Session Obsession

The solstice always sneaks up on me. One day you’re complaining about how early it’s getting dark (hello, Vermont), and the next you realize you’ve hit either the longest or shortest day of the year. Either way, it feels like a moment worth noticing — especially if you spend a lot of time with music.

Traditional music dates back hundreds of years. Long before we had Google calendars, people marked time with light, weather, work, and gatherings. The solstice wasn’t just an abstract idea — it was a real shift you could feel in your bones. Music naturally followed those rhythms. Tunes for dancing when the days were long, songs for sitting close together when the nights stretched out.

I notice the solstice showing up in my own playing. Around the summer solstice, I want energy. I reach for reels that feel good at speed, tunes that make you want to tap your foot or play “just one more.” Sessions feel lighter, more social — doors open, people drifting in and out, conversations happening between sets. It feels like the music has room to breathe.

The Winter solstice is when I seem to slow down. I gravitate toward airs, minor tunes, or anything that rewards sitting still and listening hard. And winter gatherings are my lifeline. Whether it’s for a musical event or just getting together with friends, it’s reason to leave the house when it’s dark, cold, and honestly a little heavy.

The solstice is also when I take stock of where I am with my instrument. Am I practicing because I’m curious, or because I feel like I should? Am I listening enough? Am I giving myself permission to rest when things feel stale? Music, like daylight, isn’t meant to be constant. It expands and contracts, and fighting that usually doesn’t help.

So when the solstice rolls around, I try to mark it simply. I play a tune I love. Maybe one I haven’t played in a while. Maybe one that fits the season. I don’t worry too much about progress or polish. I just play and notice how it feels. I also try to get out with friends and gather to celebrate the light and longer days ahead.

However you celebrate the Solstice, may it remind you that the light is coming and brighter days are ahead.

Happy Solstice!