ok, there are so many sessions on around the country (except i cant find any) .... but what is the procedure? do you arrange with friends to go... can you just turn up and join in with the others there? do you have to be with the group??
Ah its easy really. In general people at sessions are extremely welcoming.
If you just turn up with your instrument in hand. Dont expect to play but in general if they see you with an instrument you will be invited to join.. unless its a paid gig in which case they may not invite you.
If you have friends who play you could just start your own session.
Please bear in mind though... if you dont know the tune.. dont play the tune.
I don't know which session(s) are closest to you. I know you;re UK-based. I'm in Ross-on-Wye. If you're ever over this way and want to join in a session, e-mail me, and I'll introduce you to the peeps.
My suggestion as a "Struggler" myself would be to attend a few sessions as a "Punter" get a feel for the land and observe the session etiquette involved first before joining in as a player.
I think it's important to start to play with other people as soon as you can. Best is another beginner who can work things out with you as you go. Or a friendly musically-accomplished neighbor. It's a treat to play with people- and the sooner you get rhythms and tunes into your head the better off you will be.
If you do get to an established session use your head and be modest about being a forceful voice until you can push things along.
It doesn't happen overnight but it will happen.
Best thing to do is to buy yourself a good quality shakey egg, find out where musicians like Karen Ryan or Kane O'Rourke are playing, ie those who might be up to scratch on them vyolins an' 'at, to be up to scratch and good enough to hang onto your complex rhythmic output, with a few of them twiddly diddly fiddle tunes accompanying your genius outpourings.
I'm a mean old idiot, please forgive me and don't take me too seriously - no-one else does. Just get at least a handful of tunes on your chosen instrument, up to the stage of being playable. Join in with the other players on those tunes that you know. At some point in your development you may want to lead a tune or two. Do it only when you feel ready. In fact the watchword of all of this is do it when YOU feel ready. Don't force the pace. Keep it steady.
Many beginners like to bring small recording devises to sessions- this can help in learning the local repertoire. ALWAYS ask before pulling out you recorder though.
Take your time- unless you are just in town for a short visit, expect to take months before you are able to really fit into your local sessions way of playing the tunes. Many well meaning beginners let their enthusiasm get the better of them, because they really want to be a part of this great music, and have trouble understanding why people act "unfriendly".
Listen, listen and then listen some more.
If a 'session' is actually a group doing a paid gig, you may well learn some tunes there, but they won't like you joining in. A proper session should be welcoming to anyone. Just remember you will have to ease yourself in as you learn the tunes.
PS; a brief biog. not needing full personal details, but at least giving a general area, experience, instruments played, etc., is always handy. Fictional embellishments can also be fun.
I played piano at the local session for two or three years before I first tried participating in another session out-of-state in Wichita, Kansas.
Before I went to Wichita, I sent an e-mail message to the person-in-charge of this session to ask whether or not a piano player such as myself was welcome to join them.
Since then, I have participated in other sessions in other states. When it was possible to contact someone ahead of time to ask whether or not I would be welcome to participate in an out-of-state session, I have done so. Sometimes people were nice enough to reply and sometimes they ignored the message.
There has been only one occasion when I was told no that I wasn't welcome to join them.
the most welcoming session for beginners is the blythe hill tavern on a thursday.
they like a slow leisurely pace, and stick to tunes like bird in the bush etc - stuff most people know.
they also like the odd daniel odonnell song.
they particularly look forward to meeting guitar and bodhran players, as they dont have any regulars down there on these instruments.
Murph is right - you have to be patient and think in terms of years to
get up to speed.
P. Boyle - so it goes like this I guess:
punter -> struggler -> improver -> inner circle -> punter, leaning on
the bar because the session is going to the dogs
joining in at sessions.....
joining in at sessions.....
ok, there are so many sessions on around the country (except i cant find any) .... but what is the procedure? do you arrange with friends to go... can you just turn up and join in with the others there? do you have to be with the group??
thanks
danielle
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by She moved through the fair
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Ah its easy really. In general people at sessions are extremely welcoming.
If you just turn up with your instrument in hand. Dont expect to play but in general if they see you with an instrument you will be invited to join.. unless its a paid gig in which case they may not invite you.
If you have friends who play you could just start your own session.
Please bear in mind though... if you dont know the tune.. dont play the tune.
Have fun.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by session savage
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Thank you for your reply. I'd better get learning all the tunes then
!!!!!!
