How (much) do your progeny embrace (or not) the tradition?
How (highly) is your contribution viewed locally?
Do you care (and is it important whether you care or not in your neighbourhood, whether other locals care)?
Does anyone else actually really care, or is all your practicing purely for you?
just curious......
Not at all.
Barely.
No.
I play because that's what I do/am/need.
She knows what I play.
She realises that I play 'the music' because that's what I do and the 'locals' can go please themselves "whatever".
She's not bothered.
None of her friends are bothered either, why should they be - what is it to them? 'And can I please do my double bass practice now?'
Any more questions while I'm still partially compos mentis?
Oldest 3 all played. They play other music now, but two of them are favorably disposed to ITM and join in occasionally.
Youngest, 16 year old son is mad for the music, concertina and fiddle. He goes to every session he can and gathers his musical kid friends for sessions. Tonight's session is all Father Ted, however!
They are all better players than their old man, which was my goal (and they're good too!).
At best I am in the middle of the local musical pack, but we have a good time.
I love to practice on the front porch and my neighbors enjoy it.
My wife tolerates the madness "for the sake of the children."
My sons are 8 and 6. The 8 year old is Autistic yet loves to strum the guitar and is working on chords. He loves to sing popular songs from TV by himself but also likes to strum along with me sometimes. The 6 year old is a drummer, but more of an artist. Art is his main vocation, wacking the goat skin while Poppy fiddles will always be in the back seat to his paints, colored pencils and markers. At least I taught him to press down with his non-tipper hand to make some different sounds with the thing before I went deaf.
Locally I work with a dance troop/school and the cultural club. We're doing our bit for the culture and tradition, and with all the retired Irish Americans in Florida we're pretty treasured, which I can't thank them for enough. We have a lovely local pub that gives us free beer and loves to have us in for our weekly session.
My father tells stories of his grandmother playing tunes on the concertina, and mother remember all the songs her father sang, so they're quite happy with the situation. My father was so inspired that he picked up the whistle and is now hitting up the sessions in the St. Louis area where he lives.
I'd say the only person who didn't appreciate it all was my ex-wife.
The male child is an excellent guitar player, but more into other genres.
he can play and sing a number of "better" Irish songs, just lifted the bodhran and played it, but his main interest in the "tradition" would be "Horslips".
Our local community tend to over rate me and my colleagues, and describe us as "great, wonderful, brilliant" and all that.
That is because they care, the listeners like to keep the tradition alive, more so than some players. However many of the "new" listeners are not that clued in to the "tradition". They just like music, and many over play the "Irish" bit.
I also care, although my contribution to the "tradition" is limited in a performing way, but highly influential for arranging venues, getting players, and publicising the event, and generally keeping the tradition alive in my part of the world.
I do care about this music and I do enjoy playing it. Otherwise, I would not willingly spend so much of my free time putting energy and effort into playing at various local jam sessions.
As for how highly my contribution is viewed locally, you will have to ask the musicians whom I work with on a regular basis at the aforementioned jam sessions.
As for children, though, I have been told too many times by too many well-meaning fools who fancy themselves to be "experts" that the only thing I am good for is to raise someone else's children and not to think about trying to have any of my own as if my genetic material was worthless and should not be passed on to the next generation.
Then I met a woman who said she wanted to have my children so I married her two years ago and it has been good. No, she isn't pregnant yet despite my best efforts.
John Knoss, at a local jam session last year, myself and another bass player were there and we both have three-quarter size bass fiddles. One of the guitarists jokingly said that we had two bass players and one-and-a-half bass fiddles. Then, earlier this year, at another jam session, there two other bass players besides myself. This guitarist said that if there was one more bass player at the jam session, there would be enough bass players for the infield of a baseball (or bassball) team. I asked the guitarist which one of the bass players would be on first because none of us are named "Who?" but the guitarist had no answer.
