For a while I have been going along to a pub session where Irish music is played. I would really love to join in and had been practicing a few pieces ready to take the plunge. Last week I was asked to contribute and did a couple of solos to fill in as some of the usual people were away. The tunes were slightly slow and hesitant, yet the response was good, mainly as I was adding a new instrument to the session. All last week I practiced a few other tunes ready for the next session. Then it all went horribly wrong! During a conversation with one of the other musicians (who had been absent the previous week) I was basically put in my place about the "correct" way to play Irish music and after a long lecture I just could not bring myself to play in his presence. So far all my experiences of playing music have been positive and everyone has been supportive, so my first real knock back was a surprise. The person concerned is almost always at the session and so I am not sure how to proceed. I play music for fun, I don't want to compete with anyone, at the same time I am not sure I want to be dictated to on how to play - the sticking point being ornamentation, I do very little on my tunes. It is not the end of the world I know but I would like to play some tunes for the people who have entertained me with their playing and singing for the last couple of months. While I was being lectured in proper Irish playing I could hear the Harry Chapin? Song in my head, the one about the teacher enforcing the correct way to view and paint the world on a child. Sorry just needed to get that off my chest and I would like to hear other peoples experiences and thoughts. I feel much better already.