Secrets of the Session: 10 Things Every Musician Should Know (But No One Tells You)
By Liz Doherty
The session is a gathering of Irish traditional musicians for the purposes of playing music together. As a learner venturing into the world of session playing, you might think that this is exactly what is – a completely informal and spontaneous affair. Well, think again! For there is a whole lot more going on in a session that simply meets the eye. It’s not just about playing tunes. Beneath the surface lies a complex etiquette – a web of unspoken understandings that quietly hold the whole thing together. The musical magic doesn’t emerge from chaos. It happens because the conditions are right: the unspoken rules are observed, the energy is aligned, and the scene is set. That flow you can’t quite explain? When it happens, it’s not accidental. It’s earned.
So here is the inside track on some of these ‘unspoken rules’ – the secrets of the session that every musician should know:
- Not All Sessions Are Made Equal
A session is never just a session. They vary hugely in purpose, level, and atmosphere. Some, like the Practice Session and the Slow Session, are welcoming and slow-paced, great for newer players. The Step-UP Session is ideal for those players who have progressed beyond that level, but who are still building their repertoire, technique, and performance skills. And the Peak Session is the ultimate session experience. So it’s important to find your fit. Being in a session that is not at the right level for you (e.g. it’s either too slow or too fast) can lead to a disappointing experience. So do your research first and find your fit!
- It’s Not Really for ‘All Ages and All Levels’
Sessions work best when the players are on a relatively level footing. A shared repertoire and similar skill levels keep the flow intact. That’s why sessions are never really for ‘all ages and all levels’. Yes, inclusion matters – but so does musical cohesion if the session is to work. Finding your musical peers is an important part of identifying the right session for you.
- It’s Not a Democracy (And That’s a Good Thing)
Despite the relaxed vibe, a session works best when someone is in charge. The best sessions run on a benevolent hierarchy: respectful, collaborative, but not chaotic. Someone’s holding the shape – choosing tunes, pacing the sets, keeping things on track. For the Practice, Slow and Step-UP Sessions, this leader is often clearly identifiable. For the advanced, Peak Session, the role is carried out very subtly, but is there, nonetheless. So notice who this person (or persons) is – and observe how the other musicians respond to their quiet leadership. It’s about all about trust, flow, and letting the experienced hands gently lead the way.
- You Don’t Have to Play Every Tune
No-one is expecting you to join every set. In fact, knowing when not to play is a mark of good musicianship. Instead of feeling awkward, embarrassed (or even guilty) when you don’t know a tune, tap into a growth mindset and use this moment as a learning opportunity. Listen. Watch. Feel the room. Make this an active (and super important) part of your session experience. A good session is not where you play every single tune. It’s when every tune that you do play really counts!
- The Silences Between Tunes Aren’t Awkward
The session is a social gathering offering a chance to meet and connect with other musicians. So those breaks between the tunes. They are important. This is where conversations (about music – or anything but music!) happen. They are where the next set forms and where decisions are made (e.g. when to strike up again, what tune might come next). So, don’t be tempted to fill those gaps by noodling (practicing or trying to learn a tune) or jumping in with the next tune on your ‘must-play’ list. Make the most of them. Let the session breathe and look forward to seeing what unfolds next.
- There Is a Structure (Even If You Can’t See It Yet)
It may look spontaneous but the session does follow a subtle structure. This takes into account physical elements (e.g. seating arrangements), personnel (e.g. who is leading the session, who is starting tunes), and the music itself (e.g. tune choice, set structure, pace, number of repeats of each tune). It’s never random! Every session (even a one-off session) has its own identity and it’s important to stay alert to this. So get curious. Look out for that hidden structure.
- There’s an Unspoken Conversation Going On
Sessions are full of quiet cues – a raised eyebrow, a nod, a few tentative notes played after a long break between tunes. This is how tunes begin, how leadership shifts, how the next set is agreed upon without a word. It’s a kind of fluent, shared language that you learn by watching, listening, and being present. Like any language it takes time to master – but noticing it and knowing it’s happening is the first step to understanding how it works.
- Size Matters (Knowing When Not to Join In)
If the session already has a lot of players and the sound is full, adding one more instrument might muddy the waters. Be mindful of numbers and, specifically, numbers of the same instrument (particularly if you play an accompanying instrument like guitar or bodhrán). Sometimes sitting out is the right thing to do. If in doubt, ask!
- Seating Matters Too
The seating arrangement can make all the different to a session. The session is about musicians playing with each other, and so the circle, where everyone can see each other, hear each other and lean into the music together, is what counts. This is not a presentational performance where the musicians face the audience; in fact, some of the musicians will have their backs to the audience. So, give the circle some attention. When the circle is too wide, that ‘tuning in’ opportunity can be lost. Rather than forcing the circle wider, perhaps a layered circle – adding the ‘onion’ effect – might be better option.
Generally seating is not formally assigned – but often, at a regular session, custom and practice determines who sits where. Don’t just claim any seat. Maybe ask first where you might sit! Notice who sits where – and why. It will be determined by various factors – who they can hear, what instrument they want to be beside, who they want to chat to. Watch and learn from the choices of the more experienced players. It’s fascinating!
- The Session Is Not Where You Learn Your Tunes
You’ll sometimes hear musicians talk about tunes they learned at a session. And it’s true. Highly advanced, experienced musicians have such refined ear skills that they can hear a tune in a session and pick it up, almost instantly. That skill takes time and years of practice to develop. For everyone else, the session is not the place to learn tunes. That work needs to happen in advance. The session is a fertile learning ground. It’s about learning to play with other musicians. It’s also about learning how a session works. And how traditional music works. This is what the session is all about. And in order to fully and properly experience the session you need to come with the right tools – and the tools, in this case, are the tunes. So, prepare properly for the session. Learn your repertoire – and memorise it – at home.
The good news, of course is that the session will reveal lots of new tunes that you can take away and work up at home. So do use it as an opportunity to discover new repertoire, ask about tune names, record them (with permission!) – then go home and learn them. The session is also where you might hear a tune that will stay with you; days later you might find yourself picking out a bit of it on your instrument, and eventually you’ll be able to construct the whole tune (with or without help). Technically, that qualifies as learning a tune at a session!
Getting into sessions is a big step for any traditional music learner — and it’s just the start. There are levels to this journey, from your first slow session to faster, more advanced circles. Take your time with each stage, and don’t rush the process. Every session helps build your confidence, your repertoire, and your feel for the music. And remember: playing the right notes is only part of it. Knowing how sessions work — the structure, the etiquette, the unspoken flow — is what helps you really belong. Now you’ve got that insight. You’re ready!
Liz Doherty iteachtrad.com
