When I went to my first session, I noticed that the group played all fast music. It seems like the faster, the better. Does anyone play any slow stuff in their sessions? That would sure allow us newbies to play once in a while.
Try one of these:
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Good: If you can, play guitar or bouzouki on the fast tunes.
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Better: Listen for the “chord tones” the first time each section is played, then play them on the whistle the second time.
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Best: When it comes your turn to call the tune, call for “Sleepwalk”. After the laughter dies down,
one of two things will happen: A. You will be branded a troublemaker and blackballed from the session, in which case they don’t need you anyway, or B. the fiddle player next to you will find a way to make it into a set with “Blind Mary”, the box player will call “Telstar” on his turn, and you’ll have friends for life! 
First, there are Slow Sessions that play Jigs and Reels at much slower speeds, usually very slow at the start of the session for beginners and later at moderate speed for intermediate players. You might ask around if there are any in your area. Sometimes the ‘slow session’ is from 7-8 at a session that is advertised for 8-?. Ask one of the core folks at the session your attending.
Second, many regular sessions will have waltzes, slow reels, or airs in the last half hour or hour as folks start to wind down. I’ve found this more true of sessions that start early and go on 'til the pub (venue) closes.
Third, most sessions reflect the community feelings of the participants. It seems like some weeks we tear through everything from dusk til dawn at hyperspeed ready to beat the world, while other weeks we take the time to meander along the way enjoying the gentler bearings. So, again, ask some of the regulars, they may even enjoy playing a few airs or slow reels as a change of pace.
When your turn comes to pick a tune, choose a slow one and play it at a nice comfortable pace. If you sense that there are several “leaders” at a session, arrive early sometime and talk to them about your concerns. I betcha there are other players who’d relish the chance to take it easy once in a while too.
thanks for all the tips. Unfortunately I have only found one session in my area (Southeastern Virginia), and these people are really advanced. Hopefully, there are some other newcomers who can join up and form a slow session with me. I’ll keep asking around.
Starting out less than a year ago, I was very fortunate to find a very suportive session group that made me cds of tunes they played.
Just sit on the side of the group and absorb all that you can. I bought a small digital Olympus voice recorder for $40 that will play a D tune in slow-mo in B flat. After each tune you think you might be able to learn, ask the name and jot it down. And then just practice at your own speed 30 to 60 minutes a day, you’ll be suprised how many tunes that you’ll hold your own on in no time.
Half the fun of playin’, is sayin’ to yourself “damn, this tune was hard to play a month ago!” Think I’ll go practise some more.
Namtrag, where in SE VA do they hold sessions and when? I live in NE NC, just accross the border off of I-95. The only sessions I’ve heard of in NC are two or more hours away and are held in the middle of the week.
Murphy’s Irish Pub around 5:30 or 6pm on Sunday’s. The pub is almost at the oceanfront in Va Beach. I am not sure of the numerical street, but it’s on a corner on Pacific Ave, just to the south of Laskin Road. I went down Laskin off of I-264, then turned right on Pacific. It was on the next corner on the right. The people I met the first time I went are really nice
Thanks! I’m planning to spend a weekend in Va Beach sometime in June. Maybe I’ll take that Monday off and stay an extra night so I can check it out.
Went to the session again. It turns out that 2 of the ladies teach a slow session on the first Sunday each month. They were in Ireland last weekend, so they weren’t there to tell me about it. So it looks like I will be able to learn how to play in a session after all. They said it’s all by ear, which you traditionalists out there will like.