Tips for organizing a slow session

Whistle
1

Hullo all!

Disclaimer: If my search of the forums has missed the appropriate spot for this, let me know. As a faithful lurker, I know this won’t be a problem for many of you. :wink:

I’m starting a slow session this fall. There’s nothing in my area session-wise, and that’s just not right! I’m a professor, and imagine most of my musicians will be students. The goal here is as much to introduce noobs to the music and the joys of the whistle, so we’re starting with a slow session to learn the stuff. There will likely be a mix of musical skill, which I think makes sessions fun!

Rather than re-invent the wheel, I’m wondering if any of you session organizer-type folks have tips for house rules, must-have first tunes, guidelines for the better musicians (who may have a hard time adjusting to the sqeakers), etc…

Any tips will help! I’ll probably (hopefully) have enough noobs to make a large order of starter whistles too…Megs, maybe?

2

Well I can try to help out a bit.

My whistle teacher has already hosted a slow session to learn new tunes. Also, he does this when I have my lesson:

Break the tune down into small phrases. Slowly play the phrase so that everyone gets the correct notes and rhythm/timing of the notes. Once everyone is comfortable with that phrase, move to the next one. Once all the phrases have been gone over to make up the first part of the tune (usually the A part), then put all the phrases together and have everyone try playing the whole part. Any rough spots…go back to those phrases and work on them more. Once everyone is done with the A part, start breaking up the B part into phrases as well and continue until the B part is comfortable. Then it is time to put the whole tune together.

I find the method above also helps to memorize the tune as well…at least it does for me :slight_smile:

Rob