The VGS community has endured not only because people enjoy playing and hearing Irish tunes. It’s because of all the support folks have shown one another–from the veteran YouTube session players to folks who are just finding us. It’s a group of music lovers who are exceptionally kind, funny, and interested in the tunes and the bigger social dimensions of playing Irish music.

Through the livestream chat, YT comments, Patreon chat, and other online activity, folks continue to share ideas and encouragement. (Like our friend Doug’s recent idea about how to deal with the neighbor’s leaf blower when we’re trying to play tunes — find the key of the machine and play along with it!)

Pooling ideas is fun, useful, supportive, empowering, and sometimes hilarious.

Another lovely outlet has been the Zoom TUNE classes—we usually have a run of three around late February… and another series in October. Folks sign up for one or three, and it’s a freewill offering. We visit for a moment then learn one great tune together. It’s so sweet. And even though participants are muted while learning, there is real connection. We address a few elements of flute style, but it’s really for all instruments, all levels.

Everything is announced in the HeatonTuneShed monthly newsletter. Or just be in touch if you’d like more info.

TUNE BOOKS
Irish music is a living tradition. There are great musical and social benefits that come when we learn these tunes by ear and play them by heart.

And also… there are just a lot of tunes to learn, for players hoping to participate!

To help navigate the overwhelm, we made a Tune “Cookbook” called IN HARMONY — and we’re working on a follow-up. It’s a collection of audio recordings with the flute and guitar panned on different sides (choose your own blend), along with melodic and chordal notation.

These books haveadditional tunes and tips:
First 50: simple, beautiful tunes that prioritize smart flute breathing and fiddle bowing choices over ornamentation
Oil for the Chain: tunes and ideas for practicing and participating in sessions

TUTORIAL VIDEOS
On the YouTube page we have a Tune of the Month series presenting tunes phrase by phrase; and Trad School Videos that address flute technique and other aspects of musical development; and Matt Heaton’s Backer’s Corner Videos are not just for chordal players.

We are developing a Patreon page as a companion resource – the focus here is purely on Session playing, to help folks use all those tunes and techniques learned over on YouTube!

FURTHER READING/LISTENING 
2022 Essay about SESSIONS

Irish Music Stories Episode 71 — a fun and funny look at session (and wedding gift) etiquette

IMS Episode 77 — about balancing rules and sponteneity

IMS Episode 03 — a survey of sessions in Boston, Chicago, New York, and Clare

Inhabit your REPERTOIRE

INNER GAME OF IRISH MUSIC

And if you don’t already know (or haven’t read recently), Last Night’s Fun is an exceptional book of essays by Belfast flute player Ciaran Carson. On every read, he’s taken us “in and out of time” with incredible snapshots of Irish sessions and tunes.
Carson, Ciaran. Last Night’s Fun. New York: North Point Press, 1996.
ISBN 0-86547-511-3

There are ads on the beginning of the instructional videos. But we remain committed to keeping our Virtual Guided Sessions ad-free. It just feels like a more seamless, immersive learning experience this way… more community and mutual appreciation of Irish music, less commercial intrusion.

If you value our offerings and wish to make a contribution, we are always grateful!
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