First, a friendly reminder please to sign your last name to your posts (and some would like your city/state, too, but I’ll settle for a full name :-)
CDSS had a webinar on open bands that you may find useful: https://cdss.org/programs/web-chats/creating-a-thriving-open-band/ Creating a Thriving Open Band - Country Dance & Song Society cdss.org Lisa Greenleaf > On Sep 4, 2024, at 1:16 PM, Joseph Erhard-Hudson via Contra Callers > <[email protected]> wrote: > > Another learning opportunity I’ve run into with new-to-our-world players is > mechanics like potatoes, tune changes if there are any, and signaling for > last times through. If they have played sessions the latter two may be okay, > but in any case I’d suggest practicing starts and stops during setup, just to > be sure. > > Sheet music is a good idea because it can also be vetted. I had an old time > band cross over once … they had a couple of veteran contra dancers, yet they > still put Cherokee Shuffle in a medley. By luck the extra measure coincided > with a swing and was easy to adjust to. > > -Joseph > > > Sent from my phone, which has odd ideas about formatting sometimes. > > > On Wed, Sep 4, 2024 at 9:07 AM Amy Larkin via Contra Callers > <[email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> Let them know it's all about the rhythm. Rock steady & relentless. Subtle >> emphasis on the upbeat can lift people up for dancing. Musicality is >> luscious, as long as no one's taking liberties with the beat. >> Also to be prepared to take cues from the caller to gradually(!) slow down >> or speed up, just in case. And keep a third eye on the caller for when to >> stop. >> Individual notes not as important as beat. >> >> Well phrased straight ahead tunes with short (4 bar) phrases tend to be easy >> for new dancers to latch onto. Easily recognizable tunes such as Irish >> Washerwoman, Turkey in the Straw, & Arkansas Traveller are good choices. >> >> I generally prefer major keys for ONS. >> >> Sounds like a fun challenge! You gotta corral the orchestra as well as the >> dancers. 😵💫 >> Amy >> >> >> >> On Wed, Sep 4, 2024, 11:36 AM Tep fer, Seth via Contra Callers >> <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> Hello hive mind >>> >>> I have an upcoming ONS gig with a group of people who are all professional >>> musicians, but have never played together nor played for a dance. What >>> resources are out there to help give these musicians an understanding of >>> what is coming for them? Any web videos or PDFs of hints so they know what >>> to expect? They are asking for sheet music and videos, which will help but >>> I know there is much more to it than that. >>> >>> Seth >>> >>> Seth Tepfer, MBA, CSM, PMP (he, him, his) >>> Senior IT Manager, Emory Primate Center >>> <Outlook-qlc4is1i.png> >>> <https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/[email protected]?anonymous&ep=signature> >>> Book time to meet with me >>> <https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/[email protected]/bookings/> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]> >>> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]> >> _______________________________________________ >> Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]> > _______________________________________________ > Contra Callers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
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