Blog - occasional, random thoughts on music - July 2015
The joy of sessions
15.7.2015
There are many ways to make music - at home by yourself, in a friend's house, at a folk club, in a singaround, or as a paid performer. All of these have their attractions - particularly getting a bit of hard cash for something you enjoy doing - but there's something very special about a good session. I suppose, to begin with, I ought to define what I call a session. There are many kinds of session but, as a rule, it consist of a group of musicians who gather together informally to make music. There might be a session leader or "chair" who organises the evening and makes sure, for example, that everyone gets their chance to lead off on or choose a song or tune. Sessions may be completely instrumental, or may be a mixture of tunes and songs. Unless indicated, all who can join in usually do join in. Some sessions concentrate on tunes from a particular country, such as England, Ireland, Scotland or France. They're usually held in a pub, and it's important to remember that the musicians are intent on playing for themselves, not for the pub punters - although it's always a bonus when the punters like the music.
Why do I like sessions? Many reasons:
To get the most from a session - and to bring of your best to a session, some simple rules are worth bearing in mind:
15.7.2015
There are many ways to make music - at home by yourself, in a friend's house, at a folk club, in a singaround, or as a paid performer. All of these have their attractions - particularly getting a bit of hard cash for something you enjoy doing - but there's something very special about a good session. I suppose, to begin with, I ought to define what I call a session. There are many kinds of session but, as a rule, it consist of a group of musicians who gather together informally to make music. There might be a session leader or "chair" who organises the evening and makes sure, for example, that everyone gets their chance to lead off on or choose a song or tune. Sessions may be completely instrumental, or may be a mixture of tunes and songs. Unless indicated, all who can join in usually do join in. Some sessions concentrate on tunes from a particular country, such as England, Ireland, Scotland or France. They're usually held in a pub, and it's important to remember that the musicians are intent on playing for themselves, not for the pub punters - although it's always a bonus when the punters like the music.
Why do I like sessions? Many reasons:
- there's always something new to learn
- there's always someone there to learn from
- the standard of playing can be very high
- players in good sessions are usually very welcoming and accommodating
- you get the chance to play all evening, not just when it's "your" turn
- a nice, eclectic session (my favourite) can bring all sorts of music to the evening
To get the most from a session - and to bring of your best to a session, some simple rules are worth bearing in mind:
- if you're new to the session, introduce yourself and make the effort to say hello
- don't just butt in without being welcomed in
- before diving in, take a moment or two, or a tune or two, to "get" the style and atmosphere
- don't try and hog the limelight - fit in with what's going on - add, rather than dominate
- play with sensitivity to what's going on around you
- if you're unsure of a tune, play very quietly until you're confident of the chords/melody
- when it's your turn to lead off, give others the name(s) and key(s) of your tune(s)
