We had Christmas dinner at my Gramma’s house on Sunday… it was so cool because we had a major jam session afterwards… not really celtic, but some elements of Celtic music in it— we basically did whatever the beginners could handle at their ability level. You see, it seems we’ve had a sudden explosion of interest in folk instruments in the family: my 14-yr-old cousin got a mountain dulcimer for Christmas, my 15-yr-old cousin is learning jigs on her violin, my aunt is learning whistle and getting pretty good, my 16-yr-old cousin proved to be quite good at the bodhran after I gave him a crash course, my mom just got a whisle for Christmas, and I was playing dulcimer or whistle or whatever I felt like for each tune. Is that cool or what? Just thought I’d share that with you guys because I think it’s exciting. It really IS possible to convert your whole family into folkies/trad players! =)
You’ve just discovered the fun that I’ve grown up with luckily, just in old time music though instead of celtic.
After any family dinner, my Dad, my brother and I , plus anyone so inclined that was visiting would retire to the living room to “make music”. Sometimes it was just us three, sometimes a big group, but always lots of fun. As years went by, and we grew up, we still continued to do this. Last year we lost my Dad and did not play for quiet sometime. I’m happy to say that this past Christmas my brother and I revived this tradition,right after Christmas dinner. I said the familar phrase-"Did you bring anything to play? With him on guitar, me on mandolin, then whistle- It was great fun!
WOW–that sounds like great fun! I have lots of friends who play things and we jam a lot but this is the first it’s really started to catch on with the family. You know, I really wish that was more common in America… it seems like everyone is so fixated on watching TV or going to sports events or whatever… whereas, from the stories I hear, it used to be that the common entertainment was to sit around in the evenings playing music. I wish that was common in today’s culture. But who knows, maybe if enough of us work on our families and try to get them hooked, there might be a chance to revive some of that musical recreation.
Yes, it is great fun. Me and my Grandma used to jam… I’d play Whistle, Fiddle, or Guitar, and she’d play Fiddle or Piano… lots of fun, especially when we’d get my Mom to sing or play the last Violin with us… 
Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen so much anymore, but luckily, I’m going to see if I can start a Session here in town at the local Ice Cream parlour/Chocolate shop.
My dad sings and plays guitar and I have him to thank for exposing me to music early on, but I am envious of families who play together in groups. I hope to create such a family with the next generation.
