(Tour) Guided Session 01: sitting *in* the circle 

Thank you so much for sharing those thoughts

Learning tin whistle and flute. My dream: fly to Ireland one day and join a session. My story is one day I flew with my friends from Poland (where I live) to Dave Matthews Band concert in Dublin. The day after we went for some sightseeing along the coast. We were in an empty car of a train when the train broke. The car wasn't empty after all and some older guy just took out a tin whistle and started to play. Pretty magical. I was already a fan of traditional music (mostly scandinavian) so my brain was already trained to enjoy it even if I didn't know Irish tradition or the tunes. I think it started a seed that grew over the years until I decided learn to play myself.

I loved listening to this Shannon. I’ve been to many hundreds of sessions - maybe thousands both in the U.K. and in Ireland and love the fact that they can vary so hugely! My main regular weekly session at The Stag in Hastings U.K. is vastly different every single time depending on who comes. Often folk turn up from far afield (other countries too) as they’re travelling through and have heard there’s a regular session here. Periodically we’ve had strong leaders and at other times it’s chaotic and wild with no leaders at all! I love the variations! Last Tuesday a fellow turned up from Belfast, borrowed someone’s fiddle and more or less led the session as everyone was being so genuinely welcoming. Others chipped in with suggestions or just started a tune and let a set randomly evolve. Like you I love the really neat (big bang) changes when they happen and the subtle eye signals but I also love the gradual joining in and sussing out of the tune the first time around. There’s a whole universe in Irish music sessions that it would take many lifetimes to explore- and also a great way (for me) to learn how to integrate in human culture! I’m such a natural recluse!!! Lots of love to you both ❤️❤️

I love that you captured the moment when baby Eoin grabbed my hair!😂

2nd subscriber/fan like; 10th view. What do you do when you start a tune a one pace, and others joining in - speed up and run away with it?! (Can you say 'AARRGGHH!!'). This session sounds really good & solid; it certainly helps to have a group of good players.

Thanks so much for these thoughts. I think, it‘s always a good idea to shout out the key of the next tune to the accompanist, which makes a smoother change. Otherwise the melody player plays solo, and the set loses a lot of it‘s strength. Now my question: some players start playing as soon as they recognize the next tune, which I think destroys the feeling, especially when they play very loud (pipes😉) I think it would be more musically if players would wait until the second A-part of the tune and start to play then. What are your thoughts on this topic?

Thank you. Goals 🎉

Thank you Shannon , that was wonderful. We definitely have timing issues at our sessions. But ive discovered that its either nerves or for some an issue of deafness ! Also if the craic is mighty some also get carried away. Slainte .

Thank you 😀

Spectacular insights! We need to address the (tiny) elephant in the room though, what is that minuscule concertina???

Hi Shannon in the sessions local to me somebody starts a tune set then we play each tune three times through and carry on like that until the set leader either gets fed up or runs temporarily out of inspiration

Also noticed some people, sitting out, listening carefully, and then trying to play the tune. They did not play loud enough to bother anyone it seems.

We would end a tune, and someone would be inspired and start the next at the same tempo. Sort of a 'leader-less' approach. What are your thoughts on that?