First time. It was eye opening.
I met a couple Chiff and Fipple denizens. Nice fellows.
I learned two things from observing and reflecting:
It’ll be at least several months before I’ll be halfway ready to play a whistle at a session.
I wonder how long you can keep going if you don’t bring and instrument - but you do smile and tap your toe.
I’m not sure if this is accessible outside the UK and Ireland but it’s a handy thing to practise with. It’s a virtual session: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions/swf/folkmenu.html
It is. And it’s pretty dang cute.
Thanks,
Thank you for the link 
I’m going to try it right now
I heard from one of the session hosts, and not a word about fist fights or riots. So it must have gone well.
Yes, you learn pretty quickly at sessions that no one really notices or cares what whistle you play, as long as it blends, or how many whistles you own. What matters is knowing the tunes, and playing them well (and good craic, of course). Most players just bring out a favorite whistle, which is as likely to be an old Gen or Frankenwhistle as anything fancier, and off you go.
Learn a thousand tunes (a realistic number), and be sure that the next sesssion you walk into will play 30 tunes in a row that you’ve never heard of. 
Part of the fun …
I went to my first session knowing 2 tunes. However, I kept going and would pick-up a tune here and there. The really neat thing is, even if you don’t play…you are still learning by hearing the tunes. One of my latest tunes that I have learned, “Off to California”, I was able to learn and memorize it in about 3 days (I think for a beginner…that is pretty good for only an hour of practice a day) since I have heard it at sessions and I knew how it went.
So…go to sessions…jump in on the tunes you know. If you don’t know them…that is ok. Sit back and enjoy the great tunes…because you are still learning!!
Rob
Listening to a session is one thing, but the REAL eye/ear opener will be when you start to play along.
Bring a whistle and ask them to play something you know, you must know a few tunes by now?! If they tend to play too fast ask if it’s ok for you to start it and let them follow you. Don’t put it off, you only really start learning when you play with others, you won’t believe the amount of things you’ll learn! If nerves are a problem for you then that’s another conversation we can help you with, you’ll get over that after one or two sessions.
I used to know only maybe 15 tunes and a few airs. I stopped playing about 18 months ago due to other priorities and distractions (2 heart attacks and 3 operations).
I started practicing a little about the same time I came back to cause trouble on the forum here (2 weeks ago?). I found I couldn’t get through one of the tunes I used to know without a major fumble. That’s to be expected I suppose.
I heard maybe one of the tunes I used to know played yesterday. I heard quite a few that my head knows from listening - but I never learned to play. Obviously it’s just a matter of making time to practice, and keeping the commitment.
Meanwhile I guess I’ll be like a 5th wheel, crashing the session to listen and sip a Guinness. Hopefully nobody will think I’m some kind of strange slalker. 
Well, as one of the session hosts (as Daniel knows), I can say that there’s not a lot of tune bigotry at this session. Beginners are welcome to play warhorse sets, and to start occasional tunes at their own speed.
At the same time, it’s definitely not a learner’s session. It’s one sesh here where the very best experienced players in Southern California come to really let loose, try out new tunes, and sometimes push the envelope a bit. So beginners need to keep in mind the needs of the session regulars.
It’s too bad that there’s not a CCE. But I think the Celtic Arts Center still runs a slow session in North Hollywood, and that can be a good setting to ease into session playing.
Well, I can guarantee you a disaster if I attempted to play along at this point in time. I’m smart enough to know what I can’t play, and aware enough to not want good players to suffer through something to humor me.
Is it cool if a beginner comes to watch and listen, sip a libation, and chat a bit off and on for a few months until they jump in?
Yes, of course!
First time. It was eye opening.
I met a couple Chiff and Fipple denizens. Nice fellows.
It was great to see you there!
I heard from one of the session hosts, and not a word about fist fights or riots.
Though not an actual riot, there was an incredibly loud Hawaiian-themed party going on and we could hardly hear ourselves.
Learn a thousand tunes (a realistic number), and be sure that the next sesssion you walk into will play 30 tunes in a row that you’ve never heard
Yes that about sums up my experience. I recently decided to attend more regularly and bring a recording device and bust my butt and learn a bunch of tunes. I’ve been going four weeks in a row and have about 20 new reels in my old grey noggin in that time.
thesession has been invaluable. I’ve transcribed the tunes off the tape, then done a search using melodic fragments in order to learn the title and fill in missing bits.
