It was Saturday night at the Milwaukee Irish Fest. Music, great Irish music was being played by Internationally known groups and musicians everywhere on the grounds. I joined a handful plus of players in an open session not for from the big stages, Several of us were sitting there, whistles in hand, waiting for a tune we knew or a break to start one.. The fiddlers had the floor. When the break came, a young lady who had be sitting, fingering her Burke BPS, grabbed a button box from under her chair, gritted her teeth, and started a new tune..
She got through the first of the A part before the beat got a little out of whack. Then the tune stumbled, and she muttered a growl; but she kept going till it happened again and again and frustration began taking charge. Nobody knew the tune well enough to jump in and lend support even though she hadn’t gotten through the tune the first time, so she gutted it out to the end. The lead fiddler said “Hey, that was pretty good. . . we’ve all been there!.” Everyone agreed. Somebody started a standard session tune and everybody jumped in except the young lady, who gathered up here gear and fled into the passing crowd.
I don’t know who she is or if she joins us here at C&F. I really hope she will drop into another open session soon and play some more. I also hope that if and when she does, she will find considerate people who will remember that many of us don’t get many chances to play in a group and when the chance comes it is really hard to sit down in public and try.
What was your first few sessions like? I still just play a tune or a part of a tune here and there. But I’ve got thick skin and jump in every infrequent opportunity that I get.
My first session was a non-session. I was at Leesburg and stopped by the session tent. I listened politely for a little while and then silently stole away. I wouldn’t say they were playing very fast but it was far faster than I can attempt and they weren’t playing anything I knew. Of course this would probably be true at any session I stopped by. Someday.
Maybe drop a note on a concertina board too…letting her know that she did a very brave thing.
I won’t talk about my first session experiences, but I can’t think that there is a person out there who took the leap and tried to start a tune, and had all sort of horrid things go wrong. Like public speaking, it takes practice, and a sense of humor, and a willingness to try even when you know you’re not sounding stellar.
Not stopping is the way to go. Finish what you start. It will be easier next time. Oh, and go twice as slow as you think you can manage.
I showed up intending to listen only, as I hadn’t memorized any tunes at that point. But I brought my whistle and books, because, hey, I’d feel naked without them. I was invited to play a tune, and I tried to decline, but folks insisted. Frantic scrambling through books to find something simple enough that I wouldn’t screw it up too badly playing from score ensued. I played a slow air since dance tunes were beyond me at that point. Nobody else knew the tune, but a few people joined in on the repeat. I’m not sure I ever played that tune again…
Then I was told in jest that it was tradition that new members either buy a round or sing a song. I have few reservations about sharing my vocal “talents” with the world, so I sang “Thousands are Sailing.”
I listened to the other folks play for the rest of the evening. Everyone was quite friendly.
Just a note about the young lady… kudos to her for not giving up! Not all of us have as much resolve to stick with it when we know it’s not going our way. Performing, for ANYONE can be difficult when under pressure. For me, I put pressure on myself and my focus is lost. Alone, I’m fine. For my cats, I’m fine (they can’t tell me how I sound, they just like to be near me). But she had great determination and succeeded. I hope she sees the positives, and how much support she had there. Even in silence… I hope she tries it again!
And to anyone who thinks that the first time is the only time. . .
I bolluxed up an air in a major – MAJOR way this past week. Sustained badness. Three repeat hideosity.
A dear friend afterward said (and I quote) “Jaysus! Did you MEAN to be that bad?”
I have my excuses, but it probably still means I’ll never EVER play that tune again in my life, and I may burst into tears next time I hear it sung or played.
Don’t you hate it when you mess up on a tune the first time through, and you soldier on, and each time through, you keep trying to make the same mistake in the same spot?
The first sessions I sat in on, I played guitar. Just accompanying chords so I could play along with just about anything. But the venue ended before I got into playing whistle.
I joined a contra dance band after I picked up the whistle and leaned a lot on the fiddle player. Plus I knew all the songs we were playing. But in the summer, there’s an open stage and anyone can play. One fiddler asked me to suggest a couple tunes. I suggested “The Silver Spear” and “Maid Behind the Bar”. I was used to playing them in this order and the tunes are somewhat similar. The fiddler player suggested we start with “Maid Behind the Bar”. I started off okay and everything went fine until we were to change tunes. I expected him to lead the change but he didn’t have the tune. When I went to try to help, the only thing I could think of was “Maid Behind the Bar”. I couldn’t hear the other tune and neither could he so we flailed for 16 bars before giving up and continuing to play “Maid Behind the Bar”. Ya gotta keep going somehow 'cause the dancers just keep going.
Not really a first session story but it was the first time someone was depending on me for the lead. Problem was I didn’t know it…
