jmyersgoucheredu

When I play in an open band for a dance, I sometimes have trouble hearing myself, which is disconcerting. Anyone else have this problem and any suggestions for dealing with it? Thanks, Jeff

Just lovely!

Doesn't surprise me that a lot of folkies aren't against fascism.

Ha! A machine? There are people who play like that... /Henrik Watch it! I resemble that remark!

Let's see 'em do that with an anglo!

I have two Button Box concertinas, one at school and one at home, so I don't have to carry one around everyday. Jeff Myers

I started out on the B/C button box. I still work the bellows on the concertina entirely with my left hand. Jeff Myers

You think? Reminds me of the joke about Frankie Gavin: An Irish session player dies and is taken to a cloud in heaven with a few other session players. When he gets there, he hears this great fiddle music coming from a distant cloud. "I didn't know Frankie Gavin had died," he says. "Oh, that's not Frankie Gavin." "But it must be. No one else plays with such lift and virtuosity. It must be him." "I tell you it's not Frankie Gavin. It's God. He just thinks he's Frankie Gavin." So, perhaps after an eternity of practice, God and the rest of us will be able to join the cloud session. Jeff

I believe, historically abc2win was the worst offender and many will recommend avoiding this program. Jon, was abcwin the first abc program? Jeff

Check out Abcmus 2.0: http://www.norbeck.nu/abcmus/ I've been using it for a number of years with no complaints. Jeff Myers

This simile appeared in an op-ed piece about the study of Latin: "I think of translating concise, precise Latin into more expansive, discursive English as like opening up a concertina; you are allowed to inject all sorts of original thought and interpretation. As much as opening the concertina enlarges your imagination, squeezing it shut — translating English into Latin — sharpens your prose." Here's the link for the entire essay: Jeff Myers

Perhaps I got the wrong impression and came to a hasty conclusion. I'm not sure Ancient Greece or Italian Renaissance Art are "less" than Irish music, but they are certainly less dependent on others than playing in a session. I will, however, reconsider and try to do the legwork before we leave to discover real sessions that might be welcoming to some good young players. My daughter, however, has suggested we go to London for Shakespeare and sessions. I've heard, however, that with the economic boom in Ireland in recent years, the sessions in London aren't what they used to be. Nothing ever is. Thanks for the responses. Jeff

Ooooh getting touchy are we? ... Just remember, a welcome is a courtesy extended to you, not a right you can claim. Also: especially in more wellknown places at this point you're one of dozens of people passing through especially during summer and not all experiences with them are very uplifting. You are no doubt correct, Peter, but I was trying to be serious about a major trip (and expense) my family is considering. Playing music with people is complicated, as this thread shows, and if there are insuperable obstacles to doing so on a 3-week trip to Ireland, perhaps we should save our money or spend it on a trip where making music wouldn't be a major component. That's all I'm saying, and I think it a legitimate consideration. E.g., one can visit Olympia in Greece or Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome for cultural experiences that require less courtesy from the locals. On those trips, less than uplifting experiences in hotels, restaurants or pubs would be more tolerable and even expected. And I fully understand why Irish players find the kind of tourist experiences described in this thread unsatisfactory and even try to avoid them. That I would also try to avoid them, for myself and especially for my daughters who love playing the music so much, seems only reasonable. Jeff

The upshot of this discussion seems to be that anyone not living in Ireland who plays Irish traditional music should just forget about visiting Ireland (you'll just be dismissed as a tourist) and, instead, just enjoy your own local sessions (since you'll only find tourist-trap pseudo-sessions in Ireland anyway). This is actually valuable advice since a trip to Ireland can be very expensive and time-consuming. It's made me rethink a planned trip to Ireland. Why should I travel across the ocean with my daughters, who are good enough to play in any session anywhere, when they can have a more authentic and valuable experience in sessions right here at home? If some Irish players visit, perhaps we'll go hear them, so long as the venue is good and the cost reasonable. Of course, they're always welcome to sit in on an actual session here when they visit. Jeff Myers

Just lucky, I guess. My kids (15 and 17) have been playing fiddle since the age of 4. They love playing for sessions, performances, dances, etc. They also love dancing (mostly contra). They've been hearing mom and dad's sadly deficient (compared to their own) playing all their lives, and they've been active members for a number of years in a wonderful organization that fosters a real dance and music community, the Baltimore Folk Music society. They do play in several genres, although Irish is their favorite. I already mentioned contra, and my older daughter also plays for English Country dances and is a member of a Klezmer band called the Klezbians. To celebrate her recent birthday, she took a few of her friends to a contra dance. I'm sure many of you have similar stories. If you create an environment where music and dance are an expected part of life, the rest will follow. Not a lot one can do on a large social scale, but locally my kids have plenty of people of all ages to play and dance with. Of course, turning off the TV and banning video games didn't hurt either. Jeff

Just great, Brian! Jeff Myers

It will be six years for me in October. Perhaps that means I can expect to hear from Steve soon. Jeff Myers

I don't speak much Chinese, but my daughter speaks a bit. We were on a tour, which made things considerably easier. Didn't meet anyone who had any idea what I was playing (then again, that often happens here in the USA). You'll have a great time. Guilin is beautiful! Jeff

Kate, I travelled to China the summer before this one (2006) and took my concertina with no problem anywhere. In fact, we took 6 flights in 3 weeks, and no one ever gave the case a second glance. So, take it along and enjoy. It's especially enjoyable to play outside in the morning when all of the retired people (55 and up) engage in activities (exercise, music, dance, games, etc.) in parks and other recreational spots. Enjoy! Jeff Myers

Just heard a track on the late session of a new cd with, I believe, Brian McNamara and Tim Collins playing pipes and box respectively. It sounded great! And one of my all-time favorite cds is Tommy Keane and Jacqueline McCarthy's The Wind Among the Reeds. Jeff

Have no fears Bill. If you marry the 'right' woman, she will understand completely about your needing a $3K Morse with traditional reeds. If she doesn't ... she's definitely the wrong chick. Find a fellow geek. Or, if that term is not to your liking, another hobbyist. They are endlessly sympathetic. Lucy Owner of Morse #486 Bill, even better advice is to marry a woman who can afford to buy the box for you! Jeff Myers (about to play #423)

I still love my number 38! Jeff Myers

Are Playford tunes folk? How about waltzes? Jeff Myers

Well, she might be a pretty sweet squeeze! Jeff Myers

Since I'm an atheist, I had better pay particular attention to the weather before I play! Jeff