I seem to be getting quite frequent at this, I get into such a relaxed zone that I just shut down. Has anyone ever been through this ? 4 cans of red bull can't even keep me awake, amplified gigs aren't a problem.
Now I expect the obvious answers here
"sounds like you need to learn some more tunes" I have
"sounds like you are playing with crap musicians" no
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..............wha? Where am I?
What's that, Trevor, pints of Red Bull?
Nah, I'm afraid I definitely don't suffer from this problem.
Could you try doing exercise beforehand - ie physical exercise like running (will cure anything, in my book)? That might keep you awake. I am actually being serious here. Just a thought.
Hmm, I like the thought of Ripthecalico running a mile or so to the session carrying banjo, mandolin and guitar.
I walk at least two miles to each of my sessions carrying a mere fiddle in its case on my back. Haven't fallen asleep in a session yet - despite appearances
I've caught myself nodding off a few times while playing (electric) bass for contradances. I know, because I caught myself starting awake. Something about the endless repetitions, the dancers rhythmically pounding the floor. My bandmates told me I never missed a beat. So apparently playing in your sleep is an acquired skill !
I know a guitarist/mandolinist AND a drummer who both have this knack! Drummer woke himself up when he started to snore....but still didn't miss a beat. Guitarist always claims he's only resting his eyes.
It's those damn microsleeps that can kill you when you are driving long distances on country roads too....and the white lines on the road can have the same hypnotic effect as a steady rhythmic beat. Think the only cure is not being tired in the first place!
I got absoloutly p*ssed at a session on St. Stephens day. I was singing 'the dutchman' and fell asleep half way through the chorus, then I woke up and carried on to finish the song.
It was only two days after when I was told what happened that all those smug grins made any sense.
Singing in a cathedral choir as well as being a sessionistra,, I was of course, totally sober but have been on on auto-pilot, and have "woken up" in the middle of a solo and couldn't remember a thing about what I sang previously and wondered what the hell I did actually sing.
We go to a very open Sunday afternoon session - ITM,STM, ETM, ATM, WITM, through blues, rock'n'roll ( all acoustic ) pop songs, singer-songwriter stuff, and it's in a warm spot at the back of a restaurant. I can sometimes feel my eyelids growing very heavy during other people's performances, but I am bang awake for my own.
Yet my bandleader, as I have said before, fell asleep, still playing her accordion, on a Saturday night having already played an afternoon gig in the hot sunshine. And I could see how you might fall asleep just playing the bass - I call as well so I have too much to concentrate on, plus I'm usually standing up for that.
i think falling asleep is a whole lot better than the time i was sick in the middle of a chior concert in front of 100 people, fortunately I was on the front row and it didnt hit anyone!
Have definitely faded once or twice at a session. Certainly not narcolepsy. Probably just tired from the day and unmotivated by the tune selection in a given night. Not quite the same thing, but I've definitely fallen asleep while practicing at my Mom's house. Must be a special talent.
As ripvancalico said in the OP, he/she expects some answers like 'learn more tunes' and 'play with better musicians'. But these (facetious) answers equate falling asleep with being in uninteresting situations - the old 'music-hall-myth' view of sleep.
When I get home after a vigorous day's work, I sometimes sit and play a few tunes, and very quickly I get to a point where I can't play because I am dozing off. This is because the music relaxes me.
Its as simple as that.
In sessions you usually have the added effects of alcohol and being late in the evening.
The only time I can recall falling asleep was a very late night "listening" session which had John Curtin on piano and whistle, Paddy Hayes on box, Brendan Mulkere and Brian Rooney on fiddles. I think Paul Gallagher (flute) was also there. And I went and fell asleep between about 4am and 7am!! Boo-hoo! When I woke up they were still going strong though.
Trivial nit: What we're talking about here isn't really narcolepsy, which is a serious neurological disorder. A narcoleptic collapses, goes immediately into REM sleep and is generally hard to arouse. Oddly enough, the episodes are often triggered by laughter.
Yes, but that's only for the more serious cases. For those with mild cases of narcolepsy, you tend to zone and fall asleep. I've been told by doctors that I hit REM within 1-3 minutes of falling asleep during the day. Sometimes you know you're zoning - and sometimes you don't. But chances are one probably can't play an instrument and nod off with narcolepsy!
I thought part of the mythology surrounding ancient Irish harp playing was that there was a category of tune specifically devised to send people to sleep. Maybe these remain embedded here and there in the repertoire - indeed, they may be the boring ones - and are continuing to perform their function. Bring on the musicologists...
I find that since the smoking ban came into force here in pubs, the old nodding off is a less frequent occurence. Some prat blowing his atomised tar around the place really used to take the life from my eyes.
I've actually fallen asleep during a (group fiddle class)....while playing. Well, okay, I wasn't actually asleep, but I definitely wasn't awake! It was like when you're reading a book in the middle of the night and you're in the last paragraph and dimly realize that you want to finish but your eyes kind of start rolling around and your head starts falling until you jump up...
This was on Thursday of Friday of a sleepless week though, and as soon as I got up and walked around I was wide awake again (hooray, adrenaline!)
Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I seem to be getting quite frequent at this, I get into such a relaxed zone that I just shut down. Has anyone ever been through this ? 4 cans of red bull can't even keep me awake, amplified gigs aren't a problem.
Now I expect the obvious answers here
"sounds like you need to learn some more tunes" I have
"sounds like you are playing with crap musicians" no
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Ripthecalico
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
First obvious question - how many pints have you had?
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by lazyhound
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
and another obvious question... do you get up early and work stupid hours so that you're tired before you even get to the session?
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by SineadE
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..............wha? Where am I?
What's that, Trevor, pints of Red Bull?
Nah, I'm afraid I definitely don't suffer from this problem.
