I just have to tell you all about my first session. I mean who else can I tell. Molly is still to ticked off at me for not getting fed till after midnight last night and Hank, well, he never listens to me anyway. So;first of all my old truck made it there and back again. After attending an afternoon matinae of The Two Towers I sat down to a steaming bowl of Irish stew and waited for the session to begin. I struck up a conversation with one of the 3 whistlers that was going to be playing and asked her if she would mind playing my magic Gen D. Whitch she did as did all 3 of the whistlers So I never got a chance to embaris my self in that vane. When the music started I was ordered to sit with the players. So I grabed a couple of spoons and joined in. Lets see there were 5 violins, 3 guitars, 2 budrans, 2 acordians, 3 whistle players, 1 mandolin and one of the whistle players played the flute. After a tune or two I was handed a very loud set of hinged spoons and a guinness and I was in heaven. My mother taught me how to play the spoons when I was a kid and I never took them two seriously but I did last night. What a total blast. The whistles were not at all what I expected. One was a totaly distroyed bent up smashed and nailed Shaw, a new Clarke tweaked D and the flute player played a beauatiful Rose.
The one thing I noticed right away was that the whistles could not be herd at all. And these people were very good whistle players.
This was the most fun I have had in along time. Great people. I dont know what it is about Irish music and the people that play it but if they ruled the world it would truely be a wounderful place. Next time Im taking my guitar and a couple of extra whistles. Hey if I couldn`t hear the whistles then nobody will here me either. Perfect.
Oh there were also two truely discusdingly cute 3 or 4 year olds who danced all night to every tune in a way that was just to perfect for words.
Did I injoy myself? 
Tom
Congrats, Tom! Its always so wonderful to catch that enthusiasm of a new sessioneer!
Hey, first session of the new year for me, and it should be a ripping good one, as we had two weeks off, and our fiddler is just back from Ireland so he’s going to be pumped. Maybe I’ll just go and listen tonight.
Nah!
Reminder for the CT people, City Steam in Hartford, 7:30 to 10. . .every Wednesday.
Spoons!?!?! I’ll bet even I could master spoons (and there are probably no rolls in spoon music, either). I remembered you were going to a session last night, Tom, and hoped you were enjoying yourself. It sounds like it was all that and more!
Susan
I’ve not been playing enough recently. That’s one of the new years resolutions, to make more time for music, and Tom, your description of a great session makes me even more resolved!
p.s. Must get myself out to the Two Towers soon, too.
That’s great, Tom!
Wish I’d been there… [wistful sigh]
M
Its a killer movie gogo! You will love it.
Ya Susan spoons. You can just let yourself go and have a great time. The guy that handed me the hinged set had a wooden thingamagig that you played the same way and it sounded great to. You must try it.
Tom
Way to go, Tom! I’m so happy for you. I started going to my local session last March, and quickly became addicted. I wonder how I managed to live so long before discovering what fun it is to play music, and especially to get out and play with other people. I’ve met some really wonderful people. It sounds like you’ve found a good bunch of people there, too – hooray! 
Where is the session? Maybe when I visit eastern Washington again I can drop in. I haven’t visited since my music obsession hit, so I haven’t checked out the music possibilities in that region.
Sarah
With so much
that separates us
one from another,
To know
that a connection grows,
beyond the words,
to each heart bound,
Music in common shared.
A session blessed.
Brings twinkle to eye,
joy to fingers,
lightness of foot,
huskiness of voice,
stoutness of soul,
lightness of heart.
Nuff said, only a last, unneeded reminder to …
Hey Tom,
Which session did you attend. Was it outside of Seattle?
-Craig
Well Sarah and Craig; the session was at O`Dorities in Spokane. They are every Tuesday night and I think Sunday afternoon. Good food and drink as a bonas.
Lee, well put, how do you do it.
Tom
Tom, you said it all.
The very first session I attended was a shock. I’m not even remotely Irish. But the magic made me take my first instrument * and try and learn it, after how many decades of procrastination and “lurking” around music… Maybe because you’re so readily accepted in sessions, when even the most friendly jazz giggers remain kinda remote…
- Low whistle, why ?
Hi Tom,
So good to hear about your first session. If whistlers want to be heard amongst so many other instruments, they need take a Susato - it’s the one cheap whistle I know that really makes its presence known. I’ve seen pipers having a sly whistle on something quiet when they’re trying to follow a tune they don’t know!
I haven’t been to a session in months - you’ve remonded me of what I’m missing out on. Another New Year’s resolution - go to more sessions!
all the best, Martin
Tom, I’ve been off line for a couple of days, so I didn’t get to congratulate you on your first session. Way to go, man! You have now played in more sessions than I have! Keep up the good work!