I am in Year 12 at the moment at school, and as the academic year draws to a close was wondering if you had any tips on joining a group, or how to start playing with other people, because at the moment it's me myself and I !!
I have a bit more time on my hands and although I'm not going to join anything immediately, it would be great to get some advance from people who look like they know !
Go to your local Irish pubs, and find out when the next session is. Show up and talk around to the musicians there. If you know any tunes they play, join in with them.
Going to some traditional music festivals and summer schools would give you the opportunity to play in sessions.
Where do you live? Is there any kind of traditional music school in your area? If you are thinking of joining a performing group, as opposed to simply playing with others informally, this might be the kind of place to meet other young musicians and build up a musical relationship. If you already have a teacher, they might be able to put you in touch with their other pupils.
The best thing, I'd think, would be to find one other person and develop a duo repertoire. It's easier to add a third person to an existing entity than to bring three or four people together from the start, I've found. This also gives you some flexibility, which will be useful. Sometimes the gig just wants two people, and it's good to be able to say yes to anything that comes along.
what i did to get started a few years ago was just google local irish sessions in your area. you might be surprised how many ppl play irish music. if i can find a traditional irish session here in the middle of hickville, i bet you can find a close one too. especially if theres a few irish pubs where you are. a city of decent size is likely to have at least one session going on. if you can find a session, you will meet ppl who play and find out even more about the irish music scene in your area.
Once, through Cosmic Ray's imaginative insights in selling your availability as a young up and coming ITM enthusiast, you attract some like minded individuals, arrange to meet up at a house (if in the US) or a pub (anywhere else in the rest of the world with the exception of the middle east). Once settled get the instruments out.
Now for the sage advice; when the disagreements over tunes standards etc erupt and move to the vitriol and fistie cuffs (well slagging and screaming as you've got to take care of those hands) stage, then calm down and the resentment starts to boil, ask if anybody wants to go to another house/pub.
Those who come with would be the people to play with. IMO as far as groups are concerned, ability to burry the hatchet is as important as the music
You might also like to check out the St. Albans branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann http://comhaltas.ie/locations/detail/saintalbans/
They probably have regular sessions, and maybe classes or sessions for younger people. At the very least, they should be able to inform you about what traditional music is going on in the area.
How do I start playing in a group ?
How do I start playing in a group ?
Hi all,
I am in Year 12 at the moment at school, and as the academic year draws to a close was wondering if you had any tips on joining a group, or how to start playing with other people, because at the moment it's me myself and I !!
I have a bit more time on my hands and although I'm not going to join anything immediately, it would be great to get some advance from people who look like they know !
Cheers !
# Posted on May 22nd 2009 by Cill Eanach Ceol
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Go to your local Irish pubs, and find out when the next session is. Show up and talk around to the musicians there. If you know any tunes they play, join in with them.
# Posted on May 22nd 2009 by The Whistle Collector
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Find some like minded people who also want to be in a group......
# Posted on May 22nd 2009 by disillusioned
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Buying a PA system helps too.
# Posted on May 22nd 2009 by wormdiet
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Going to some traditional music festivals and summer schools would give you the opportunity to play in sessions.
Where do you live? Is there any kind of traditional music school in your area? If you are thinking of joining a performing group, as opposed to simply playing with others informally, this might be the kind of place to meet other young musicians and build up a musical relationship. If you already have a teacher, they might be able to put you in touch with their other pupils.
# Posted on May 22nd 2009 by OrganicPeatCreature
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
The best thing, I'd think, would be to find one other person and develop a duo repertoire. It's easier to add a third person to an existing entity than to bring three or four people together from the start, I've found. This also gives you some flexibility, which will be useful. Sometimes the gig just wants two people, and it's good to be able to say yes to anything that comes along.
# Posted on May 22nd 2009 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
what i did to get started a few years ago was just google local irish sessions in your area. you might be surprised how many ppl play irish music. if i can find a traditional irish session here in the middle of hickville, i bet you can find a close one too. especially if theres a few irish pubs where you are. a city of decent size is likely to have at least one session going on. if you can find a session, you will meet ppl who play and find out even more about the irish music scene in your area.
# Posted on May 22nd 2009 by hoolie
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Once, through Cosmic Ray's imaginative insights in selling your availability as a young up and coming ITM enthusiast, you attract some like minded individuals, arrange to meet up at a house (if in the US) or a pub (anywhere else in the rest of the world with the exception of the middle east). Once settled get the instruments out.
Now for the sage advice; when the disagreements over tunes standards etc erupt and move to the vitriol and fistie cuffs (well slagging and screaming as you've got to take care of those hands) stage, then calm down and the resentment starts to boil, ask if anybody wants to go to another house/pub.
Those who come with would be the people to play with. IMO as far as groups are concerned, ability to burry the hatchet is as important as the music
# Posted on May 23rd 2009 by Solidmahog
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Chamber orchestra in a hospital?, you're potty.
# Posted on May 23rd 2009 by mcknowall
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Yeh, I'm in the Watford / Rickmansworth area - although know of no ITM venues or gigs to start having a nose around !
So at the moment, the pot threatening idea of Cosmic Ray's is the forerunner !
# Posted on May 23rd 2009 by Cill Eanach Ceol
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
Are you a minority member of any kind?
Perhaps enforced integration/affirmative action is one answer for your predicament.
Every band should, by law, have at least one woman, one alternative lifestyler, one person of color, one pagan, etc. etc. etc.
And a bodhran player.
Good luck.
# Posted on May 23rd 2009 by Rook
Re: How do I start playing in a group ?
"I'm in the Watford / Rickmansworth area - although know of no ITM venues or gigs to start having a nose around !"
Perhaps you could persuade your folks to take you down to the Crown in Cricklewood on Sunday afternoons - straight down the M1 http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/1261
You might also like to check out the St. Albans branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
http://comhaltas.ie/locations/detail/saintalbans/
They probably have regular sessions, and maybe classes or sessions for younger people. At the very least, they should be able to inform you about what traditional music is going on in the area.
# Posted on May 23rd 2009 by OrganicPeatCreature