Mr. FidKid came out to one of our little sessions. Unfortunately, I was not able to be there. But I heard the reviews at last night's session. I gather that it was, shall we say, not one of our best. Although there were some of our best players, the session seems to have been dominated by a non-regular who played unfamiliar tunes in unfamiliar settings.
Now I worry that the FidKid may judge that to be a typical session and decide not to attend any in the future.
Out of curiosity, (1) what is the percentage of great sessions compared to tragic ones in your experience? and (2) when you begin to go to a session, how many chances do you give it before you judge that it is not worth attending?
Saint, you almost killed me tonight! I am suffering from bronchitis and I came across your comment in "early experiences". I laughed to breathlessness! How dose that make you feel?
Seisflutes - 3-4...very generous. And your percentages seem to be close to my experience.
But what's a good session ?
This is all very subjective, and personal.
Is it the session where you can play all of the tunes, even though you're not a top-notch player, or is it the session where someone lifts the standard out of your reach, and you're left floundering but the music is better ?
Do you judge it by your own responses, or by a more dispassionate appraisal ?
feardearg --
I quite enjoyed myself, actually! I walked up to a group of strangers, who graciously welcomed me in, and I played a bit and got to know some new friends. Yeah, the one guy kept sawing out unfamiliar tunes as soon as there was a moment's silence, but I had the advantage (?) of not knowing the group dynamics, so I just accepted it. I bet the regulars were far more upset than I was. I didn't expect to know all the tunes, anyway. The tunes I could join in on I enjoyed enormously. Plus, free beer. I'll be back.
I agree with Guernsey Pete. How do you define a good session?
Sometimes the music was the thing, sometimes the comraderie, sometimes no was taking anything seriously and it was mostly a laugh-riot. All unique.
They have all been good learning experiences, even when I headed home grinding my teeth in frustration and silently screaming for heads on platters.
Sooner or later, though, the lesson came through and helped me grow into the enlightened creature I now am
(although that session the other night, geez, what a bunch of egos on the hoof, ooh if they all had but one neck ........Oops, sorry. Never mind.)
some of the music at sessions I regularly attend sounds like a car crash. Not surprising for unrehearsed random tunes by a bunch of amateurs (self included). It doesn't bother me much - I go for the craic and occsionally musical greatness materialises despite the above.
I just got back from a morning run, had an hour to think about things. It’s interesting how an evening can be like Kurosawa’s Rashoman, the same event from different points of view. Here’s what I saw:
A concertina player who brought her father, who is suffering from alzheimer’s. He sat with a beaming smile and clapped after every tune. My wife and I have watched as her mother has slipped away to frontal-temporal dementia, and having witnessed the way music bonded mother and daughter, I found this gentleman’s presence moving to say the least.
The whipcord thin, white haired gentleman who teaches Irish down at the Gaelic League on whistle and concertina. Yeah, he knew his stuff.
The banjo player who anchors the Comhaltas sessions. He’s also very very good but doesn’t try to “chop people’s heads of” with speed.
The guy next to me who rotated between flute, whistle fiddle and box with equal ease.
The young lady who seemed very handy with the fiddle, and kicked off her shoes at one point for a spirited step dance.
The fiddler in the corner who may have been her teacher (?) – he was further away and I couldn’t hear him very well, but he had a languid, flowing bow arm that seemed totally relaxed, all with a huge friendly grin.
I think it’s flattering, feardearg, that you worry the session didn’t meet my high expectations, but just because I have a big mouth on an internet forum doesn’t make me some hotshot player. If it was a disappointing session for the folks you talked to, I can't wait to have a great one with you guys!
A fun session can sometimes materialise at the most unlikely of times. Last week my local session (normally well attended and sometimes very well attended!) consisted of two whistles, a bodhran and a jazz/bluesy style guitarist who arrived half way through. Not the makings of a good set you might think.
Luckily for me the other whistle player was our anchor man a great player with a huge repetoire and knowledge of the music! So we had some lovely relaxed tunes a few songs courtesy of the guitarist and a regular singer and a good laugh to boot !
Ahhh, forget it!
Ahhh, forget it!
Mr. FidKid came out to one of our little sessions. Unfortunately, I was not able to be there. But I heard the reviews at last night's session. I gather that it was, shall we say, not one of our best. Although there were some of our best players, the session seems to have been dominated by a non-regular who played unfamiliar tunes in unfamiliar settings.
Now I worry that the FidKid may judge that to be a typical session and decide not to attend any in the future.
Out of curiosity, (1) what is the percentage of great sessions compared to tragic ones in your experience? and (2) when you begin to go to a session, how many chances do you give it before you judge that it is not worth attending?