Much like the seeds my grandparents planted deep in my grey-matter, my evil plot to slowly soak this music into the souls of my three boys seems to be taking root. My middle boy is taking to the fiddle and has begun learning a few "daddy" tunes in addition to his regular suzuki lessons. I am exposing them to all sorts of music, but I also play the part of an evangelistic preacher regarding Irish music. All three know of my fondest wish - which is to have a regular family session when I reach my reach my retirement years - so far none have laughed out loud at that dream. When they're not playing sports, they're playing music.
My daughter tells how, as chief bridesmaid at her best friends' wedding last weekend, one drunken guest kept buttonholing her to say "Your mum's american and your dad plays at the festival in the park." and wander off again.
So I guess I've made some small impression.
Thank you John Knoss, that is one of my favorite comedy routines by the late Abbott & Costello.
Despite what the guitarist said about three bass players and a baseball (or bassball) team, we let him take his turn and perform three songs.
Mabbe we should have kept "who's on first bass" more anonymous and saw if anybody else got who's on first bass!
Surely there must be, has got to be, a youtube link for it. A classic.
Puts me in mind of " how do you know what the time is" "I got it written on a piece of paper"
The life of scion
The life of scion
How (much) do your progeny embrace (or not) the tradition?
How (highly) is your contribution viewed locally?
Do you care (and is it important whether you care or not in your neighbourhood, whether other locals care)?
Does anyone else actually really care, or is all your practicing purely for you?
just curious......
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Alf Tupper
Re: The life of scion
■ 3 out of 4 can play - none do so regularly
■ Ask the locals
■ No and No!
■ Mostly for me
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Feargal French
Re: The life of scion
Not at all.
Barely.
No.
I play because that's what I do/am/need.
She knows what I play.
She realises that I play 'the music' because that's what I do and the 'locals' can go please themselves "whatever".
She's not bothered.
None of her friends are bothered either, why should they be - what is it to them? 'And can I please do my double bass practice now?'
Any more questions while I'm still partially compos mentis?
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by john knoss
Re: The life of scion
I haven't picked up an instrument in 4 months.
However I did fill in my shakey egg with sea salt in the event I decide to dine inside.
By not playing my piano accordion, I guess I'm doing the tradition a favor.
The only thing close to being inline with ITM is that I failed to pay my rent and was force to leave what I called home.
Think of it as pre-mature evacuation.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Ray Mariani
Re: The life of scion
My 12 year old likes Johnny Cash, Dock Boggs, Martin Hayes and High School Musical
My 10 year old is learning to fingerpick and likes Tomb Raider
My 7 year old will sing anything and likes rabbits.
We (not them) get paid to play in some bars and have driven the locals out of others ....
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by cStu
Re: The life of scion
Oldest 3 all played. They play other music now, but two of them are favorably disposed to ITM and join in occasionally.
Youngest, 16 year old son is mad for the music, concertina and fiddle. He goes to every session he can and gathers his musical kid friends for sessions. Tonight's session is all Father Ted, however!
They are all better players than their old man, which was my goal (and they're good too!).
At best I am in the middle of the local musical pack, but we have a good time.
I love to practice on the front porch and my neighbors enjoy it.
My wife tolerates the madness "for the sake of the children."
Dan
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by curamach
Re: The life of scion
Ah, God love you curamach, lovely. And your wife too!
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by john knoss
Re: The life of scion
My sons are 8 and 6. The 8 year old is Autistic yet loves to strum the guitar and is working on chords. He loves to sing popular songs from TV by himself but also likes to strum along with me sometimes. The 6 year old is a drummer, but more of an artist. Art is his main vocation, wacking the goat skin while Poppy fiddles will always be in the back seat to his paints, colored pencils and markers. At least I taught him to press down with his non-tipper hand to make some different sounds with the thing before I went deaf.
Locally I work with a dance troop/school and the cultural club. We're doing our bit for the culture and tradition, and with all the retired Irish Americans in Florida we're pretty treasured, which I can't thank them for enough. We have a lovely local pub that gives us free beer and loves to have us in for our weekly session.
