So I facilitated my first learning session to clear out the cobwebs, as well as level up my playing so that I can get in on some session action when the sessions start opening up post-COVID (they haven't yet in my area). In my local community we have had a couple high-level sessions in the area, and some other less intense groups about an hour or so away, but no real learning sessions locally, and I wanted to fill that gap not only for myself, but for others, because I just think Irish sessions are so great, and want to open that world up for people as well as for myself.
I think it went ok, but I wanted some feedback from veterans to make sure I'm on the right track, and get on it if I'm not.
I chose four tunes to start, to leave time for "getting to know you" as well make space for the possibility of numerous run-throughs for real beginners. Everyone kept pace, and this turned out to be great.
Someone came with bagpipes. That takes up a lot of sonic space! I don't know what to do with that. Seating arrangements? He has played regularly in another session close by, and it seems to me he wants a space to learn and tighten up his game to do better in this other session he's connected to - which is EXACTLY what my session is about, so I want to support him. But I also want to make sure we can hear one another! Is there a "hack" for this veterans can share?
I'm also not sure what to do with guitars. One guitar player left early because he just didn't know what to do, and I wasn't sure how to support him. I honestly don't know how to play guitar in a session, even though I play some guitar. There was another guitarist who came with the mandolin player, and she really knew her stuff, and sounded great! Should i have sat them next to one another so that the one who knew what she was doing could support the guy who was struggling?
I kept it to 1 hour and 45 minutes, which was enough time to run through each of four tunes two or three times. We are going to add two tunes to the list for next week. We are keeping the time to two hours since it's a "school night".
Thanks!
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