Could you try doing exercise beforehand - ie physical exercise like running (will cure anything, in my book)? That might keep you awake. I am actually being serious here. Just a thought.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
Hmm, I like the thought of Ripthecalico running a mile or so to the session carrying banjo, mandolin and guitar.
I walk at least two miles to each of my sessions carrying a mere fiddle in its case on my back. Haven't fallen asleep in a session yet - despite appearances
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by lazyhound
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I've caught myself nodding off a few times while playing (electric) bass for contradances. I know, because I caught myself starting awake. Something about the endless repetitions, the dancers rhythmically pounding the floor. My bandmates told me I never missed a beat. So apparently playing in your sleep is an acquired skill !
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by MTGuru
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
when people giggle at you while you play in your sleep it tends to wake you up
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Joze
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I know a guitarist/mandolinist AND a drummer who both have this knack! Drummer woke himself up when he started to snore....but still didn't miss a beat. Guitarist always claims he's only resting his eyes.
It's those damn microsleeps that can kill you when you are driving long distances on country roads too....and the white lines on the road can have the same hypnotic effect as a steady rhythmic beat. Think the only cure is not being tired in the first place!
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by TheCurvyFiddle
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I've fallen asleep a couple times, especially when I play guitar. I cured it by quitting that session.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by dwdeacon
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I got absoloutly p*ssed at a session on St. Stephens day. I was singing 'the dutchman' and fell asleep half way through the chorus, then I woke up and carried on to finish the song.
It was only two days after when I was told what happened that all those smug grins made any sense.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by session savage
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
PS, the funny thing is, I was drunk enough to fall asleep but I still remembered the chords and lyrics.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by session savage
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep in solos
Singing in a cathedral choir as well as being a sessionistra,, I was of course, totally sober but have been on on auto-pilot, and have "woken up" in the middle of a solo and couldn't remember a thing about what I sang previously and wondered what the hell I did actually sing.
zzzzzz
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
We go to a very open Sunday afternoon session - ITM,STM, ETM, ATM, WITM, through blues, rock'n'roll ( all acoustic ) pop songs, singer-songwriter stuff, and it's in a warm spot at the back of a restaurant. I can sometimes feel my eyelids growing very heavy during other people's performances, but I am bang awake for my own.
Yet my bandleader, as I have said before, fell asleep, still playing her accordion, on a Saturday night having already played an afternoon gig in the hot sunshine. And I could see how you might fall asleep just playing the bass - I call as well so I have too much to concentrate on, plus I'm usually standing up for that.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
i think falling asleep is a whole lot better than the time i was sick in the middle of a chior concert in front of 100 people, fortunately I was on the front row and it didnt hit anyone!
Have not eaten home made pizza since...
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Jessicamaryhall
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
Have definitely faded once or twice at a session. Certainly not narcolepsy. Probably just tired from the day and unmotivated by the tune selection in a given night. Not quite the same thing, but I've definitely fallen asleep while practicing at my Mom's house. Must be a special talent.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Jason G
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
Here's a serious consideration of the issue:
As ripvancalico said in the OP, he/she expects some answers like 'learn more tunes' and 'play with better musicians'. But these (facetious) answers equate falling asleep with being in uninteresting situations - the old 'music-hall-myth' view of sleep.
When I get home after a vigorous day's work, I sometimes sit and play a few tunes, and very quickly I get to a point where I can't play because I am dozing off. This is because the music relaxes me.
Its as simple as that.
In sessions you usually have the added effects of alcohol and being late in the evening.
2p
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by showaddydadito
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
The only time I can recall falling asleep was a very late night "listening" session which had John Curtin on piano and whistle, Paddy Hayes on box, Brendan Mulkere and Brian Rooney on fiddles. I think Paul Gallagher (flute) was also there. And I went and fell asleep between about 4am and 7am!! Boo-hoo! When I woke up they were still going strong though.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
Trivial nit: What we're talking about here isn't really narcolepsy, which is a serious neurological disorder. A narcoleptic collapses, goes immediately into REM sleep and is generally hard to arouse. Oddly enough, the episodes are often triggered by laughter.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Bob himself
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I know that when Bob The Builder and Noddy walk into the session and start playing bodhrans I have fallen asleep.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by bowburner
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
Yes, but that's only for the more serious cases. For those with mild cases of narcolepsy, you tend to zone and fall asleep. I've been told by doctors that I hit REM within 1-3 minutes of falling asleep during the day. Sometimes you know you're zoning - and sometimes you don't. But chances are one probably can't play an instrument and nod off with narcolepsy!
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by violinimprovqueen
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I thought part of the mythology surrounding ancient Irish harp playing was that there was a category of tune specifically devised to send people to sleep. Maybe these remain embedded here and there in the repertoire - indeed, they may be the boring ones - and are continuing to perform their function. Bring on the musicologists...
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by nicholas
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I think I have heard a word that sounds like "soon-tree" to describe Irish lullabies--I believe that is what you are talking about nicholas.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by AlBrown
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I find that since the smoking ban came into force here in pubs, the old nodding off is a less frequent occurence. Some prat blowing his atomised tar around the place really used to take the life from my eyes.
# Posted on January 12th 2007 by Backer
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
I've actually fallen asleep during a (group fiddle class)....while playing. Well, okay, I wasn't actually asleep, but I definitely wasn't awake! It was like when you're reading a book in the middle of the night and you're in the last paragraph and dimly realize that you want to finish but your eyes kind of start rolling around and your head starts falling until you jump up...
This was on Thursday of Friday of a sleepless week though, and as soon as I got up and walked around I was wide awake again (hooray, adrenaline!)
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by possumawesome
Re: Narcolepsey or falling asleep at sesions
A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat!
# Posted on January 13th 2007 by Bodhi