Hi Jonathan and Maia, There seems to be some confusion about what Don was asking.
If a dance progresses at the end of the B2, then Jonathan's advise is the standard advise-- give the band an odd number with the couple out at the top. But that's not what Don was asking about. He was asking, if a dance progresses in the middle of the dance, say, at the end of the A2, when do you decide to end it? With a couple still out at the top? Or do you end it when that couple has come back in, keeping in mind that they might come back in only for a couple of moves and be disappointed when the dance suddenly ends? I don't really have any answer as far as a mnemonic device goes. I do think it's not necessarily a great idea in all circumstances to give an even number to the band when the dance progresses in the A-- what if it progresses at the end of A1, for instance? I'd then call it the same way as a dance that progresses in the B2, unless the band is willing to be extra special and play a third B part the final time through. So, in other words, I'm not sure that it's worthwhile to try to think of a mnemonic device. Instead, on those less common dances that progress some time other than at the end of B2, maybe just put a note in where you want to signal the band and for an even or odd number of times through? -Dave On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 5:33 PM, Jonathan Sivier <[email protected]>wrote: > On 1/14/2013 4:22 PM, Yoyo Zhou wrote: > >> On Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 1:09 PM, Don Veino <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> I'm wondering whether someone has developed a simple accurate mnemonic >>> for >>> >> >> Thinking about this, I think it's easier to watch what's going on. >> You can usually identify a point in the dance - say, the start of B2, >> which is also conveniently when you want to signal the band - when you >> prefer that everyone at the top is active (this is the goal, right?). >> If a couple is out, give an odd number. If they're in, give an even >> number. >> > > In general you should talk to the band and see what they prefer in the > way of a signal for when to finish. > > The most common method in my experience, when calling a single > progression, 32 bar dance with a tune played AABB, is to wait until a > couple is out at the top of the set and then signal the band during the > B-part, B1 or B2, that there will be one more time through the dance. This > generally means that they should play to the end of this time through the > AABB and then repeat the whole thing one more time. If the progression > does happen at an odd time in the dance, or it's double or triple > progression, you may need to adjust this, or it may happen that a couple > will pop out just before the music ends, but for 99% of the contra dances > out there this will work fine. > > If the band wants to be notified prior to 2 more times through, then > give the signal when there isn't a couple out, and as mentioned about 3 > more times means to give the signal when there is someone out. > > Jonathan > > > ______________________________**_________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers> > -- David Casserly (cell) 781 258-2761
