I just received a copy of this… a DVD/CDROM/Booklet combo pack perfect for whistlers/fluters and any other beginning muso who fancies playing in a session without actually playing in a session…
What a nifty idea. On the DVD, you can pick a tune, decide whether to play along with the entire band, or eliminate one of the players and take their part. On the CDROM, you can fade out the main melody instrument and just keep the backing rhythm guitar and bodhran. You can also select a “set” and play along with that too.
The booklet contains the dots (as does the CDROM) and the following tunes are in the pack:
Jigs: Out on the ocean, the rambling pitchfork, pay the reckoning
Slip Jigs: A fig for a kiss, Willie Clancy’s
Hornpipes: The Home Ruler, Kitty’s Wedding
Reels: Coleman’s, the Congress reel, The Virginia reel
Scottish tunes: The laird of Drumblair, St,=. Kilda wedding
Breton tunes: Marche, Ton Simpi
Song: Star of the County Down
Polkas: Ryan’s, Polka#2, Paul Lander’s
The band is “The Sturdy Beggars”.
Really rather splendid for those who can’t find a real session locally, or are nervous about playing with “live” musicians first time out (the DVD or CD doesn’t care if you make a right bollix of a tune!).
I shall be trying mine out this very night, methinks.
This is entirely too cool. The description says that when you take out an instrument, the player
goes to the bar or answers a cell phone call. It seems the makers really wanted to keep a
real session feel.
I’m definately getting this when the US$ is not in the toilet.
What a great idea! Me and my husband used to play along with the BBC
“session” when we couldn’t carry a tune between us - this sounds even
better.
In fact - I’d love to have something like that to practice my tunes with.
More interesting than solo at home. Too bad you can’t punch in your own
tunes. I don’t think it would replace a session. It sounds like a really fun
way to practice.
Which bit of all this are you having such trouble grasping, oleo?
Which bit of all this makes you feel obliged to troll in such fashion?
My local is five minutes away. It’s a sports bar, big TVs, lots of football, no music. If I sit there in the corner on my own playing a whistle, does that qualify as a “session” according to you? I don’t think so.
See, the whole point of this tutor pack thing is to allow folks to play (or indeed practice) with other musicians when there aren’t any other musicians to play or practice with. And also for novices to practice and build up their skills without embarrassment and without upsetting “live” players. Later, with skills and confidence bolstered, IF there are real live sessions nearby, it won’t be so daunting for them to attend.
This sounds great, Gary! As far as I know there’s not a session within a 3-hour drive here. Plus, given some comments on acceptable session behavior, I’m not real sure I’m missing much by not having any near. Thanks for the link - it’s definitely worth a look in my book.
I downloaded the trial CDROM version to see what the limitations of the demo are, and it does have a downside… the individual tunes are disabled, but the full set of Reels and Polkas is functional (and Norcal, yes, you can fade down the bodhran and replace that). Most people will probably just fade down the bodhran player anyway.
Of course, it is a limited ‘trial’ version after all. And it’s not the DVD, where you get to see the band playing (and replace the various players). But it does give you a good idea of what’s on the CD and how to use it.
Note to our US friends… the DVD is in PAL format, which’ll be fine on PCs fitted with DVD rom drives but I can’t see an NTSC version on their website.
But surely you tried things out in private before launching yourself upon an unsuspecting world, Oleo?
Gary, great link, thanks. Anything that helps people to play music in a group environment, whether live or alongside virtual musicians, is to be applauded.
I’m still trying to get my head round the idea of session porn. At least it’s something for us dieters to do while the rest of the session are eating the free hot sausage rolls.
quick question for all ye merry Mac owners (of which I am as well). If the system requirements said this:
Power Mac running OS 8.6 to 9.2 66mb Ram
Does it mean that if I am running OS X that I can’t use this program? I know that this is more than likely blatantly obvious, but I’m just checking anyway. TIA!
Most likely, if you have a newish Mac, running X.whatever, when you launch a program such as that one, it will open the “classic” desktop. OS X generally includes provisions to run OS 9 programs, and it will tell you that it’s “now launching the classic environment.”
I think that whole deal is a pain in the rear, but I guess it’s better than being completely shut out.
GASP 
) Bodhran as well?
Thanks for the link - it’s definitely worth a look in my book.
