4 Sep
2024
4 Sep
'24
1:16 p.m.
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 <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> 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 <
contracallers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> 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
<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/fcd3f5d71da848759228584d1a49babd@emory.edu?anonymous&ep=signature>
Book
time to meet with me
<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SethTepfer@mscloud.emory.net/bookings/>
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