[Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session Invitation- Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious

Wed Apr 7 11:37:07 PDT 2010

Hi All,
I've attended some of the slow sessions off and on for a couple years now.  The issue of speeding up is frustrating to me also, but I realize it is a natural tendency to do just that.  In my opinion, the best solution to this would be to have one person act as a "conductor."  I think this problem requires the visual aid of someone standing in front or center and using a baton, bow, whatever and perhaps counting out loud at the same time.  Also if the pace is spoken prior to starting to play, it is a firmer way of setting the pace.  Debbie is very good at doing this, or I could volunteer if people feel they would like to try a method like this.  I think it's a matter of retraining our automatic pilot habit of speeding up.  The vocal/spoken cue and the visual aid would help a lot.

Sharon

________________________________
From: "peterk at cruzio.com" <peterk at cruzio.com>
To: Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions announcement list <santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions at lists.sonic.net>
Sent: Mon, April 5, 2010 5:51:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session Invitation- Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious

As long as we're making suggestions, I would like to see a list of tunes, sent out earlier in the
week, with each of us telling the rest of the group what tunes we will choose when it's our turn.
That way, we could practice on the tunes that will be played on Sunday. The way it is now, those
of us that aren't proficient sight readers can either sit out the tune if we don't know it, or
just try and play a few matching notes....I know it would really help me if I could practice on
those tunes during the week, before Sunday rolls around.
See you Sunday,
Peter