I thought it was a drunk, screaming girl themed party.
hey! I went to a Session for the second time in my life Saturday. I enjoy your posts and just wanted to share to let you know you’re not alone in your feelings. My teacher was at the Session and played many tunes he had taught me. It was soooooo cool. There was so much to absorb. But I thought I would just sit and listen/record til January. Figured they would think I was a lonely older groupie but now I wonder if they think I’m a stange stalker too! Who knows… but I was so psyched. Then yesterday he said he wants me to join in at the next session in two weeks. 
I had talked to a few others sitting around and a couple were also waiting to join in when they were ready. Guess I needed the push from my teacher. I’ve learned to listen alot, do the least amount of harm and soak up the fun! .
So keep going and enjoy ! janmarie
A beginner having the insight to “watch and listen” is priceless! Good for you!
This makes everyone happy and before you know it you’ll be in the thick of contributing to the session: You’re respecting the music as well as the others musicians.
With this proper ettiqutte I bet you will invited to play a tune by the regulars, you won’t have to ask.
Good luck and have fun!
It’s also pretty dang small! Can anyone read those dots???
Okay, that was surreal. Ever been reading along a session post and then come to the realization they’re talking about your session? Make sure and come back, and often! Each week is hosted and attended by different folks so is a different experence, some weeks are more relaxed than others, but always good music and friendly folks! They’re all very happy to have new people and if you come regularly to listen, and bring your instrument, eventually someone will ask “do you have a new tune?”, and that’s when the fun really starts =)
Well I didn’t think he was a beginner with a post count of 1,737 and a join date of 2004. That’s why I suggested he joined in as soon as possible. Having said that I’m playing 4 years solid and I’m still a beginner, but I get away with it in a session. I get the feeling that sessions in North America might be different to the ones here in Ireland, here they are usually a low or non paid casual affair where musicians sit amongst other drinkers and anyone who can play or sing will always get a chance to join in. They wouldn’t be plugged in or on a stage or separated from everyone else unless they were a famous band or it was some sort of tourist thing, these kind of events are not considered sessions here. Not sure what it’s like over there but at casual sessions here nobody bats an eyelid if a beginner plays a few tunes at the end of the night or if they join in and make a few mistakes.
Well, as I hinted - I am more or less a whistle collector. In middle 2007 I had about 15 tunes learned front to back. I could play them reasonably well, like this I recorded…
http://www.beancurdturtle.com/Whistle/200610081128_Marcus-Hernons-Aire_Overton_Wet.mp3
I listen to that now and notice an odd clipped style, probably from the influence of all the Latin music I was listening to. I was loving the piccolo style in Cuban music at that time.
I work in technology, I’ve also been the “engineer” for live rock bands and done some home studio recording, so I have a weakness for gadgets. I was enjoying playing what I knew, and buying and trying on different whistles - and selling whistles to try new ones. So I can tell you about many different whistles, how they play, what’s their voice like, etc. And I’ve kept several that pleased me the most.
July 2nd 2007 I got a major blockage in a coronary artery and spent most of the summer with crushing chest pain on the slightest exertion. Many of the things I liked to do pretty much fell away. My last operation was in July of 2008. I’m just now getting back to my old self. To celebrate I took a three week hiking (6 to 12 miles a day) vacation travelling all over Taiwan with my girlfriend and son.
Then I started listening to Irish music again about 4 weeks ago. I picked up a whistle and found I couldn’t get through a single tune without a stumble. Then I started posting here again, and I’ve been bit by the whistle bug again. So I was just above a beginner before - and now I’m back as a rank beginner. 
The folks at the session were friendly. A bunch of nice folks sitting at tables in a corner and playing. And I’m sure they’d have not complained if I joined in. But since I’ve mixed and recorded (amateur) bands I understand what someone just noodling around can do to the flow of a tune, song, or what have you.
I can bring a recording device next time (with permission), and take a bit of the session home with me. With practice I’ll get to a point where I feel I can be more of a contribution than a klutz - then I’ll bring a whistle to play.
I’ll just enjoy it, being in no big hurry. Since the heart issues are resolved - I should be around to mangle tunes for many years. 
When you’re looking at the music score there is a print button up the top. Click it and it should print out at normal size.