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by feardearg
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
people say most of the sessions im at are a disaster
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Saint
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
At the session I regularly attend I would say something like:
15% great
75% ordinary goodish
10% tragic
(that add up to 100, right? I've been known to leave out percents before!)
I usually give a session three or four chances before giving up on it.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by seisflutes
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
Saint, you almost killed me tonight! I am suffering from bronchitis and I came across your comment in "early experiences". I laughed to breathlessness! How dose that make you feel?
Seisflutes - 3-4...very generous. And your percentages seem to be close to my experience.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by feardearg
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
But what's a good session ?
This is all very subjective, and personal.
Is it the session where you can play all of the tunes, even though you're not a top-notch player, or is it the session where someone lifts the standard out of your reach, and you're left floundering but the music is better ?
Do you judge it by your own responses, or by a more dispassionate appraisal ?
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
feardearg --
I quite enjoyed myself, actually! I walked up to a group of strangers, who graciously welcomed me in, and I played a bit and got to know some new friends. Yeah, the one guy kept sawing out unfamiliar tunes as soon as there was a moment's silence, but I had the advantage (?) of not knowing the group dynamics, so I just accepted it. I bet the regulars were far more upset than I was. I didn't expect to know all the tunes, anyway. The tunes I could join in on I enjoyed enormously. Plus, free beer. I'll be back.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by fidkid
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
I agree with Guernsey Pete. How do you define a good session?
Sometimes the music was the thing, sometimes the comraderie, sometimes no was taking anything seriously and it was mostly a laugh-riot. All unique.
They have all been good learning experiences, even when I headed home grinding my teeth in frustration and silently screaming for heads on platters.
Sooner or later, though, the lesson came through and helped me grow into the enlightened creature I now am
(although that session the other night, geez, what a bunch of egos on the hoof, ooh if they all had but one neck ........Oops, sorry. Never mind.)
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Rook
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
You have to go to one session a week all year. You will never have more then four brilliant ones all that time.
It is like stalking a bear, You have to stay outside the cave, If you do not he will come out and you will miss him.
But when it does happen, when it does happen...it is like the greatest drug.
Mmmmm...
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by Pól
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
some of the music at sessions I regularly attend sounds like a car crash. Not surprising for unrehearsed random tunes by a bunch of amateurs (self included). It doesn't bother me much - I go for the craic and occsionally musical greatness materialises despite the above.
I might feel different if I was just a spectator.
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by millionyears_bc
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
I just got back from a morning run, had an hour to think about things. It’s interesting how an evening can be like Kurosawa’s Rashoman, the same event from different points of view. Here’s what I saw:
A concertina player who brought her father, who is suffering from alzheimer’s. He sat with a beaming smile and clapped after every tune. My wife and I have watched as her mother has slipped away to frontal-temporal dementia, and having witnessed the way music bonded mother and daughter, I found this gentleman’s presence moving to say the least.
The whipcord thin, white haired gentleman who teaches Irish down at the Gaelic League on whistle and concertina. Yeah, he knew his stuff.
The banjo player who anchors the Comhaltas sessions. He’s also very very good but doesn’t try to “chop people’s heads of” with speed.
The guy next to me who rotated between flute, whistle fiddle and box with equal ease.
The young lady who seemed very handy with the fiddle, and kicked off her shoes at one point for a spirited step dance.
The fiddler in the corner who may have been her teacher (?) – he was further away and I couldn’t hear him very well, but he had a languid, flowing bow arm that seemed totally relaxed, all with a huge friendly grin.
I think it’s flattering, feardearg, that you worry the session didn’t meet my high expectations, but just because I have a big mouth on an internet forum doesn’t make me some hotshot player. If it was a disappointing session for the folks you talked to, I can't wait to have a great one with you guys!
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by fidkid
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
A fun session can sometimes materialise at the most unlikely of times. Last week my local session (normally well attended and sometimes very well attended!) consisted of two whistles, a bodhran and a jazz/bluesy style guitarist who arrived half way through. Not the makings of a good set you might think.
Luckily for me the other whistle player was our anchor man a great player with a huge repetoire and knowledge of the music! So we had some lovely relaxed tunes a few songs courtesy of the guitarist and a regular singer and a good laugh to boot !
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by flossie
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
FidKid! Now I wish I was there, too.
And you all are right (I need to lay off of this mind bending medicine I am on).
# Posted on September 23rd 2007 by feardearg
Re: Ahhh, forget it!
''You have to go to one session a week all year. You will never have more then four brilliant ones all that time.##
Every session i go to is brilliant! Cos im playing!......... ho ho ho.
# Posted on September 27th 2007 by jig