WOW!! Good on you- looks like fun. keep it that way! I might be in Boston in the next 6 months. Jimmy O'Brien Moran is going to be visiting prof at Boston College and he's a great teacher.
"Novices keep it reel: At the Green Briar pub, where the music is nice and slow..."
It raised a smile out of me and that's a good thing. The only dread felt was seeing the sheetmusic. Why, because it is a pain in the backside to break people from that crutch. It is a crutch, it is crippling, no matter how much I might also value music notation and what it represents and can do, it isn't for a session, slow or otherwise. 'Slow' should mean you don't need the sheets in the way. Yes, it does interfere with being truly together, listening to one another and achieving that community of agreement through the music. That point made, it looks like fun, a lovely bunch of people. If we were in Boston we'd stop by for the craic, minus sheetmusic... I also understand there are some great beers being brewed in Boston...
Best of luck with your music, and may you be warmed with good company during this season of chill... It appears that is realized at this session ~ by the smiles present...
I found the tune list for the Green Briar session at http://www.slowplayers.org/BOSS/BOSS_Playlist.html. This was probably the first ever slow session which inspired so many others far and wide including the one in Monkstown, Dublin which I was involved with. I wouldn't be too hard on the people that bring the dots to slow sessions if this is what certain musicians require to get started, so long as they realise that this would be a definite "no-no" for a real session where tunes must be committed to memory. Great credit is due to Larry Reynolds who started all this in Boston so many years ago.
I've heard folks denegrate slow sessions, I think they are a great thing, giving people an in to the joy we all get from the session. Not everyone can be born to it, which sometimes means we take it for granted. Sometimes you need a help up, and taking things slow would benefit anyone, beginner and experienced old codger alike.
If the dots are used, to get the gist of it, then they should be put away once the playing starts up. I know some folks need it, like an addict, but part of passing on tradition should include breaking them of what I consider a 'bad habit'. I know, it can be overcome, but it is a lot harder to do so the longer someone comes to become dependant on it.
Of course I'm behind a good thing, but dot-dependancy is not a 'good thing'... Maybe we need to form DDA groups? (Dot Dependancy Anonymous)
Your right at least on that count Ban, that it should be made known that it isn't the norm in usual sessions, something some folks forget at their peril. I know one lot who wandered into a session with their sheets, and with music stands too, and in short order were approached without my 'diplomacy' (I wasn't there) and told to f'off... We never saw them again, about half a dozen folk with passion but no clue...
Im with "c" on this and I would just add that suggesting going "dotless" isnt anyone being "hard" on anyone at all. It is simply steering them in the right direction.
Here's amore information on my original post- the Green Briar slow session, which goes from 7 to 9PM, is awash in sheet music, looseleaf binders, the Comhaltas books, cassette recorders, etc, etc- but when the regular session begins at 9, all those aids disappear and no sheet music is used anywhere. The denizens of the slow session (like me) often stay and play, or choose to listen.
When I regularly played in slow sessions, those who ran them referred to them as speed limit sessions. Often they constituted the first hour or two of a session evening.
I travel a fair amount and had the opportunity a few years ago to drop into the Green Briar session. I had a great time. It's really fun to visit sessions in different places and see the different atmospheres and etiquettes. The Green Briar is by far the largest session I've ever seen - there were easily 40 people the night I was there. And that was after a "super slow" session had broken off into a different room.
It's really a big challenge to start, maintain and "grow" a slow session. Kudos to Bill Firla (who I met at Gaelic Roots) and everyone who keeps that going. The regular session that follows is a very welcoming session as well. Since visiting there, I've always kept the image of that session in mind when helping to establish and guide our local session in Tucson.
My opinion on slow sessions has changed over the years.
I used to think much less of them, but I've come to believe that it's good (even important) to have a place where you can play with others, whatever your skill level. Even coddling the sheet-music crutch isn't the worst thing in the world--though it's certainly not *good* (*).
Not everybody is into playing music for the same reasons. Some people want to just play, some people want to socialize, some people want to improve, and some people want to impress. It takes all kinds, and it's important that there be a place for all. All of them have always been there, and have always exerted force on traditional music. Even the musical a$$holes (on all sides).
Still, I think the only way something bad could really come of the slow session movement is if the people who profess their lack of knowledge and experience with Irish music were to come to define it away from those who have spent their lives trying to maintain and improve it.
"The love of music does not require perfection. It waits to be surprised by it, but it does not expect it in every case"
--Garrison Keillor
... is still my favorite quote, but I would add that the love of music also expects its music to at least be taken seriously. Playing music well is difficult, but actively *trying* to play it well is *important*.
--Georgi
(*) I still firmly believe that if you can't play a tune from memory, you can't really play it.(**)
(**) I also think that memorizing a tune should be easy enough, that if you can't play it by heart, you haven't really tried to yet.
Today's Boston Globe- our local session
Today's Boston Globe- our local session
Click here to read an article in today's Sunday Boston Globe about the session at the Green Briar Pub;
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/12/23/novices_keep_it_reel/
# Posted on December 23rd 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
WOW!! Good on you- looks like fun. keep it that way! I might be in Boston in the next 6 months. Jimmy O'Brien Moran is going to be visiting prof at Boston College and he's a great teacher.
# Posted on December 23rd 2007 by I_Fel
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
"Novices keep it reel: At the Green Briar pub, where the music is nice and slow..."
