I'm curious to know the age distribution of players around the world. Are there many young adults (say, age 18 to 30) playing this music? And taken as a rate, would you say this number is increasing or decreasing?
I started coming to the weekly session in my town about 5 months ago, and most nights I am the only one under 35 or 40 (often higher). I'm starting to think I should become a geologist--there are so many fossils hanging around.
So, what's it like at your session? And what, if anything, works to interest younger players?
Seems (to me anyway) that the opposite applies to Belfast. A lot of the sessions (sessions I would have attended anyway, in the cathedral quarter) have a much younger age group, about 35 or younger.
Perhaps there are loads of sessions for the fossils in Belfast, they just haven’t let me in on this secret!
41.5634% of all people playing this music (obviously this doesn't include people who play morris tunes) is aged 18-30. Yesterday, that proportion was 41.3563%, so the rate is increasing.
Wrong. It's 41.5634% from yesterday's 41.3653%. Get yer facts right. That's what you get with these Sun readers coming on here.
Anyway, I'm well over 40. Say no more. Most of our session is over 40. I was surprised just how young most of the sessioneers were at the Adelaide last week (relative to me of course). Course, by now they're a week older.
At my weekly session in Massachusetts, most of us are in our 20s, 30s, or 40s (about evenly split among the decades), we have a few regular or semi-regular older folks (the wonders of fiber), and a few sporadic visits from teenagers when they can get a ride.
In Ireland during the first half of January, there were lots of kids when school was out, and otherwise quite a broad range of ages.
Damn Key, are we in a minority... Do we need to form something akin to the Black Panthers? ~ to defend our rights against upstarts like Dow and DubChieftain? ~ those 20 somethings?
In my experience, the beard (or any other form of facial hair) is more relevant than the age. All of the men (and MOST of the women) that I've sessioned with have a hefty fur covering some portion of their face. Including me, although I'm just a young pup of 30 so of course instead of an actual beard, I have an awesome goatee.
We've sort of had this discussion before (try a search). I still maintain that you will find that between the ages of about 25 - 45 a lot of people are too busy doing the career and kids thing to give much time to their "hobbies". You will find the demographics of a lot of leisure pursuits - which is what Irish music is for a lot of its players - to be affected by this.
If youre the youngest person at your session silver bow, and it bothers you, maybe you need to take some time off to enjoy yourself, then return when you're "ready"
In the US there is the problem of people under 21 not being able to play at a lot of sessions.
I am 20, and have been playing bouzouki for 2 years (guitar for 8, exept I have barely played in the last 2..) and my good freind and bandmate who is 17 and has played the fiddle since he was 9 would of loved to play at more sessions if we got the chance. He is currently in limerick (studying ITM at the university) and says that he attends at least 3 sessions a week. often more. lucky bastard.
I guess I'm generally about the oldest at our sessions ( 60 ) ( omigawd, wheredidthetimego ? ) . The majority of us are old enough to have had a family, even if some haven't done anything about it. There's always the odd young turk, like Scrappy the Godo, who turns up from time to time brandishing some new wind instrument or other, and we do get the odd young novice as well.
But yes, by and larger we're older.
Really Rebellion? i've never encountered that problem...(not being able to play at a lot of the sessions in bars) I actually thought that was more of an issue in Ireland but maybe I am mistaken. But then again, a lot of people mistake me for being in my 20's so there you go..
I am a fossil. But it's fun, I never had so much fun when I was younger.... just wait til you get here, you'll understand! The joys of having your house and car paid for, the kids out on their own, now it's my turn, LOL, and I am loving every minute of being a fossil! Never mind having over 40 years of practicing your instrument behind you, which makes it fun and easy.
Our IAANJ session is all mixed from a 10 year old who can play the living daylights out of his whistle (Tommy Killackey, some of you may know him and his great fiddler brothers John and Brian, 17 and 15 I think, just watch out for these guys!) to one of the last remaining students of James Morrison who amazes us wiuth her tunes and stories. I love it!
I've found there's an insane amount of young people interested in Scots, Irish, and Cape Breton music. However, this has only been at Festivals, camps and workshops. The sessions are still dominated by the veterans. However, it's not for lack of skill. Would it possibly be the States... drinking age and such? I know I had trouble, had to get out at a certain time.... probably just a p*ssy bartender.
When I went to Ireland, I was amazed by how many younger, 20-30 were playing in the session. However, it was a short visit....... Fantastic music there.....
demographics
demographics
I'm curious to know the age distribution of players around the world. Are there many young adults (say, age 18 to 30) playing this music? And taken as a rate, would you say this number is increasing or decreasing?
I started coming to the weekly session in my town about 5 months ago, and most nights I am the only one under 35 or 40 (often higher). I'm starting to think I should become a geologist--there are so many fossils hanging around.
So, what's it like at your session? And what, if anything, works to interest younger players?
