Social Or Isolated?

[frogspawn]

I'd be interested to know how many people here play mostly in social settings (clubs, sessions) and how many in relative isolation for their own personal entertainment.

 

For the past couple of years I've been a regular folk club attendee, and I've found this extremely important for maintaining musical activity. In previous years my participation in singing/playing was extremely fragmentary, and my track record for learning instruments was nowhere near as good as my track record for buying them. When learning an instrument in isolation (an inevitable part of the process, at least to begin with) I found there were just too many distractions and nothing to work towards.

 

Living in England, where people are fairly thick on the ground, there is usually some sort of folk club or session within reasonable reach (walking distance, in my case), but I suppose that some people do find themselves more isolated. I have to admit that my 'tina has not yet left the house since the day it was delivered, but I am now on schedule to give it an outing some time in the new year.

 

Richard

[Christian Husmann]

So, here is one answer from Germany.

 

I play mainly "isolated" because the music I am currently interested in is absolutely suitable for being played in my living room.

BUT, I have the opportunity to play with others if I want to. It´s not really a session type of thing - once a week I can join a dance lot if I want to and playing in an accordion orchestra there is at the moment the idea to realize a piece which is written for concertina and five accordions, let´s see. Where I live there was a bunch of people who played once a month in an Irish Pub but I´ve got no idea whether that still exists.

 

Greetings from Germany

Christian

[Dirge]

I play my duet solo, usually alone for my own benefit. I don't play trad stuff much so haven't any need or interest in joining a session, not that I don't enjoy it if I do get drawn in. It might be nice to put an act together with one or two others but I haven't felt the need to go looking.

 

So, thoroughly isolated. By and large happily so; I had to make myself play when I started out; these days I get grouchy if I've been stopped from practicing.

[Mark Evans]

For me making music with others is very important. It can be frustrating but I always come away the better for it. That's not to say I don't love my solitude, mental health practice time. My tina sits on my desk at work and when I've had enough of job site impedimenta I'll knock through a tune and cleared of some dark thoughts dive back in. People going by in the hall sometime stick their heads in and either do a comical quasi dance or say "frustraiting day Mark?"

[Chris Timson]

When I first started playing it was mostly for sonq accompaniment; Anne and I did quite a bit of work as a duo, accompanying ourselves on anglo and English. In recent years, though, the driver for both of us has become playing in English music sessions. There were none in easy reach of us, so about 3 years ago we started our own. It's still going strong. Not only has it pushed us to practice but it has widened our social circle remarkably and has been an altogether joyous thing to do. I highly recommend it.

 

Chris

[Richard Morse]

There are 3 weekly sessions within a 15 minute drive for me though I rarely go to them anymore... and now that winter is here I'm much more reluctant to leave my warm abode (it was 5°F this morning). I play duet and am perfectly happy to work on things in my "isolation". If there were a session within walking distance I'd probably frequent it.

-- Rich --

[Larry Stout]

I play in a weekly session here in town and in a twice-monthly slow session. I also play in a band that plays for English country dancing once a month. There are sessions in Peoria (45 miles away) and Champaign (65 miles) but I don't get to them. I also play for my own enjoyment in my study at home. I'd guess the playing time is about equal for the social and solitary.

[David Levine]

90% of the time I play by myself. I can't move ahead if I just go to sessions.

Sessions are important and I'd probably go more often if they didn't start so late. I'm a trainer and I'm in the gym three mornings a week. To be fresh I need good sleep.

 

I agree with what Eamonn Cotter says:

 

"Every aspect of Irish music should be practiced separately.

With ornamentation, practice that on its own."

[bellowbelle]

I don't really like to travel around much (...especially when it's cold outside!) and so I play mostly just alone, though my husband has been joining in with his harmonicas sometimes.

 

I could get myself to a few different sessions, I'm sure, but for one thing I'm not really much of a session-type player, and besides that, it would usually involve more annoying traffic than I like to deal with.

