My hands were shaking and I made some flubs, but I enjoyed myself tremendously:
http://www.blatherings.com/archives/002604.html
Next personal goal: be able to play a tune from memory at a regular session.
Thanks so much for your earlier welcome and encouragement, everyone!
Debbie
Congratulations.
The first time round can be pretty scary but now you’re on your way!
Stick with it and soon the smile will be a permanent feature.
Lovely bit of Blogging too!!
Slan,
D. 
Awww.
That’s just too cool. I read your blog, and I’m smilin’ ear to ear.
Best wishes,
Jerry
How exciting, Debbie!!! 
And I loved your description. I have yet to play in a session, so I’m a bit jealous 
I’m glad you had such a wonderful time! Congratulations!!
Hey Debbie,
Good stuff, the people at your session are lovely people. I didnt know there was a session at the Tranzac, is that new? Anyway, a bunch of us from Montreal will be at the Chris Langan festival, mostly at the Tranzac, so I might see you there 
PS: There’s a whistle workshop you don’t want to miss, I’m going at the advanced one but I’m sure the beginner one would be great for you.
I’m pretty sure the Tranzac session was there when I first checked out Toronto sessions, back in 2000 or so.
Also (reading the blog entry), I have a suspicion I’ve met the whistle player with the hard-to-get black whistle, at least if it is an O’Riordan…
Excellent! Now that your feet are wet, you’ll find it easier each time, I’d wager.
I still get the heebeegeebees, LOL, but I’m not about to let it stop me (though I’m sure sometimes it should!).
Hooray for you!!!
annie
4 posts and you’re playing in sessions! I’m jealous too! --Great description of your experience! I haven’t gotten to the point where I can play sessions but from past experience with other instruments a good way to work on this is to record a backing track with guitar, just strumming the chords, and then to play along with this yourself. This way you can slow it down enough to play along. You could also play the melody slowly and then see if you can play along with that. This could be done with a whistle or a mandolin or fiddle, for the initial track that is. I’m sure there are other, and better, ideas than this for getting up to speed for session playing. -mike
Good for you…keep at it and you will enjoy it even more
Yay! Congratulations. Kick ass!!!
There’s nothing like playing with other musicians.
Good job! I can understand it being scary at first…I haven’t gotten a chance to play with others yet, and I am nervous just thinking about it. I guess I just need to be a bit more confident with myself!!
I am happy for you!!!
That’s a nice blog site. I might have to switch from the nasty personal restricted webspace provided by comcast.
I always felt this way in Washington D.C. when I read my work at poetry readings. I miss that buzz, the shaking hands, the feeling that my peers were sharing and I was sharing with them. Alas, no place here has the same kind of coffee shop readings that they had.
Crap, now I want to try a session. Fortunately, piccolo playing shouldn’t stand out too much, right? 
Don’t be betting on that …
http://www.asaplive.com/FARNE/ListeningPost.cfm?ccs=247&cs=739
I had one or two of his albums years back.
Serious stuff…
Slan,
D.
The more sessions you play, the easier its gets, the more you relax, and the more fun you have.
It sounds to me like you’re off to a fine start!
–James
Thanks for the encouragement, all!
Emmline: Hope you find a nice webspace.
Miwokhill: Don’t be too jealous yet. I have yet to play from MEMORY. 
Thanks for the tips on learning tunes! I’ve also bought some tunebooks with accompanying CDs so i can play along.
Azalin: There are sessions at the Tranzac on the 1st and 3rd of every Wednesday, start around 8:30 pm. Slow session starts an hour earlier. I couldn’t find a beginners’ whistle session at the Chris Langan wknd programming schedule, unfortunately. I still plan on attending the concert and some of the sessions, tho!
Thanks again, everyone.
Debbie