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by silver bow
Re: demographics
Seems (to me anyway) that the opposite applies to Belfast. A lot of the sessions (sessions I would have attended anyway, in the cathedral quarter) have a much younger age group, about 35 or younger.
Perhaps there are loads of sessions for the fossils in Belfast, they just haven’t let me in on this secret!
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by proinsiasrua
Re: demographics
41.5634% of all people playing this music (obviously this doesn't include people who play morris tunes) is aged 18-30. Yesterday, that proportion was 41.3563%, so the rate is increasing.
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by Dow
Re: demographics
Wrong. It's 41.5634% from yesterday's 41.3653%. Get yer facts right. That's what you get with these Sun readers coming on here.
Anyway, I'm well over 40. Say no more. Most of our session is over 40. I was surprised just how young most of the sessioneers were at the Adelaide last week (relative to me of course). Course, by now they're a week older.
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by Key Maniac Lad
Re: demographics
At my weekly session in Massachusetts, most of us are in our 20s, 30s, or 40s (about evenly split among the decades), we have a few regular or semi-regular older folks (the wonders of fiber), and a few sporadic visits from teenagers when they can get a ride.
In Ireland during the first half of January, there were lots of kids when school was out, and otherwise quite a broad range of ages.
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by GaryAMartin
Re: demographics
Banjos are sexy.
Young people would flock to sessions if they were more banjos around.
Im 27. I live in Glasgow. I have a beard.
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by DubChieftain
Re: demographics
Damn Key, are we in a minority... Do we need to form something akin to the Black Panthers? ~ to defend our rights against upstarts like Dow and DubChieftain? ~ those 20 somethings?
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by ceolachan
Re: demographics
In my experience, the beard (or any other form of facial hair) is more relevant than the age. All of the men (and MOST of the women) that I've sessioned with have a hefty fur covering some portion of their face. Including me, although I'm just a young pup of 30 so of course instead of an actual beard, I have an awesome goatee.
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by MartySmith
Re: demographics
We've sort of had this discussion before (try a search). I still maintain that you will find that between the ages of about 25 - 45 a lot of people are too busy doing the career and kids thing to give much time to their "hobbies". You will find the demographics of a lot of leisure pursuits - which is what Irish music is for a lot of its players - to be affected by this.
# Posted on January 31st 2007 by kris
Re: demographics
If youre the youngest person at your session silver bow, and it bothers you, maybe you need to take some time off to enjoy yourself, then return when you're "ready"
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by Backer
Re: demographics
In the US there is the problem of people under 21 not being able to play at a lot of sessions.
I am 20, and have been playing bouzouki for 2 years (guitar for 8, exept I have barely played in the last 2..) and my good freind and bandmate who is 17 and has played the fiddle since he was 9 would of loved to play at more sessions if we got the chance. He is currently in limerick (studying ITM at the university) and says that he attends at least 3 sessions a week. often more. lucky bastard.
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by RumRebellion
Re: demographics
I guess I'm generally about the oldest at our sessions ( 60 ) ( omigawd, wheredidthetimego ? ) . The majority of us are old enough to have had a family, even if some haven't done anything about it. There's always the odd young turk, like Scrappy the Godo, who turns up from time to time brandishing some new wind instrument or other, and we do get the odd young novice as well.
But yes, by and larger we're older.
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: demographics
Really Rebellion? i've never encountered that problem...(not being able to play at a lot of the sessions in bars) I actually thought that was more of an issue in Ireland but maybe I am mistaken. But then again, a lot of people mistake me for being in my 20's so there you go..
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by BE
Re: demographics
Thanks for the info everyone. It seems my description is more the exception than the rule.
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by silver bow
Re: demographics
I am a fossil. But it's fun, I never had so much fun when I was younger.... just wait til you get here, you'll understand! The joys of having your house and car paid for, the kids out on their own, now it's my turn, LOL, and I am loving every minute of being a fossil! Never mind having over 40 years of practicing your instrument behind you, which makes it fun and easy.
Our IAANJ session is all mixed from a 10 year old who can play the living daylights out of his whistle (Tommy Killackey, some of you may know him and his great fiddler brothers John and Brian, 17 and 15 I think, just watch out for these guys!) to one of the last remaining students of James Morrison who amazes us wiuth her tunes and stories. I love it!
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by irisnevins
Re: demographics
I've found there's an insane amount of young people interested in Scots, Irish, and Cape Breton music. However, this has only been at Festivals, camps and workshops. The sessions are still dominated by the veterans. However, it's not for lack of skill. Would it possibly be the States... drinking age and such? I know I had trouble, had to get out at a certain time.... probably just a p*ssy bartender.
When I went to Ireland, I was amazed by how many younger, 20-30 were playing in the session. However, it was a short visit....... Fantastic music there.....
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by Tessa
Re: demographics
I'm 26. The next youngest regular at my session is 40 but his two sons play if the session is on at a reasonable time. they are 12 and 16 i think.
'Dose' it matter what age you are, so long as your not a plonker ;)
# Posted on February 1st 2007 by session savage