Looking to connect with local Irish music in Brooklyn?
Come join us at the welcoming session at Farrell’s Bar and Grill (second Saturdays) and Rullo’s (fourth Saturdays). We typically play from 1-3p. But, you’re advised to check the calendar plugin at the bottom of this page or to email me through the contact plugin to make sure we are on for the regular time and place.
Our welcoming session plays commonly-known jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas, marches, and songs at a reasonable pace. We are happy to welcome new folks. And, feel free to email me if you’d like to sign up for a more comprehensive monthly listing of local fiddle events.
FAQ:
Are there musical opportunities for kids?
Yup, miscellaneous events — feel free to email.
Are there open sessions in Manhattan?
Yes: check out Mary O’s (Thursday nights) or Slainte (Tuesday nights) for a similar welcoming experience.
How do you suggest getting started?
Come to one of our sessions (or one of the other welcoming sessions in NYC). Pack the following:
- Love for the music and social tradition
- Patience to learn tunes through a long-term relationship
- Openness to connection, chat, and fun
- Self-awareness that you won’t know every tune at the first session
- A tape recorder (aka your voice memo app) to learn the tunes at home
What is your list of tunes?
We don’t follow a rigid list — each session brings whatever we choose to play. The best way to learn these is to attend regularly and bring home recordings on your voice memo app. A good place to start before attending is the Comhaltas-sponsored album Foinn Seisiun 1 and its sequels, which capture authentic session playing and accurate tune settings better than most solo albums. If you want to prioritize the very top 20 or 50 tunes, you can check out this list of most popular tunes.
It is also a great idea to take regular or occasional lessons from experienced musicians. There are lots of great folks on every instrument in NYC and I am happy to send suggestions.
Why don’t you call it a “jam”?
Irish sessions have a certain format. Collectively, we recognize that Irish music doesn’t fall out of a coconut tree — it is based in a tradition of formal lessons, careful study and apprenticeship. Here are some specific norms of a session that may differ from definitions of a jam:
- When we don’t know a tune, we listen and learn it correctly in our minds before playing
- We favor idiomatic choices like unison melody with small variations over techniques like droning and comping
- We eschew sheet music (except when a special request is written on the back of a $20 bill)
Matthew Christian 