THE CODE For Denver Celtic Night’s session is below

“The code is more what you’d call ‘guidelines’ than actual rules.”
– Barbossa, Pirates of the Caribbean

Each session has a different way of running, but some things are pretty consistent, and a few of the most common elements are listed below. You are always well served to listen and observe before diving into this, and asking about any of the rules is always appreciated. Don’t let your own lack of knowledge make your session experience a poor one! Also, don’t let one session’s rules make it so you never try another. There are tons of sessions with different setups, find one that works for you!

The top level guidelines on what to do for a session are simple and straightforward:

Good – Anything that makes the tunes (melody) better, the rhythm clear, and the gathering a happy one

Bad – Anything that makes the tunes (melody) worse, the rhythm muddy, or any unkindness or ego trips

For some more nuance at this particular session, read on (thanks to Pittsburgh Area Sessions, The Session, and Randal Bays for compiling a lot of this). If you have any questions about the session, please feel free to contact us directly. This session, in addition to the below items, also tends to try and introduce new tunes and different sets to mix things up. We also will play the starter sets for newcomers so if you’re just getting into it, check out those set lists.

DOs:

• Be friendly! We’re a welcoming bunch, so introduce yourself when you arrive. Don’t be afraid to ask the name of the tunes in a set after it’s finished. Also, be aware many tunes are named “I don’t know” or “I can’t recall” or “I forgot”.
• Tune your instrument. Beginners to Irish traditional music are welcome, but beginners on their chosen instrument generally are not. You should have good competency on whatever you’ve chosen to play, regardless of how many tunes you know.
• Know the tunes ahead of time. As a musician you’ll be expected to come to the table with some Celtic tunes. If you’re not confident in your repertoire, come to a session or two just to listen to get an idea of the kinds of tunes the regulars like to play.
• Know your tune. You should know the entirety of any tune you start, and shouldn’t rely on others to carry if you have trouble. For singers, it is helpful if you know the key you’d like to sing in.
• Have a tune set in mind. When you start a tune, the other musicians will be looking to you for what to play next, so it’s better to have an idea of what you want to play before starting. If you don’t have a followup in mind, let the other musicians know so someone else can pick up the set after your tune.
• Sit out tunes you don’t know. Irish sessions are not jam sessions in the usual definition of the term. Jamming or improvising along (especially on a melody instrument) is frowned upon.
• Assess the other instruments present. Especially for accompanists and percussionists, be mindful of how many others are filling the same niche as you. If there are several, consider taking turns sitting out (or picking up a different instrument if you have one) so as not to overwhelm the melody players.
• Try to stick to Trad tunes. We will play a wide variety of tunes at this session, from Irish, Scottish, and even an occasional Old Time or Quebecois tune, but we generally stick to mostly traditional celtic. If you’d like to introduce a new tune, ask the lead.
• Buy the musicians a pint. Cheers!

DON’Ts:

• Take over someone else’s set. Musicians generally start a set with two to four tunes in mind that go together. Wait until the set is over to start a tune you want to play.
• Take extra sets. Musicians take turns starting sets of tunes. If you’ve just led a set, wait your turn to start another.
• Talk over someone starting a set. Side conversations with other musicians are part of any session, but you should generally pause to let others hear while a new set is starting.
• Judge others’ playing. Compliments are appreciated of course, but no one is looking for unsolicited criticism. If another musician is being a problem, the session leader(s) will deal with it.
• Play too loudly. Sessions are about playing together as a group. This isn’t the time for solo showing off; you should be striving to blend with the music.