A Session Diary

Repost from Andybanjo:

Changes to the Wednesday night session ….

I’m not sure whether this is the best forum for working this out but it’s accessible to all and very easy to use – and avoids the possible pitfalls of the multiple-addressee e-mail

perhaps wednesday evenings could have a section at the beginning of the event where particular sets of tunes are worked on/played through a number of times with a view to getting all the players “up to speed” with them? there are several considerations here:

– should the sets be agreed in advance or simply suggested “on the fly”?

(my view is that it ought to be flexible enough to cater for both but, practically speaking, it may be more successful with a bit of advance planning for those – like me – who are supposed to know the sets well but sometimes have difficulty summoning up the correct “B” parts)

- should there be written versions available (homework sets .. :-)?

(my view is that this is likely to be of considerable benefit to many beginners – as would recordings, though they would be more difficult to organise …….. )

- how should players (particularly beginners) be made aware of the change?

(my view is spread it wide and use every means we can think of – but be very specific about what is going on!)

- how much of the evening should be devoted to this, bearing in mind that the pub, whilst not busy or demanding, may have limited tolerance threshold for repeats of a given set of tunes

(my view is ?maybe? the first hour but it ought to be flexible enough to change according to what the actual players there on any given evening want – and what the pub will stand for …. )

- who should bring sets to be worked on?

(my view is that it must be open to ALL participants to bring things along, not just the people who have historically provided new material. on the one hand, it is essential for new tune sets to filter into the normal run of playing – but, on the other hand, beginners might well want to learn some of the things that are already played. probably a mixture of things would provide the best combination of things for beginners and stuff to catch the imagination of the regulars)

I am quite sure that there are other aspects of this which escape me at the moment but I think it’s a topic/proposal that is well worth exploring

Changes to the Wednesday night session ….

I’m not sure whether this is the best forum for working this out but it’s accessible to all and very easy to use – and avoids the possible pitfalls of the multiple-addressee e-mail

perhaps wednesday evenings could have a section at the beginning of the event where particular sets of tunes are worked on/played through a number of times with a view to getting all the players “up to speed” with them? there are several considerations here:

– should the sets be agreed in advance or simply suggested “on the fly”?

(my view is that it ought to be flexible enough to cater for both but, practically speaking, it may be more successful with a bit of advance planning for those – like me – who are supposed to know the sets well but sometimes have difficulty summoning up the correct “B” parts)

- should there be written versions available (homework sets .. :-)?

(my view is that this is likely to be of considerable benefit to many beginners – as would recordings, though they would be more difficult to organise …….. )

- how should players (particularly beginners) be made aware of the change?

(my view is spread it wide and use every means we can think of – but be very specific about what is going on!)

- how much of the evening should be devoted to this, bearing in mind that the pub, whilst not busy or demanding, may have limited tolerance threshold for repeats of a given set of tunes

(my view is ?maybe? the first hour but it ought to be flexible enough to change according to what the actual players there on any given evening want – and what the pub will stand for …. )

- who should bring sets to be worked on?

(my view is that it must be open to ALL participants to bring things along, not just the people who have historically provided new material. on the one hand, it is essential for new tune sets to filter into the normal run of playing – but, on the other hand, beginners might well want to learn some of the things that are already played. probably a mixture of things would provide the best combination of things for beginners and stuff to catch the imagination of the regulars)

I am quite sure that there are other aspects of this which escape me at the moment but I think it’s a topic/proposal that is well worth exploring
andybanjo@aol.com
andybanjo
http://www.andybanjo.com
1

Repost from PeteMay:

I’m in favour of possibly making Wednesdays something more like a specific teaching/learning session. Would the Gearge at Molash cope with that? I don’t really enjoy our overall sound in our present format these days, it just doesn’t seem to sound as satisfying, and there aren’t enough of us carrying the tunes confidently and accurately enough. Maybe we should fix it so we all meet soon on a specific Wednesday, not for tunes, but for a sort of deliberate ‘AGM’. I think we should ensure that everyone who plays regularly in our session can attend on that date, so no-one misses out on what we discuss and agree. I reckon unless we change and develop into something else, deliberately, our days are probably numbered! My health/playing problems aside, I’m committed to playing and developing ITM, I love the tunes.