When your memory is gone…

January 18, 2012

There isn’t one traditional musician I can think of, that knows the name of every single tune they play, never mind every tune they hear.

In the old days (you know, like  a couple of years ago) you would probably have to play a tune to your friends, family, neighbors and your friends’ family and neighbors, just to find the name of the tune.

These days, now all you have to do is to play the tune into an iPhone app called Tunepal and voila, the name of the tunes is revealed. Seriously what did we do before the iPhone?

I use my iPhone to record sessions, check my email, update my Facebook status and oh yeah, make calls. And now, I can figure out what tunes are being played by the mere click of a button. Does it get any better?

Here’s a little about the app:

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Posted by Katrina VanTyne

What makes a session fun?

September 5, 2011

At the Bagitos session last week, I was reminded of just how much fun a session can be. Not that all sessions aren’t fun, they are, but this one was particularly exhilarating because of the energy that was created by the group.

Irish sessions are a little different from a regular jam sessions in that there are some unwritten rules musicians need to follow. For example, we usually play a tune three times and then follow it with another tune or another couple of tunes. This is called a tune set.  The fun of it is pulling that second or third tune out of your head at a moment’s notice. It’s easy to get caught up in playing the same old tune sets because you know how to play them and it’s safe because you’ve practiced it before. But pulling one out of your head while you’re playing is another thing altogether. It’s where I think the creativity of a session comes in.

At last week’s session, someone would play their one tune and then someone else would pick up the pace and string along another tune and so it went.

In an Irish session class I took at The Summit School of Traditional Music in Montpelier, we did this at the end of every class. We called it the ring of fire. One person in the circle would start a tune, play it 3 times then the next person would carry it through to another tune and on it went around the circle. This way you never get wrapped up in playing the same old tune sets. Instead you are forced to play on the fly, which I think makes you a better player and certainly adds some spice to the session.

This week we’ll see what the session holds. What do you think makes a good session?

2 Comments | Irish Sessions | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by Katrina VanTyne

It takes two

July 14, 2011

It really only takes a good attitude, some confidence and another person to make a great session. It really only takes two.

Like people, sessions come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes you have so many musicians that when you’re sitting on the outside of the circle you’re so far away from the center you find you’re a measure behind. Other times its so intimate you could hear a pin drop in between each tune. But what makes a great session is the quality of the music and whether or not musicians and listeners are having a good time.

This week marks the annual Irish Arts week in the Catskills which is where most traditional Irish music lovers spend their summer vacation, so it is no surprise to me that only four of us showed up at the session at Bagitos this week. Though it was a small session, the essence of the music carried through as we played our favorite tunes. With three fiddles and one guitar we we played our hornpipes, jigs and reels and even some slower tunes to round it all out. It was a great night of dusting off old tunes and playing until our hearts content.  Sometimes it only takes a few to make a great session.

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Posted by Katrina VanTyne

Enjoying the white space

December 1, 2010

There is beauty in the white space. Whether its art, advertising or music, that empty space can enhance an experience. You don’t have to use every color or play every note for something to be beautiful. In fact some of the most beautiful tunes have a break in them and some of the most touching pieces of art are the simplest of pictures.

The same holds true at a session. There are definitely different sets of core tunes played at each session so unless you frequent the same session every week, there are going to be moments where you don’t know the tune and you have to sit one or two out. This doesn’t mean you have to stomp your feet or slap your hands or, God forbid, pick up the spoons because you feel left out. This is an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a session, listen to a new tune or just relish in the white space.

Listening can sometimes be the best part. I think too many times we get wrapped up in thinking that we have to be participating at every moment in order to enjoy the session. But I dare you to take a step back and take a view from a different angle. You may just like what you find.

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Posted by Katrina VanTyne

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