I just had a conversation with an old friend that I haven’t talked to in a long time. When I told him that I was playing the Irish Flute he seemed very amused (in a supportive sort of way). Like, “that’s great.” with the word “great” being a long extended chuckle. I find this to be case in many situations. When I tell someone that I play the Irish Flute they get a quasi-smile combined with a “deer in the headlights” look about them. Then I need to go into an extended explanation about what that means and what trad music is and so on. Even after that there’s still an air of amusement about them. Is it just that they can’t imagine [me] playing or would they have the same reaction to anyone else they know? I’m curious, has anyone else who has taken up the instrument later in life had the same experience? How about in other parts of the world? Maybe here in the States people just get the stereotypical image of Lucky the Leprechaun dancing around with a bowl of Lucky Charms when they hear the term Irish Music.
I played a track of Niall Keegan for a friend of mine once and he said it was OK … but just OK. He didn’t like the way that he kept repeating the same tune over and over. I tried to explain but for some people there’s no hope.
When I say to people that i play the irish flute they usually say a positive “how cool”, others have absolutely no idea on what irish music is and don’t really know how to react. Further explanations will follow on both cases…
I never had that kind of reaction. It might be the personality of your friends, especially guy friends. They might have the same reaction if you told them you were taking up rock climbing, or whatever.
Most folks don’t know what an Irish flute is, so some explanation can be helpful if the person is actually interested. Non-musicians tend not to be that interested.
What’s so amusing?
Hmmm. . .lemme see now. . . .you wake up in the morning and you’ve got a tune running through your head. You get to the first of the ‘turn’ but you can’t quite remember the rest of it. . . . .Blast! What is the name of that tune? At breakfast you say:"Honey, I can just about figure out that roll. . .no not that cinnamon one t’other one. . .!
Other than that, what’s so weird about playing it on the flute? Bob
I think that Denny raised a good point. If someone really isn’t in to Trad music and hasn’t explored it, the first thing that’s likely to pop into their head is Riverdance. I guess the thought of someone like me playing “Riverdance Music” must be amusing to a lot of the folks I know. I grew up in an atmosphere where I was the “odd bird” who was heavy into the liberal arts and culture while everyone else from the hood couldn’t get past the top 40, classic rock and steak and potatoes. Case in point, my wife and I went out to an Ethiopian restaurant one night with another couple. When we returned home, my mother-in-law and brother-in-law (babysitting) asked where we had gone. When we told them, I thought they were going to turn pale and pass out. I guess some folks have small perimeters of comfort.
I tried to explain but for some people there’s no hope.
Bob
