Sing an Irish Song, the Right Way

If you're Irish and you want your voice to be heard where do you go to sing an Irish song? This is a more complicated question than at first it appears. Irish music has many sides, traditions, and etiquettes. It's important to know the differences. The Irish music community can be a tight-knit group, non musicians are confused when attempting to sing or participate in an Irish session. Your first step is to educate yourselves on these differences.

Most true Irish sessions are built around tunes and music, as opposed to words or lyrics. Think of jigs and reels, as opposed to folks singing songs back and forth. The session players stay true to the tune and try to do justice to the music. There is on an occasion the opportunity to sing an Irish song at a traditional Irish music session, but it is usually from a regular. These songs are less well-known, sometimes sung in Irish or in the Sean-nos tradition. So a real Irish session isn't the perfect spot to sing your Irish folk song.

You find yourself at the local pub and a nice little band is playing your favorite traditional Irish folk music. This for sure will be your chance to let a song out, not so fast. These guys are performing, they are paid by the owner of the pub to entertain the crowd and keep them eating and drinking. There may be a chance to sing a song but you had better be good.

What you are looking for is an Irish singing session, singers session, or singsong session. These are specifically set up for people to sing their favorite Irish song, provided they follow a few rules.

1. There will be someone in charge of the session, they normally ask for a song from people they know. They also will throw out invitations to add a song, they are subtly in charge.
2. Watch and get a feel for the group, it's important to be patient, sing along with a chorus or two and enjoy your fellow singers.
3. You do not have to be a great singer, I once heard a woman sing a song in Cork Ireland, she had the worst voice and the best performance at the same time.
4. Know the words. Nobody likes to put up with a new singer to their group that fumbles through the songs and has more apologies than choruses.
5. When your time to sing your Irish song comes, sing a song you love and commit.

Find yourself a singer's session and let that Irish song out, I can't think of a better way to spend the evening. If you are having trouble finding a singers session, find a few fellow Irish song lovers and start one at home.