Which Session is Right for Me?

By Liz Doherty

The traditional music session, besides being an enjoyable, social and participatory event, also provides a valuable learning opportunity for the musicians involved. And, so it is vitally important that, as a musician, you find yourself in the session that is going to best support you at whatever stage of learning you are at.

The best sessions happen when the majority of the players involved are at a similar level of ability, share a common repertoire, have musical values that are broadly aligned (e.g. what constitutes a good tempo), and are on the same page when it comes to how a session works (both generally, and in this particular session). While sessions do, of course, offer an opportunity for less experienced musicians to ‘sit in’ with others who are more experienced, this can actually result in a negative and disheartening experience for the learner, if expectations are not managed properly. Too often we hear stories of musicians who have outgrown the slow sessions, yet are intimidated and overwhelmed when they brave the Peak Session, finding themselves out of their depth with musicians who are way more experienced than them.

So, how do you know which session is the fit for you, right now? Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide.

The Slow Session

  • Do you have 2-3 years of playing experience? (Remember that this session is not appropriate for complete beginners)
  • Do you have a good, basic command of your instrument (e.g. how to tune it or, at least, know when to seek help for tuning it)?
  • Do you have a repertoire of at least 10-15 tunes that you can play from start to finish, at a slow but steady tempo?
  • Do you know these tunes off by heart (i.e. you can play without referring to your notes)?
  • Do you feel ready to take your learning out of the classroom/online learning space and play along with other musicians?

If you have answered ‘yes’ to these questions, then the Slow Session is perfect for you.

Top Tip: If you haven’t yet memorised the tunes you have learned, then perhaps you need a little more time before you are ready for the Slow Session. The Practice Session might be more appropriate for you just now. This differs from the Slow Session in that players rely on notation while playing the tunes. And, we know that the session is about much more than simply knowing and playing tunes. So the player needs to be able to get the head out of the book and play the tunes from memory, while tuning in to all these other essential elements.

If you are ready to step into the world of sessions, then the Slow Session is a great entry point. Use the opportunity to help you consolidate the basics of your technique and repertoire, get experience playing in different environments and along with and in front of different people, and start learning about what session playing is all about. Keep challenging yourself by constantly adding new tunes into the mix, and taking the opportunity to play in a variety of sessions at this level. For many players, the Slow Session experience is something that they can enjoy and benefit from for several years.

Top Tip: If you are rocking the Slow Session, don’t get too comfortable! Remember, these entry-level sessions are about helping you get started on a journey. Enjoy each step along the way. Commit to it for a sustained period of time (think 2-3 years) and use it to build your confidence, expand your repertoire and sharpen your performance skills. Never settle, though. Keep challenging yourself to progress (slowly and gradually) from Practice to Slow and then, to the Step-UP Session.

The Step-UP Session

This is the Goldilocks of the session family. The one that is “just right” for all those learners who are in-between the Slow Session and the advanced, or Peak Session.

How do you know you are you ready for the next level, the Step-Up Session? Having a chat with your teacher/a peer/a more experienced musician can be really helpful. Do they agree that this is the time to stretch yourself? Do some self-reflection – how have you arrived at this transition point ? How have you grown as a musician? How do you know this? How ready are you for this next step? What are you looking forward to? What are you anxious about?

Then answer these questions:

  • Do you have at least 4-6 years of playing experience?
    • Do you feel that you have outgrown the Slow session? If yes, why is that?
    • It’s too slow?
    • You are bored playing the same tunes (maybe in the same order)?
    • You feel stuck, frustrated?
    • You have learned loads of new tunes that no-one else knows?
    • You want to play sets of tunes/more challenging tunes?
    • You want to play with different, more experienced musicians
    • You want to play faster
    • You want to be stretched more, musically?
    • You often feel like giving the Slow sessions a skip
  • Do you have an expanding and varied repertoire of 30+ dance tunes?
  • Can you play all of these tunes from memory?
  • Can you (or are you at least ready to start trying to) organise these tunes into sets?
  • Are you gaining confidence in your playing, but feel that you would still benefit from having some guidance and direction at a session?

If you are answering yes to most or all of the above, then you are absolutely ready to level up and progress from the Slow Session to the Step-UP Session.

Your next task, of course, is to find the Step-Up session! For children and young people this is often straightforward – there are Slow sessions for younger kids and teen sessions for those who are at the next level. For adults, finding a Step-UP session can be more challenging. Often, the adult Slow Session gradually morphs into a Step-UP session. While this tends to happen naturally, it can actually become limiting; when the same peer group moves forward together in this way, the session can end up sitting somewhere between both the Slow and the Step-UP Sessions. So, it can be valuable to map out clearly what the parameters of this Step-UP session actually are; what is different about it, what is expected of participants, and so on are, and to set up a new entity altogether. Be brave. There is an opportunity for this space to be further developed!

Remember, that sitting into an existing session that is at this more advanced level can be challenging for the learner. You are stepping out of your comfort zone and leaving the familiarity of the Slow Session behind. In the Slow Session you may have becomes (over time) one of the stringer players, or even the session leader. Now you are likely to find yourself starting at the fringes of the session while you find your feet, observe and adjust to the different session dynamic. Remember that this is a journey. And having progressed to the point where you are ready to level up like this is a real milestone. Celebrate the progress made. Don’t be hard on yourself – it will take time to adjust. Keep learning!

Top Tip #3: The Step-UP session is not the end of the road. Again, take the time to settle in, grow your confidence, repertoire and skills. Give it time (again, think in years!). But always keep your eye on the prize – moving forward to the next level, the Peak Session. You’re another step closer now!

 Liz Doherty iteachtrad.com