Seisiuns at Acoustic Expressions

The House of Strings has transformed into the beautiful new Acoustic Expressions in North Park.

With over 5000 sq. ft. of instrument showroom, classrooms, and open performance space,
this full-service music store provides the perfect new venue for weekly smoke-free, public seisiuns.

8:15 to 10:00 PM - Closed Seisiun
Traveling musicians always welcome to come play.

Acoustic Expressions
2852 University Avenue
(corner of University Avenue and Utah Street.)
San Diego, CA.
(619) 280-9035

No smoking or alcohol permitted. Sodas will be on sale for $0.50 each.

Please stay out of the storefront unless you are making a purchase and are accompanied by an Acoustic Expressions staff member.

You may only try out instruments only with the permission of the Acoustic Expressions staff.

INTRODUCTION

Acoustic Expressions, and the seisiun leaders, Elaine Thompson and Michael Eskin, are very excited to host a weekly traditional Irish seisiun on Thursday nights:

These simple guidelines for the early slow seisiun are what we have found make for a successful and sustainable seisiun. Players attending the seisiun will be expected to behave consistent with these common-sense guidelines.

JOINING THE SEISIUN

The early slow seisiun, while open to the public, is primarily for students of the store's instructors and is open to all skill levels. Participation in the later performance seisiun is by invitation only. Please contact either Elaine Thompson or Michael Eskin if you are interested in attending the later seisiun.

THE MUSIC

We will be playing tunes in traditional Irish dance styles such as reels, jigs, slip jigs, slides, hornpipes, and polkas. Other styles, such as bluegrass, old-time, and Scottish are discouraged.

Traditional Irish dance style means that tunes are played in unison, with no melodic improvisation other than ornaments. Prospective players are encouraged to seek out and listen to groups like Altan or the Bothy Band for examples of seisiun style playing.

INSTRUMENTS

These instruments include: Fiddle, flute, pennywhistle, low whistle, Uilleann pipes, button or piano accordion, concertina, guitar (melody flatpicking), mandolin, bouzouki/octave mandolin, and tenor banjo.

Non-traditional instruments (such as saxophone, recorder, or trumpet) are not allowed.

There will be no guitar or bouzouki backup or bodhran allowed in the early seisiun without special invitation from the seisiun leader.

TOUCHING INSTRUMENTS

Please do not touch or play other player's instruments without their permission. Musicians can be very protective of their instruments and some are easily damaged.

TUNING

All players are expected to tune their instruments before the seisiun and to keep them in tune. If you need to retune, please do during the breaks between tune sets, and get help if you need it. Be sure to tune to any fixed pitch instruments such as pipes or accordion. Most mass-produced pennywhistles have tuning issues. Whistle players are strongly encouraged to have a tunable whistle before they start playing in seisiuns.

STARTING A TUNE

Seisiun leaders will start most of the tune sets. If you'd like to request a particular set of tunes, or would like to start a set, please ask the seisiun leader.

NO 'NOODLING'

If you don't know the tune, either very quietly work it out while staying in time with the music or you are unable to do so, just sit the tune out. A simple guideline is to play the tunes you know and don't play the tunes you don't know. Do your practicing at home, not at the seisiun.

USING WRITTEN MUSIC IN SEISIUN

While useful for initially learning tunes at home, the use of music books or sheet music during the seisiun is not allowed. Irish music is primarily an aural tradition.

TEMPO

As a courtesy to the other players, please play the tunes at the speed started originally, don't speed up or slow down. This is extremely important for an enjoyable seisiun.

RECORDING

Players are encouraged to record the seisiun and use the recordings to learn the tunes! Recordings made at the seisiun are for your own personal use only.

CHILDREN

Children are welcome and encouraged to actively participating in the seisiun or listen to the music. Any families with unsupervised children will be asked to leave.

RESPECT OTHER PLAYERS

Please don't carry on conversations while others are playing. If you need to talk to someone, go to another part of the room.