Irish slow sessions: are you ready to join one?
A slow session is an easier way into playing with other people, as long as you know what kind you're going to. Here's how to tell whether one suits you, and what to prepare.
By Wiktor · Updated
Slow means different things in different places
A slow session plays tunes at a more manageable pace than a regular session. Beyond that it varies. Some groups work from a published tune list and others choose on the night. "Slow" doesn't mean one tempo or one level.
Some slow sessions keep the music flowing and never teach. A learner class stops, demonstrates a phrase and repeats it together. Both are worth going to, but know which one you're walking into.
Questions to ask first
Ask whether new players are welcome, whether you should already know the tunes and whether there's a current tune list. Find out whether they use sheet music, who leads, and whether there's a fee or a booking.
Tell them what you play and what you can do: "I know three jigs and can play them steadily, but I'm still learning reels." That gets a better answer than asking whether you count as a beginner. If it's the wrong group for you, ask where they'd suggest instead.
Prepare a few complete tunes
Pick two or three from their list. Learn the whole of each: both parts and the way back to the start. Practise without stopping at a pace you can keep up, and listen to the version the organiser recommends.
You don't need a big repertoire to get a lot out of it. Listening while the group plays tunes you don't know is part of learning. Bring a notebook for tune names, and ask before you record.
Taking part
Arrive early enough to say hello and tune up. Follow the leader's pace, and don't speed up when you hit a bit you know well. If you lose the melody, listen for a place to come back in instead of guessing loudly through the gap.
If the group reads from sheet music, keep listening to the players anyway. If it learns by ear, ask when questions fit. Save detailed technique questions for the break or a lesson.
Moving on to a faster session
Nobody hands you a certificate. You're probably ready when you know a handful of local tunes, can hold a steady pulse and can listen while you play. Go and hear the faster session first, then ask the organiser about sitting in.
You don't have to stop going to the slow one. A bigger repertoire and a faster tempo matter less than playing considerately with others. Leave each visit with one small next step, like learning the second tune of a set you already enjoy.
Keep learning
Pick your next tunes from my 20 tunes for your first session, then look at the sets players save together. Every session plays its own versions, so check with the people you play with.