In my experience of sessions (about 25 years) many musicians play much too fast probably in an attempt to impress or to outdo each other. This is particularly true where I live now, i.e. Belgium, where many local musicians are technically very accomplished but have not grown up "in the tradition". It seems to give great satisfaction and amusement to "lose one or two" halfway through the set. In most cases where I have played for dancers they have preferred a slightly slowed down version of the "modern standard" speed for jigs and reels set during the Bothy Band/De Danann era. Now being too old too take steroids or amphetamines or to be bothered to keep up I tend to take things at a more relaxed pace, concentrating more on expression and dynamics.

Another thing that annoys me mildly is the reluctance of many musicians to put in the odd air, planxty, makurka, waltz, etc. to vary the set as mentioned by several others above. Also a reluctance to learn many lesser-played but fine tunes. I probably as a result have a couple of hundred tunes I cannot play here except in the occasional company of another "old fogey" like myself (not talking age here I hasten to add!).

On the positive side, not all bodhran players are bad. One or two I know actually do try to slow things down!

Yours slowly,

mcmoo