> Hi all: I have been coming on and off for about a year and I enjoy the
> sessions and playing the tunes. I wholeheartedly agree with others that the
> songs are played too fast for a session that is slated to be a "slow-slow"
> session. By default (since a lot of us slower players have dropped out), it
> has become just another session for the more advanced/faster players. And,
> frankly, I have also gotten to the point that I resist saying "that's too
> fast, can we play it slower?", especially when I hear comments such as
> "that was dreadfully slow", "that was boring" or "I can't play that slow".
> This has been frustrating to me since I thought that playing the tunes
> slowly was the purpose of the slow-slow session!
>
>
>
> I also don't think that at a designated slow-slow session it should be up to
> those who wish to play the tunes more slowly to "tame the fasties". The
> constant attempt of  "taming the fasties" does not make the session
> enjoyable to me. There are two other sessions for the fasties to go to;
> those who like to play the tunes more slowly just have this one.
>
>
>
> I like the suggestion of during more waltzes and airs from the big book, but
> for the entire session. These slower songs are perfect for the slow-slow
> session and I think mixing them throughout the session would add diversity
> to the session.   I also like the suggestion of setting a metronome range
> for the jigs and reels. All participants can then practice with a metronome
> at home at these speeds and know what to expect at the session. If the
> metronome range is too slow for some, they have the option of going to the
> faster sessions at the Buttery and Brit. Arms. If the metronome range is too
> high for some, then we can lower it.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kathy
>
>
>
> From: santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions-bounces+brg=cruzio.com at lists.sonic.net
> [mailto:santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions-bounces+brg=cruzio.com at lists.sonic.n
> et] On Behalf Of Fulton-Bennett, Kim
> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 8:17 AM
> To: Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions announcement list
> Subject: Re: [Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session
> Invitation- Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious
>
>
>
> Hi folks,
>
>
>
> I don't come very often, but I think the idea of having a truly "slow speed"
> session is a good one. One thing I have observed is that even when we start
> slow, we almost always speed up later in the song. I think it would be very
> useful to find a way to keep the tempo slow throughout a song. Maybe this
> means using a metronome, or perhaps following a designated person who is
> able to keep a slow, steady tempo.
>
>
>
> Just my 2 cents...
>
>
>
> ---kfb---
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions-bounces+kfb=mbari.org at lists.sonic.net
> [mailto:santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions-bounces+kfb=mbari.org at lists.sonic.ne
> t]On Behalf Of Lucas Cantin
> Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2010 11:06 PM
> To: Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions announcement list
> Subject: Re: [Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session
> Invitation- Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious
>
>
> The session was created with slow players in mind.  I think with some minor
> modifications and a vocal group of slow players, we can 'tame' the 'fasties'
> for the first Sunday.
>
> Let's keep the dialogue going.
>
> Also, I wanted to contact Pauli if I could.
>
> Lucas
>
> --- On Sun, 4/4/10, weathercaller at aol.com <weathercaller at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: weathercaller at aol.com <weathercaller at aol.com>
> Subject: Re: [Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session Invitation
> - Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious
> To: santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions at lists.sonic.net
> Date: Sunday, April 4, 2010, 10:35 PM
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
>
>
> I've only come a couple of times over the past year and a half or so, partly
> due to the distance but also partly because of the speed with which the
> tunes have been played when I have been there.  Everyone was very welcoming
> and friendly, but I ended up with exactly the same impression as indicated
> below -- most of the folks there were people who've been playing for much
> longer than I have, and seemingly treating it more as another opportunity to
> play than as an opportunity to bring in us much slower-speed beginners.
> Perhaps part of the problem too is that "slow" isn't really well-defined; it
> covers a vast range.  So by slow are we talking 75 bpm or 105 bpm?  Either
> way though my impression was that whatever was intended, things always
> seemed to drift upwards towards what I think of as dance speed, or around
> 115-120 -- and that's way out of my league.  Maybe we need both a "slow
> session" and a "really slow" session!
>
>
>
> I really like the suggestions of (a) starting off with some waltzes and airs
> and (b) defining a core set of ~ 10 jigs or reels that would be played every
> time.  I'm not as wild though about the approach of having the person
> choosing the tune set the speed -- as unless that individual happens to be
> among us slower players, we're just going to be left out a lot of the time.
> Rather I think it would be better to simply to define a speed or at least
> narrower range of speeds that all the tunes will be played at -- say
> something like in the ballpark of 85-90 bpm before the break and 95-100 bpm
> afterwards (or do we need a separately-convened "really slow" session to do
> something like that)?
>
>
>
> Warren
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Janet Platin <janetplatin at yahoo.com>
> To: Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions announcement list
> <santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions at lists.sonic.net>
> Sent: Fri, Apr 2, 2010 11:15 am
> Subject: Re: [Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session Invitation
> - Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious
>
> Hi Lucas,
>
> I have some questions/observations about the slowest session . It seems like
> the people who show up most dependably are people who have been coming a
> long time and want another opportunity to play. Have we lost the slow
> people, because not enough tunes are slow or is it just the usual ebb and
> flow of session attendence?
>
> The session rules say that the person choosing the tune sets the speed. Do
> we follow that rule in this particular slow session? Do we mean that every
> tune needs to be played at a speed that meets the ability of the slowest
> player or that if you are a slow player, you can set a very slow speed and
> know that that is acceptable in this group?
>
> It does seem like a good idea to start with the waltzes and the airs, but
> that not what we usually play. How about having a set list of 10 jigs and
> reels that everyone should know and will definitely be played each slow
> session. That would give slower players a head start. They could practice
> the big 10 and maybe the new slow would be a speed everyone would feel
> comfortable with.
>
> If you were to combine the start of watzes and airs and with the 10 and then
> let the rest of the session be whatever a session usually is, you would have
> something that would meet the needs of both groups.
>
> On the other hand, that means a lot more structure than we are used to
> having.
>
> Just some thoughts.
>
> Janet Platin
>
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: Lucas Cantin <lucascantin at yahoo.com>
> To: Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions announcement list
> <santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions at lists.sonic.net>
> Sent: Thu, April 1, 2010 3:12:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session Invitation
> - Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious
>
>
> Hey Tane',
>
> I checked and  they will be open for Easter Sunday.
>
>  I also wanted to put a question out there.  It seems that we have lost a
> lot of our beginners.  I had an idea of having a set list for a half an hour
> before the normal session of slow only tunes.  Waltzes and Airs.  This would
> help everyone.  What do people think about this??  The idea would be to have
> the half hour set list play from 12:30 to 1p.  Our group seems to avoid
> playing anything slow.  This jam was created for the players who weren't
> comfortable with the normal tempo.
>
> As before, people can always request to play the song called for at a slower
> speed.
>
> This seems to be a difficult problem.
>
> --- On Thu, 4/1/10, Tane' Tachyon <tachyon at tachyonlabs.com> wrote:
>
>
> From: Tane' Tachyon <tachyon at tachyonlabs.com>
> Subject: [Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions] 1st Sunday Session Invitation -
> Slow - April 4 at Deli-licious
> To: "Santa Cruz Celtic Slow Sessions email list"
> <santa_cruz_celtic_slow_sessions at lists.sonic.net>
> Date: Thursday, April 1, 2010, 12:49 PM
>
> The next first-Sunday-of-the-month slow session will be this Sunday,
> April 4, from 1-3pm, at Deli-licious, 21505 E. Cliff Drive, in the
> East Cliff Village Shopping Center. April 4 is Easter Sunday, but I
> did call Deli-licious and confirm that they will be open.
>
> When I went to this session it was really nice -- everyone was having
> a great time, fine food from the deli, people walking in and
> applauding, and so on. Click below to see a picture of what the
> session looked like from the front door of Deli-licious:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/tachyon/3691468503/sizes/l/
>
> Copies of the tuneset books generally used at slow session are sold
> for $15, and you can now download and print the 1006-tune "King
> Street Sessions Tunebook" for free at
> http://www.pacholo.com/mike/
> -- many thanks to Michael Long for putting the book together and now
> putting it online as well!
>
> For a news bulletin, at last month's 1st-Sunday session someone heard
> the music and hired the group for a paid St. Patrick's Day gig.
> -- Tane' Tachyon = tachyon at tachyonlabs.com = http://www.tachyonlabs.com/
> Click below to sponsor me in the May 8 "Human Race" Walkathon fundraiser
> benefitting AFE and many other Santa Cruz non-profit organizations!
> http://www.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=332033&u=332033-249245954
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>
>
>
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