My father tells stories of his grandmother playing tunes on the concertina, and mother remember all the songs her father sang, so they're quite happy with the situation. My father was so inspired that he picked up the whistle and is now hitting up the sessions in the St. Louis area where he lives.
I'd say the only person who didn't appreciate it all was my ex-wife.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: The life of scion
I hope Jusa Nutter chimes in, I think his eldest lad is in his first year of fiddle study.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: The life of scion
The male child is an excellent guitar player, but more into other genres.
he can play and sing a number of "better" Irish songs, just lifted the bodhran and played it, but his main interest in the "tradition" would be "Horslips".
Our local community tend to over rate me and my colleagues, and describe us as "great, wonderful, brilliant" and all that.
That is because they care, the listeners like to keep the tradition alive, more so than some players. However many of the "new" listeners are not that clued in to the "tradition". They just like music, and many over play the "Irish" bit.
I also care, although my contribution to the "tradition" is limited in a performing way, but highly influential for arranging venues, getting players, and publicising the event, and generally keeping the tradition alive in my part of the world.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by bodhran bliss
Re: The life of scion
I do care about this music and I do enjoy playing it. Otherwise, I would not willingly spend so much of my free time putting energy and effort into playing at various local jam sessions.
As for how highly my contribution is viewed locally, you will have to ask the musicians whom I work with on a regular basis at the aforementioned jam sessions.
As for children, though, I have been told too many times by too many well-meaning fools who fancy themselves to be "experts" that the only thing I am good for is to raise someone else's children and not to think about trying to have any of my own as if my genetic material was worthless and should not be passed on to the next generation.
Then I met a woman who said she wanted to have my children so I married her two years ago and it has been good. No, she isn't pregnant yet despite my best efforts.
John Knoss, at a local jam session last year, myself and another bass player were there and we both have three-quarter size bass fiddles. One of the guitarists jokingly said that we had two bass players and one-and-a-half bass fiddles. Then, earlier this year, at another jam session, there two other bass players besides myself. This guitarist said that if there was one more bass player at the jam session, there would be enough bass players for the infield of a baseball (or bassball) team. I asked the guitarist which one of the bass players would be on first because none of us are named "Who?" but the guitarist had no answer.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: The life of scion
Much like the seeds my grandparents planted deep in my grey-matter, my evil plot to slowly soak this music into the souls of my three boys seems to be taking root. My middle boy is taking to the fiddle and has begun learning a few "daddy" tunes in addition to his regular suzuki lessons. I am exposing them to all sorts of music, but I also play the part of an evangelistic preacher regarding Irish music. All three know of my fondest wish - which is to have a regular family session when I reach my reach my retirement years - so far none have laughed out loud at that dream. When they're not playing sports, they're playing music.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Jusa Nutter Eejit
Re: The life of scion
My daughter tells how, as chief bridesmaid at her best friends' wedding last weekend, one drunken guest kept buttonholing her to say "Your mum's american and your dad plays at the festival in the park." and wander off again.
So I guess I've made some small impression.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: The life of scion
Who's on first base?
Lord, haven't heard that for years...ah, it takes me back; somebody should maybe take me back.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by john knoss
Re: The life of scion
Thank you John Knoss, that is one of my favorite comedy routines by the late Abbott & Costello.
Despite what the guitarist said about three bass players and a baseball (or bassball) team, we let him take his turn and perform three songs.
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: The life of scion
My son plays metal guitar and listens to bands with names like "Three Inches of Blood."
And he say MY tunes all sound the same! Huh!
# Posted on June 23rd 2008 by grego
Re: The life of scion
Mabbe we should have kept "who's on first bass" more anonymous and saw if anybody else got who's on first bass!
Surely there must be, has got to be, a youtube link for it. A classic.
Puts me in mind of " how do you know what the time is" "I got it written on a piece of paper"
# Posted on June 25th 2008 by john knoss