looking foreward to this - its only my second session ".....................
Still break out in a cold sweat every now and then at the gross misunderstanding I had of sessioneering then!
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by clunk999
Re: What to expect at my first session
But don't worry - the reconditioning at the facility for erant sessioneers worked well, hardly ever have nightmares now.
# Posted on August 29th 2006 by clunk999
Re: What to expect at my first session
I have to agree with the folks saying you should just drink a beer and lay low for your first visit. Pay attention to how the session is being run -- how tunes are selected, if they are announced, if there is a leader or if various folks lead at different times, etc.
By doing some observing first, you can figure out who the grouches are and who the nice folks are, and you can start to figure out which people actually know how to keep rhythm and play in tune, and which people aren't as strong of players -- all good things to know before you throw yourself into the mix.
It may be possible to get a tune list, either an "official" one that might be made available, or else just scribbling down the names of tunes, perhaps with the aid of some of the friendlier and more helpful sorts of people present.
Also, don't let the sour curmudgeons bring you down, they seem to exist no matter where you go but you don't have to let them have power over you.
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by timmy!
Re: What to expect at my first session
Hey guys, look closely at the original posting, this kid should be drinking soda pop, not beer!
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: What to expect at my first session
Aw come on now Al, let's be honest here! How many of us hadn't been into a bar by the time we were 17? And anyway, cause he does go into a bar, doesn't mean he 'has' to drink a beer. The most popular drink at our friday night session, amongst the musicians, especially the drivers amongst us is 'Red Diesel' (Water & Blackcurrent)!
So I'd say Spencer, take all the advice you can get here, but just substitute 'soft drink' for Beer. Or at least, if you do drink Beer, please don't say we told you to!
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by Ptarmigan
Re: What to expect at my first session
a session with an official tune list ??!!??
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by minijackpot
Re: What to expect at my first session
Believe it or not, there are a few pubs in the NE US that have "most commonly played tune" lists posted on the internet. Not anything hard and fast, but it is a nice starting point for newbies. And if you learn the top 100 tunes from member tunebooks listed here on the Session, you will be able to play along for much of the evening around here! And those "100 essential tune" type books are not bad either for giving you a solid core to your developing repetoire.
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: What to expect at my first session
my daughter comes to pub sessions with me and tentatively plays whistle/drum ...and she is 15. she gets her own drinks from the bar and often everyone elses if she doesnt get up quietly. IT IS OK TO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL. I drink soda and lime in bars and pubs. I have a very good wine cellar at home and prefer not to pay robbery prices for dodgy drinks.
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by Joze
Re: What to expect at my first session
"wine cellar"? Can we come round to your house for a tune?
# Posted on August 30th 2006 by ...
Re: What to expect at my first session
and you can get your 200yo fiddle out too
# Posted on August 31st 2006 by ...
Re: What to expect at my first session
thats in the shop and its more like 120. I have a bottle of 100 yr old port waiting for the right occasion.
# Posted on August 31st 2006 by Joze
Re: What to expect at my first session
Joze, can I have your address please, I'm coming over !
# Posted on August 31st 2006 by BegF