Danielle
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by She moved through the fair
Re: joining in at sessions.....
I don't know which session(s) are closest to you. I know you;re UK-based. I'm in Ross-on-Wye. If you're ever over this way and want to join in a session, e-mail me, and I'll introduce you to the peeps.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by ethical blend
Re: joining in at sessions.....
My suggestion as a "Struggler" myself would be to attend a few sessions as a "Punter" get a feel for the land and observe the session etiquette involved first before joining in as a player.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Cape Cod Struggler
Re: joining in at sessions.....
I think it's important to start to play with other people as soon as you can. Best is another beginner who can work things out with you as you go. Or a friendly musically-accomplished neighbor. It's a treat to play with people- and the sooner you get rhythms and tunes into your head the better off you will be.
If you do get to an established session use your head and be modest about being a forceful voice until you can push things along.
It doesn't happen overnight but it will happen.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by David Levine
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Best to have a few tunes under your belt first although if you have a drum or are a strummer you can get stuck in straight away.. :-p
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Johnny Jay
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Sorry, I meant
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Johnny Jay
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Best thing to do is to buy yourself a good quality shakey egg, find out where musicians like Karen Ryan or Kane O'Rourke are playing, ie those who might be up to scratch on them vyolins an' 'at, to be up to scratch and good enough to hang onto your complex rhythmic output, with a few of them twiddly diddly fiddle tunes accompanying your genius outpourings.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: joining in at sessions.....
I'm a mean old idiot, please forgive me and don't take me too seriously - no-one else does. Just get at least a handful of tunes on your chosen instrument, up to the stage of being playable. Join in with the other players on those tunes that you know. At some point in your development you may want to lead a tune or two. Do it only when you feel ready. In fact the watchword of all of this is do it when YOU feel ready. Don't force the pace. Keep it steady.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Rudall the time
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Many beginners like to bring small recording devises to sessions- this can help in learning the local repertoire. ALWAYS ask before pulling out you recorder though.
Take your time- unless you are just in town for a short visit, expect to take months before you are able to really fit into your local sessions way of playing the tunes. Many well meaning beginners let their enthusiasm get the better of them, because they really want to be a part of this great music, and have trouble understanding why people act "unfriendly".
Listen, listen and then listen some more.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Murph
Re: joining in at sessions.....
If a 'session' is actually a group doing a paid gig, you may well learn some tunes there, but they won't like you joining in. A proper session should be welcoming to anyone. Just remember you will have to ease yourself in as you learn the tunes.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: joining in at sessions.....
PS; a brief biog. not needing full personal details, but at least giving a general area, experience, instruments played, etc., is always handy. Fictional embellishments can also be fun.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by Guernsey Pete
Re: joining in at sessions.....
I played piano at the local session for two or three years before I first tried participating in another session out-of-state in Wichita, Kansas.
Before I went to Wichita, I sent an e-mail message to the person-in-charge of this session to ask whether or not a piano player such as myself was welcome to join them.
Since then, I have participated in other sessions in other states. When it was possible to contact someone ahead of time to ask whether or not I would be welcome to participate in an out-of-state session, I have done so. Sometimes people were nice enough to reply and sometimes they ignored the message.
There has been only one occasion when I was told no that I wasn't welcome to join them.
# Posted on October 22nd 2008 by fauxcelt
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Hi Danielle
I think you're in the uk,
if you ever get to london,
the most welcoming session for beginners is the blythe hill tavern on a thursday.
they like a slow leisurely pace, and stick to tunes like bird in the bush etc - stuff most people know.
they also like the odd daniel odonnell song.
they particularly look forward to meeting guitar and bodhran players, as they dont have any regulars down there on these instruments.
good luck,
Blimp
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by blimp
Re: joining in at sessions.....
Murph is right - you have to be patient and think in terms of years to
get up to speed.
P. Boyle - so it goes like this I guess:
punter -> struggler -> improver -> inner circle -> punter, leaning on
the bar because the session is going to the dogs
# Posted on October 23rd 2008 by Hup
Re: joining in at sessions.....
yeah im in buckinghamshire (about an hour from london, so fairly convenient)
i've a load of tunes from playing the fiddle, its just a sod converting them to flute at speed. getting there though!!
thank you for your replies. i'll be looking forward to maybe playing along side some of you in the future
Danielle
# Posted on October 24th 2008 by She moved through the fair