Hey! My name is Hannes, and i've recently moved to london.
I play the Tin whistle, and have been playing it for a couple of years. The thing is; i have never played with anyone before, and even though i have played the whislte for quiet some time, i do not know more than perhaps 10 songs.
I am wondering if anybody would know a place, or someone who would like to play (iguess joining a session would be good, but im affraid i would be too 'crappy' to join).
Maybe there are more 'beginers' out there?
another issue is location, im a student and dont have loads of cash waiting to be spent on transport. i live around bethnal green. It would be awsome to find some nice people to just play for fun with, and perhaps busk around with.
maybe im expecting too much, but hey; if you don't check, u'll never know iguess.
Hello Hannes,
Welcome to the session. If you look at the sessions listings you might find some sessions near where you stay. Perhaps the best thing is to go along and listen at first
Good luck
Ged
Hannes - i notice that there is a recently posted (so presumably still active) session in Bethnal Green http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/2932
Go along and check it out. As Ged says, don't go expecting to play the first time - have a listen to get an idea of the repertoire, the standard, how welcoming they are likely to be to a beginner etc. But, as you play a small instrument, you could always have it in your inside pocket, just in case.
If you've got the time and the patience, you could look through all the sessions listed for London (putting 'London' in the State/Province/County/Region field) and pick out the ones that are nearest to where you live. But before you go along, best to email the session poster or someone that has posted a comment, to check that the session is still going. You could also find out a bit more about the session that way.
Try not to get discouraged by some of the unhelpful posts on this forum, like the first reply above, for example.
I am not far off being a beginner myself but was fortunate to find some players who were better than me, but prepared to start up a regular session. Making the initial contact is the hardest step but you have come to the right place.
Hmm, I would say there is only one unhelpful answer, the others seem quite sensible. Case the joint for a few weeks. Have a wee drink, if the standard is obviously too high for you simply ask if they know any beginners sessions. Most players are friendly and helpful if you don't pee on their chips.
"I play the Tin whistle, and have been playing it for a couple of years."
>> Do you read music yet? While far from indispensible in ITM (the ear is better to cultivate), it is a VERY handy asset for learning, even if only occasionally. It is the rusty old flashlight I keep in my tool box, always there when I need it.
"The thing is; i have never played with anyone before, and even though i have played the whislte for quiet some time, i do not know more than perhaps 10 songs."
>> Building a modest repertoire of common beginner tunes is really priceless for jamming in any musical style. Start yours today, if not yesterday. Beginner tunelists are available (plenty of them) at this site.
"I am wondering if anybody would know a place, or someone who would like to play (iguess joining a session would be good, but im affraid i would be too 'crappy' to join).
Maybe there are more 'beginers' out there?"
>> I would venture to suggest that what you really need is to meet some well-minded experienced trad players and start making friends. Play a bit with them and they can likely advise you when you are ready to make the jump to an open session, perhaps even bring you along to one. Beginners can have fun together (there are even such thing as "beginner sessions", but the ones I have observed have usually had a more experienced hand guiding them.
"another issue is location, im a student and dont have loads of cash waiting to be spent on transport. i live around bethnal green. It would be awsome to find some nice people to just play for fun with, and perhaps busk around with."
>>See all the above. Go about it the right way, depending on what you actually want to do (doodle, jam a bit, develop as a traditonal player, win the Fleadh in 2012, turn professional, etc. etc. etc.)
With this music, my observation has been -
You won't GET RICH, but you will find yourself ENRICHED.
"maybe im expecting too much, but hey; if you don't check, u'll never know iguess."
>> I believe, Hannes, that if you search in all of London, you might just find perhaps one or two other people who like to play Irish Traditional Music with other people, perhaps even publicly, even pubs and parks.
Accomplished ones, too, if I recall.
Best of Luck.
See you on Youtube under,
"Bright New Stars Of ITM".
Wow.. I just have to say that i'm amazed how almost all your replies are taking my question "serious", and write some helpful and kind suggestions.
I will most definetely check this local session out, and keep trying to find others. Good idea to check it out a-bit before trying to join in right on the spot.
I'll check out the common tunes that you've mentioned and build up a repetoire from them!
Superb forum.
Thank you all very much, i got really motivated now!
The good thing about a whistle is that it is relatively easy to keep concealed if you decide you do not want to take it out and play for whatever reason, whilst checking out a new session.
I still can't work out why newbies call tunes songs, but it's a common mistake, like how people can misspell my names, so I'm used to it.
Beware - you may find the sessions so addictive that all available funds are spent travelling to these sources of pleasure.
Good luck !
"beginner" in London, wanna play.
"beginner" in London, wanna play.
Hey! My name is Hannes, and i've recently moved to london.
I play the Tin whistle, and have been playing it for a couple of years. The thing is; i have never played with anyone before, and even though i have played the whislte for quiet some time, i do not know more than perhaps 10 songs.
I am wondering if anybody would know a place, or someone who would like to play (iguess joining a session would be good, but im affraid i would be too 'crappy' to join).