 

I am happy to look forward to at least a few opportunities to play socially, within a year. Just started a hymn-sing type of thing at the church, and that may turn out to be a monthly thing, not sure yet. Anyway, there were 12 of us there and it was a lot of fun. So, that would be nice, having a once-a-month event to play at.

[Constant Screamer]

I'm an "iso" but with friends...no sessions. I lead a very busy life, okay "hectic" is a better word...commuting 3 hours a day...getting up at 4:30 a.m. and not getting home until around 6:30pm leaves very little time for my music. No wonder my number of posts are what they are. When I'm not playing Old Time fiddle or bluegrass banjo...I love the simple pleasure of playing my English box with my guitar picking wife and a few friends with flute, whistle,mandolin and fiddle.

 

I THOUGHT Old-Time & Bluegrass were my major "loves" but getting together with my "Irish" loving friends....the fiddlers & mando players...has really pushed me to get the box out more and more and learn these tunes. While I wouldn't call them "sessions" my get-togethers with friends take me to a place that old-time & bluegrass don't reach.

 

Bottom line...I'd say making music with others is truly magical....so maybe I'm a Socialist after all!

 

Cheers!

 

James

Edited December 5, 2007 by Constant Screamer

[m3838]

Hey session going folks! Are you single? No kids?

Let's see, 6:30 - up from bed, quick shower, no breakfast, kid to school and an hour to work.

What a wasteful, radio filled hour! Really need to get that Power's irish harmonica tutor.

At work I have plenty of 5 minute breakes to post, but no time to play.

Coming home at 8-9pm, quick cleaning of kitchen, dishes, loundry, and 45-60 minutes practice in my private menthal health clinic downstairs. And if I come home at 7 - I put my little one to bed and it takes an hour at least.

We used to get together with a friend of mine, the fiddler, at Fisherman's Warf, on the Docked Ferry, and played together. What a blissful time! But a CPS investigation put an end to it.

So, in unfortunate solitude.

[Fiddlehead Fern]

The majority of my playing happens in my room, alone, in stocking feet.

However, a few times a year I'm at historical events, which for me in inseperable to playing music with my friends. In the evenings we get together and play tunes, tell jokes and visit. Usually there are several guitars, one or two fiddles, maybe some smallpipes, fultes, whistles and at least one bohdran. Maybe in a while I'll be able to play the concertna?! It'l be awhile, though. First I have to actually get one!

There is a weekly session not too far away from where I live, but I've only gone to listen.

[Steve the beginner]

Isolated. Alone, for my own pleasure. I don't even know anyone who plays an instrument, even if they lived anywhere near to me.

[Leo]

Isolated. I live 50 miles from the big city, and depending on the time of day can be an hour drive or three hour drive each way. Then add on weather delays and then have a few beers.

 

Thanks

Leo

Edited December 5, 2007 by Leo

[Michael Marino]

Currently semi "iso" as the wife plays violin and is picking up English (doing very well also) Working on getting to a social event but it is difficult with two kids and a very anti family society as we have here in the UK (try going out after 7pm any night with kids and get a dinner).

[Constant Screamer]

I'm noticing a pattern here....LIFE seems to get in the way of music! What's up with that?

[Dieppe]

I play mostly isolated, though I have a friend who plays guitar who I'll sometimes try to play with. Lately though that's fallen by the wayside. So I do play alone, though occasionally the cat will come over, look up at me, and meow quite pitifully.

 

I'm in a medieval recreation group, and sometimes I like to play for people there. However since my 'tina is "out of period" I've gotten a small amount of grief from some people for it. (Yeah, like I should carry around a church organ to be in the right time period.) So mostly I just play for me.

[PeterT]

I'd be interested to know how many people here play mostly in social settings (clubs, sessions) and how many in relative isolation for their own personal entertainment.

My friends tell me that I would probably be happiest if I lived miles from anywhere, with only my concertina for company. I'll have to check with my neighbours to see whether they share that view.

 

I do get to the occasional session, but don't have the incentive to do much else nowadays, since I spent years doing clubs, festivals, concertina events, Morris weekends etc., and sometimes came away with a profit!

 

Still waiting for that TV company to come "knocking on my door" again.

 

Peter.