Session Etiquette

by **Madra Rua** Sat Aug 07, 2010 5:19 pm

You're walking into a session you've never attended before.
How do you integrate yourself into the music without being one of THOSE people?

Be polite!

No matter how good a player you are, take it slow. Spend some time seeing how things run before you dazzle them with your brilliant playing.

LISTEN!

Listen to the tempo of the music. Listen to the other players. This is ensemble playing and all instruments should blend together to make wonderful music. LISTEN, and don’t rush the pace just because you can play it fast, or feel it should be played that way.

Treat everyone with respect.

Everyone was a beginner once, and even if you yourself have progressed beyond that level, you’re sure to meet these same people at other area sessions. Wouldn’t it be nice to have friends in the room when you walk into a new session?

Percussion instruments should take turns, if possible.

This is not because the other musicians have a vendetta against percussionists. Melody instruments are (hopefully) playing the exact same notes at the exact same time. The tunes are written down. Percussionists are improvising as they go. If two (or more) percussionists have different ideas about how the tune can be enhanced, all the listener hears is white noise.

SMILE! Have fun and remember, it’s all about the music!