Competition or Co-operation

[JAJ]

https://thesession.org/discussions/39997  

   A discussion is going on elsewhere re "competitiveness" in sessions.(see above).

I'm sure this an anathema to most of us here especially those who emerged through the SMG but sometimes I feel there is a place for allowing some players to express themselves more freely and for new material to be introduced. The other extreme is a LCD where everyone plays at the same speed, mediocre or otherwise, and the repertoire never changes.

While "show offs" are not to be encouraged, some middle ground might be OK depending on the circumstances. Any thoughts?

[Eric R]

(13-12-2016, 11:05 AM)JAJ Wrote: https://thesession.org/discussions/39997  

   A discussion is going on elsewhere re "competitiveness" in sessions.(see above).

I'm sure this an anathema to most of us here especially those who emerged through the SMG but sometimes I feel there is a place for allowing some players to express themselves more freely and for new material to be introduced. The other extreme is a LCD where everyone plays at the same speed, mediocre or otherwise, and the repertoire never changes.

While "show offs" are not to be encouraged, some middle ground might be OK depending on the circumstances. Any thoughts?

Canons Gait seems to fit the bill pretty well with a nice mix of old and new.

[Jack Campin]

Canon's Gait is at the extreme of static repertoire.

Nigel's slow session is a lot more adventurous about new material.

[JAJ]

One of the Canon Gait's issues re new tunes is its sheer size. You may even know it but it's not always easy to join in with somebody at the other end of the bar.
So, the environment does lend itself to playing the more familiar material.

[Eric R]

(13-12-2016, 12:42 PM)Jack Campin Wrote: Canon's Gait is at the extreme of static repertoire.

Nigel's slow session is a lot more adventurous about new material.

Interesting you take this informative view about CG given that you rarely attend.

[Jack Campin]

That's why.

[Trish Santer]

It's a long time (maybe a couple of years) since I went to either of the sessions mentioned (Canons' Gait and Nigel's Slow Session at Leslie's Bar). This is partly because Edinburgh Folk Club meets on the same night and there are various things I want to go to there. But I did find the CG session very repetitive, and often tunes were played too fast (especially those that are supposed to be slower, such as waltzes and slow airs). I did prefer Nigel's session for the greater variety in repertoire as well as being slower, and his encouragement to individual players to pick and lead a tune (or even, heaven help us, a song!)
I do owe a lot to Nigel's slow session in my early days of learning my current main instrument. However, nowadays, I really prefer playing with friends in our own houses, possibly practising for a gig, and then going out to play said gig, as well as playing with 2 ceilidh bands: so yes, a bit more structured.
Those sessions I do go to tend to be in other areas where repertoire is more varied, and new tunes are more welcomed, or not looked upon with suspicion or the "daggers" stare.