It raised a smile out of me and that's a good thing. The only dread felt was seeing the sheetmusic. Why, because it is a pain in the backside to break people from that crutch. It is a crutch, it is crippling, no matter how much I might also value music notation and what it represents and can do, it isn't for a session, slow or otherwise. 'Slow' should mean you don't need the sheets in the way. Yes, it does interfere with being truly together, listening to one another and achieving that community of agreement through the music. That point made, it looks like fun, a lovely bunch of people. If we were in Boston we'd stop by for the craic, minus sheetmusic... I also understand there are some great beers being brewed in Boston...
Best of luck with your music, and may you be warmed with good company during this season of chill... It appears that is realized at this session ~ by the smiles present...
# Posted on December 23rd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
i looked in the sessions listing, couldn't find you??? did i look it up wrong?
# Posted on December 23rd 2007 by full measure
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
No, it's not there, but I've dropped Greg an email and hopefully it will be before the New Year...
# Posted on December 23rd 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
I found the tune list for the Green Briar session at http://www.slowplayers.org/BOSS/BOSS_Playlist.html. This was probably the first ever slow session which inspired so many others far and wide including the one in Monkstown, Dublin which I was involved with. I wouldn't be too hard on the people that bring the dots to slow sessions if this is what certain musicians require to get started, so long as they realise that this would be a definite "no-no" for a real session where tunes must be committed to memory. Great credit is due to Larry Reynolds who started all this in Boston so many years ago.
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by Bannerman
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
I've heard folks denegrate slow sessions, I think they are a great thing, giving people an in to the joy we all get from the session. Not everyone can be born to it, which sometimes means we take it for granted. Sometimes you need a help up, and taking things slow would benefit anyone, beginner and experienced old codger alike.
If the dots are used, to get the gist of it, then they should be put away once the playing starts up. I know some folks need it, like an addict, but part of passing on tradition should include breaking them of what I consider a 'bad habit'. I know, it can be overcome, but it is a lot harder to do so the longer someone comes to become dependant on it.
Of course I'm behind a good thing, but dot-dependancy is not a 'good thing'... Maybe we need to form DDA groups? (Dot Dependancy Anonymous)
Your right at least on that count Ban, that it should be made known that it isn't the norm in usual sessions, something some folks forget at their peril. I know one lot who wandered into a session with their sheets, and with music stands too, and in short order were approached without my 'diplomacy' (I wasn't there) and told to f'off... We never saw them again, about half a dozen folk with passion but no clue...
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
Im with "c" on this and I would just add that suggesting going "dotless" isnt anyone being "hard" on anyone at all. It is simply steering them in the right direction.
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by Sean MacOda Criobhan
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
very very nice
here is our session's website...
http://nogirishsession.com/
1st hour tune learning by ear
2nd hour slower session of tunes we've learned by ear
3rd hour is a faster pace
drinks are (and Christmas party/buffet) supplied by the generous publican
run by my friend
all in all, something to look forward to every week
cheers and Merry Christmas
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by Sunnybear
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
Here's amore information on my original post- the Green Briar slow session, which goes from 7 to 9PM, is awash in sheet music, looseleaf binders, the Comhaltas books, cassette recorders, etc, etc- but when the regular session begins at 9, all those aids disappear and no sheet music is used anywhere. The denizens of the slow session (like me) often stay and play, or choose to listen.
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
Have you added it to the 'Session' section here yet? Add the links between this and that when you do...
Nice one Sunnybear...
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
I know of someone wanting to start something similar, I'll have to send this link to them...
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by ceolachan
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
When I regularly played in slow sessions, those who ran them referred to them as speed limit sessions. Often they constituted the first hour or two of a session evening.
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by BarryM
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
I travel a fair amount and had the opportunity a few years ago to drop into the Green Briar session. I had a great time. It's really fun to visit sessions in different places and see the different atmospheres and etiquettes. The Green Briar is by far the largest session I've ever seen - there were easily 40 people the night I was there. And that was after a "super slow" session had broken off into a different room.
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by srt19170
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
It's really a big challenge to start, maintain and "grow" a slow session. Kudos to Bill Firla (who I met at Gaelic Roots) and everyone who keeps that going. The regular session that follows is a very welcoming session as well. Since visiting there, I've always kept the image of that session in mind when helping to establish and guide our local session in Tucson.
# Posted on December 24th 2007 by azfiddle
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
Hmm... Nice article.
My opinion on slow sessions has changed over the years.
I used to think much less of them, but I've come to believe that it's good (even important) to have a place where you can play with others, whatever your skill level. Even coddling the sheet-music crutch isn't the worst thing in the world--though it's certainly not *good* (*).
Not everybody is into playing music for the same reasons. Some people want to just play, some people want to socialize, some people want to improve, and some people want to impress. It takes all kinds, and it's important that there be a place for all. All of them have always been there, and have always exerted force on traditional music. Even the musical a$$holes (on all sides).
Still, I think the only way something bad could really come of the slow session movement is if the people who profess their lack of knowledge and experience with Irish music were to come to define it away from those who have spent their lives trying to maintain and improve it.
"The love of music does not require perfection. It waits to be surprised by it, but it does not expect it in every case"
--Garrison Keillor
... is still my favorite quote, but I would add that the love of music also expects its music to at least be taken seriously. Playing music well is difficult, but actively *trying* to play it well is *important*.
--Georgi
(*) I still firmly believe that if you can't play a tune from memory, you can't really play it.(**)
(**) I also think that memorizing a tune should be easy enough, that if you can't play it by heart, you haven't really tried to yet.
# Posted on December 25th 2007 by Georgi
Re: Today's Boston Globe- our local session
If you can't play it by heart ~ the heart is missing!!!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night...
# Posted on December 25th 2007 by ceolachan