Irish Session

[Gretchen Priest-May]

We had a great Irish session with a bunch of new comers last night. I was trying to get some input from them. Some new pickers that came were Francis Cunningham, Jennifer Halenar, Banjo Tom Saffell, Tom Morley. Tom from the band "Mithril" brought with him family and friends...We like having those spectators, they made it fun for the musicians!

There are several advanced players that want the Irish session to be weekly. One idea is Mon nights could be when we might have it. With the new "Rowdy Room" in the back, we could do it because on Mon nights we also have Irish Set dancing series with Julie Buzzell which is in the Great Room. This could help build the Irish Scene. Also if this would be the night for the advanced session, it would also be able to combine and play for the Set dancers at a Ceili Party at the end of their 6 or 8 week series. (FYI; set dance usually has a 6 or 8 week series, then a break for a couple weeks before a new series)

Also another session meets in another part of town on Mon nights. The Irish slow session meets at the Cohn Adult learning Center on Charlotte Pike hosted by Rich Moore . A fast session would not conflict with that. With the Irish scene being so small, I don't want to conflict with what others efforts they have organized. Are there any other sessions that I should know about?

There were some key players that wanted to keep the session on Saturdays, 4-6:30. I am thinking that even if we add the fast advanced session on Mon nights 7:00-9:00, that we should keep the regular inclusive session on the 1st and 3rd Sat. This is not a slow jam

Also we still have learn a tune night "phrase at a time" on the 2nd and 4th Tues of the month. We teach old time and Irish tunes. I always am open to having new hosts to teach a tune they know.

We also are starting to gather the names of tunes we are playing at the session. Julie Mavity Hudson, Bob Gordon and maybe others have been writing them down. I would like to compile a list. Perhaps on our site we can start our own list. Some of the tunes are tired and may not be desirable on Mon nights. I am feeling out the Irish community on what they want. This is not about what I want. All I want is to build the Irish scene and make all the folks happy. I would like spectators to come in and enjoy this great music. Maybe sign up for lessons, dance or camp. Maybe attend a show they found out by coming to a session the MHC at the F&P. I want to get wireless internet and the coffee bar going which could be great for the Sat session spectators. Would like your input.

Also issues of Irish session etiquette come up quite often. As an owner, I don't want the role of being the enforcer of the rules of Irish Session etiquette. I am all for it; but I need some help from the session folks. Can all of you send me your list of guidelines that I could post on the site, and up at the session and even hand them out when new people come. Franko had some good points well taken. Please give me the guidelines that you feel are standard. Perhaps the guidelines are different for advanced sessions than for slower sessions.

[Gretchen Priest-May]

From Julie Mavity-Hudson

"Gretchen has asked me to post the following Monday "Advanced" (or maybe
"not beginner" is a better term) Sessions at the Fiddle and Pick at
7:30. Of course everyone can come and listen, and jump in on tunes they
know well. Rhythm instruments take turns, only one bhodran plays at a
time, stuff like that. You might hear some new tunes to learn. (these
are the 2nd and 4th Mondays in case you can't figure that out : )

February 23
March 9, 23
April 13, 27
May 11
Closed Memorial Day Weekend
June TBA

The Saturday sessions will continue on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 4
p.m.
"

[Eddy Hudson and Julie Mavity-Hudson]

Hope to see some folks at the Monday Advanced Session this week.
Julie

[Franko]

We are on for tonight! Gretchen, Ron and I will definitely be there, 7-9PM. This is the advanced session, where we expect those that come to follow session etiquette as mentioned above as closely as possible.

Here is the list of tunes that Julie compiled from the inclusive session on Jan 3rd:

"Gretchen asked me to keep a list of the tunes we played at the session yesterday. Here it is. I marked the ones that only a few people knew with (new).
Julie

Session list
Old Copper Plate
The Reel of Rio/Miss Monaghan's Reel (both new)
Kerfunken/Out On the Ocean
Jackie Tar/Swinging on a Gate
Behind the Bush in the Garden
Fig for a Kiss/Butterfly/Black Haired Lass/Kid on the Mountain/
Musical Priest/Earl's Chair
Star of the County Down
Cararoe jig (new)/Cowboy Jig (kind of new)
Maid in the Meadow (New)/Walls of Liscarrol
Drover Lads/Jig of Slurs
Maid Behindbthe Bar/Siver Spear
Knockin About/John Eagens/Scartaglen
MollyPut the Kettle On/Stenson's # 2 (both new)
Temperence/Swinging on a Gate
Conoughtman's Rambles/My Darling Asleep/Rose in the Heather
Pinch of Snuff
Cooleys/Star of Muenster
Cup of Tea/Jenny's Chickens
Maggie in the Woods/Bill Sullivan's
Lilting Banshee
Scatter the Mud
Banshees Wail Over the Mangle Pits (new)"

I expect plenty more tunes than that we be at the sessions (both Mondays and Saturdays).

Peace y'all, Franko

[Ken Roberts]

Session etiquette really boils down to common sense, courtesy and respect. A good resource for specific suggestions about etiquette has been compiled by Jack Gilder, a concertina and flute player in San Francisco. It's online at http://pweb.jps.net/~jgilder/seisiun.html. You can find a lot of other examples around the web s well.

Concerning tune lists and repertoire our little Irish music school in Cincinnati, OH, has gathered a substintial library of tunes for teaching and learning over the years. There are near dance tempo recordings of many common session tunes as well as much slower versions for learning. http://www.rileyirishmusic.com/modules/content/index.php?id=14.