Ah, the slow session. The safe harbor in a storm of blistering reels and turbo-charged jigs. A place where you can play “The Kesh Jig” at a pace that doesn’t make your fingers question their life choices. If you’re learning Irish music, slow sessions are the best thing since buttered soda bread, and here’s why.
You Can Actually Hear the Tune
Ever sat in on a regular session and wondered if you accidentally walked into a Formula 1 pit stop? The fiddles are screaming, the banjos are tearing up the road, and the flute players are somehow circular-breathing at Mach 3. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to figure out if the tune is “The Silver Spear” or some unknown variant from another dimension.
In a slow session, the tunes are played at a pace where you can actually hear them. You can pick out the notes, follow along, and—miracle of miracles—remember how the tune goes instead of just clinging on for dear life.
Your Fingers Will Thank You
Look, not all of us were born with Michael Flatley’s footwork transferred directly into our hands. Trying to keep up with a full-speed session before you’re ready is like attempting to Riverdance in a pair of wellies—painful and a bit tragic.
Slow sessions let you build muscle memory properly. You can focus on playing clean notes, adding a bit of swing, and making sure your ornaments sound like actual grace notes rather than a cat walking across your instrument.
It’s a Judgment-Free Zone (Mostly)
Let’s be honest—some full-speed sessions have a bit of an “if you can’t keep up, get out” vibe. The slow session, on the other hand, is like a cozy pub where the bartender actually wants you there. It’s a welcoming space where you can stop, ask questions, and maybe even play that tricky B part twice (without being glared at by a concertina player with the soul of a drill sergeant).
Of course, there’s always one person who plays at normal session speed anyway, but they’re usually ignored—or gently bribed with a pint to behave.
You’ll Build Confidence for the Big Leagues
The ultimate goal of a slow session isn’t to keep you there forever. It’s to help you build confidence so that when you finally step into a proper, full-speed session, you’re not just sitting there clutching your instrument like a life raft.
You’ll know the tunes, you’ll have the rhythm, and best of all—you’ll be ready. You might even start throwing in a cheeky triplet or roll, just to let people know you’ve graduated from the slow lane.
Final Thoughts: Take It Handy
Learning Irish music is a lifelong journey—there’s no prize for getting to the session fastest. Slow sessions let you savor the tunes, develop your skills, and actually enjoy playing without feeling like you’ve been thrown into a musical hurricane.
So go on, embrace the slow session. Your fingers (and your dignity) will thank you.
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