I finally mustered the courage to go to my first real session last night. By “real”, I mean one in which I actually played something instead of just sitting in. I’ve been learning to play the whistle for around 9 months now, so I thought this would be a good time to see how I would do in a session.
I should say it was an amazing experience !! The people at the session were very friendly and welcoming and they even invited me to lead with tunes that I know! There were people there who’ve been playing forever. In all, it was an inspiring and humbling (I knew such few tunes!) experience and I’m glad that I went. I’m surely going to go to more sessions in the future.
On a couple of occassions, I started a tune, but didn’t have another to follow it up with. I was wondering how people decide which jig/reel to play next in a set. Is it the beat or the tune that decides what comes next?
Nash, no two sessions are the same. It really depends on the age and experience of the more senior members. People who have played for dancers for years will have their own favourite combinations, and the rest of the session will follow their lead. Newer players will often copy combinations from albums or books, e.g. the first two double jigs in CRE I are often played together.
Also, you need to be familiar with how individual tunes are played, e.g. some reels are played fast, some slow, and this is almost never written down in the books, so you have to pick it up listening to more experienced players. That’s usually how you will begin to learn what goes with what.
There are no hard and fast rules. You may wander into a different session and find everything reversed. Go with the flow.
I think what’s important is to play tunes of same “type” in your set. If you start with a jig, combine the tune with other jigs.
Also, you need to avoid playing a set of tune that are all in the same key, it might be “boring” to hear a whole set in D for example, but there are exceptions as many tunes are very original and fit nicely with other tunes of the same key.
I would avoid playing “hardcoded” sets too much. The worse thing ever is to always hear someone play the same three tunes together, always, ever. It’s better to try and learn to improvise on what you can put next. But it’s also fun to play known sets also, you just need balance.
As for the rest, it’s a matter of feelings. Try different combinations at home and try to see if it makes a nice tune switch. Sometimes you could say “wow, that tune goes pretty well into that one” and remember that and play that next time. This is what’s so great about irish music, you can be creative and use your imagination, up to a certain degree.
!! The people at the session were very friendly and welcoming and they even invited me to lead with tunes that I know! There were people there who’ve been playing forever. In all, it was an inspiring and humbling (I knew such few tunes!) experience and I’m glad that I went. I’m surely going to go to more sessions in the future.