Maybe there are more 'beginers' out there?
another issue is location, im a student and dont have loads of cash waiting to be spent on transport. i live around bethnal green. It would be awsome to find some nice people to just play for fun with, and perhaps busk around with.
maybe im expecting too much, but hey; if you don't check, u'll never know iguess.
Thanks a lot! / Hannes
# Posted on September 25th 2011 by ollebrevid
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
Songs are not played at sessions,you will need tunes.
# Posted on September 26th 2011 by gooseinthenettles
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
Hello Hannes,
Welcome to the session. If you look at the sessions listings you might find some sessions near where you stay. Perhaps the best thing is to go along and listen at first
Good luck
Ged
# Posted on September 26th 2011 by gedpipes
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
Hannes - i notice that there is a recently posted (so presumably still active) session in Bethnal Green http://www.thesession.org/sessions/display/2932
Go along and check it out. As Ged says, don't go expecting to play the first time - have a listen to get an idea of the repertoire, the standard, how welcoming they are likely to be to a beginner etc. But, as you play a small instrument, you could always have it in your inside pocket, just in case.
If you've got the time and the patience, you could look through all the sessions listed for London (putting 'London' in the State/Province/County/Region field) and pick out the ones that are nearest to where you live. But before you go along, best to email the session poster or someone that has posted a comment, to check that the session is still going. You could also find out a bit more about the session that way.
# Posted on September 26th 2011 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
Try not to get discouraged by some of the unhelpful posts on this forum, like the first reply above, for example.
I am not far off being a beginner myself but was fortunate to find some players who were better than me, but prepared to start up a regular session. Making the initial contact is the hardest step but you have come to the right place.
# Posted on September 26th 2011 by harmonic miner
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
I was a beginner when I started. You get over it.
# Posted on September 26th 2011 by Jon Kiparsky
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
Hmm, I would say there is only one unhelpful answer, the others seem quite sensible. Case the joint for a few weeks. Have a wee drink, if the standard is obviously too high for you simply ask if they know any beginners sessions. Most players are friendly and helpful if you don't pee on their chips.
# Posted on September 26th 2011 by Minerva McGonagall
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
I agree there is only one unhelpful answer.
# Posted on September 27th 2011 by harmonic miner
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
Welcome, Hannes -
"I play the Tin whistle, and have been playing it for a couple of years."
>> Do you read music yet? While far from indispensible in ITM (the ear is better to cultivate), it is a VERY handy asset for learning, even if only occasionally. It is the rusty old flashlight I keep in my tool box, always there when I need it.
"The thing is; i have never played with anyone before, and even though i have played the whislte for quiet some time, i do not know more than perhaps 10 songs."
>> Building a modest repertoire of common beginner tunes is really priceless for jamming in any musical style. Start yours today, if not yesterday. Beginner tunelists are available (plenty of them) at this site.
"I am wondering if anybody would know a place, or someone who would like to play (iguess joining a session would be good, but im affraid i would be too 'crappy' to join).
Maybe there are more 'beginers' out there?"
>> I would venture to suggest that what you really need is to meet some well-minded experienced trad players and start making friends. Play a bit with them and they can likely advise you when you are ready to make the jump to an open session, perhaps even bring you along to one. Beginners can have fun together (there are even such thing as "beginner sessions", but the ones I have observed have usually had a more experienced hand guiding them.
"another issue is location, im a student and dont have loads of cash waiting to be spent on transport. i live around bethnal green. It would be awsome to find some nice people to just play for fun with, and perhaps busk around with."
>>See all the above. Go about it the right way, depending on what you actually want to do (doodle, jam a bit, develop as a traditonal player, win the Fleadh in 2012, turn professional, etc. etc. etc.)
With this music, my observation has been -
You won't GET RICH, but you will find yourself ENRICHED.
"maybe im expecting too much, but hey; if you don't check, u'll never know iguess."
>> I believe, Hannes, that if you search in all of London, you might just find perhaps one or two other people who like to play Irish Traditional Music with other people, perhaps even publicly, even pubs and parks.
Accomplished ones, too, if I recall.
Best of Luck.
See you on Youtube under,
"Bright New Stars Of ITM".
# Posted on September 27th 2011 by Piece
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
Wow.. I just have to say that i'm amazed how almost all your replies are taking my question "serious", and write some helpful and kind suggestions.
I will most definetely check this local session out, and keep trying to find others. Good idea to check it out a-bit before trying to join in right on the spot.
I'll check out the common tunes that you've mentioned and build up a repetoire from them!
Superb forum.
Thank you all very much, i got really motivated now!
# Posted on September 27th 2011 by ollebrevid
Re: "beginner" in London, wanna play.
The good thing about a whistle is that it is relatively easy to keep concealed if you decide you do not want to take it out and play for whatever reason, whilst checking out a new session.
I still can't work out why newbies call tunes songs, but it's a common mistake, like how people can misspell my names, so I'm used to it.
Beware - you may find the sessions so addictive that all available funds are spent travelling to these sources of pleasure.
Good luck !
# Posted on October 4th 2011 by Guernsey Pete