I agree with this. I have observed an occasional beginners session where the caller tries to teach every single move. That makes no sense,  how can a person who is unfamiliar with all of this possibly absorb so much information?

Definitely some work with music.  And sometimes I have observed confusion because while the caller is teaching the band is warming up and playing fragments that are out of sync with what is being taught.

The thing I always tell a beginner when I dance with one is “It is OK to make mistakes - even experienced dancers make mistakes”.

John

On Sep 11, 2019, at 6:24 AM, Michael Barraclough via Callers <callers@lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

Hi All

I couldn't disagree more with the comments below.

For me, dance is movement laid upon music - no music, no dance. Having the band is best, but if the band can't do it (why not?) then recorded music can work fine. I start with a circle (no partner) and get everyone moving. Dancers get to feel the music and to listen to the caller. People aren't necessarily used to listening and to being told what to do. Take this as an opportunity for new dancers to learn that they need to do this at a contra dance. Try 8-bars, 4-bars, 2-bars etc, mix them up, after a few circle left/right throw in a right/right or left/left. As well as circling, you can do some in and out (again, mix up everyone/men/ladies/tall/short) etc. After that, I pair people up randomly by getting concentric gendered circles going in opposite directions and you get a partner when the music stops. Now you can do a few turns, do-si-dos and maybe swinging. After that promenade out of the circle into lines. Then I teach the concept of progression (at length, it's probably the most important thing for a successful contra evening). Then, and only then, a few figures.

Michael Barraclough

On 11/09/2019 02:53, Woody Lane via Callers wrote:
Hi Jim,

I never use music during the pre-dance lesson until the very end of the lesson. I don't think there is a need until the end.

My entire lesson is filled with moves -- either as a couple or as a foursome. We repeat the moves; we repeat the moves, again and again. For moves like courtesy turn, pass through, right-and-left through, ladies chain, 1/2-hey, and full hey -- once they learn the actual move, then I add the count -- either 8 or 16. Again, with no music, just my voice.

Then, during the last 4 minutes or so of the lesson, I ask the band to play a single tune -- whatever the band likes, reel or jig. I want the tempo at regular dance speed -- 112-118 or so. The dancers are still in their foursomes. Then I call those moves to the music -- hash call so no one knows what move is next. The dancers dance to the music, do the moves at speed in the right tempo, finish the moves on time, and learn to listen to the caller. I don't worry about lining up for a contra and learning the progression -- I can teach that in 30-seconds during the first dance of the evening. Basically, I want dancers to have fun and confidence in dancing.

I think this lesson does a good job of getting new dancers confident and dancing to the music.

Best,
Woody
--
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Woody Lane
Caller, Percussive Dancer
Roseburg, Oregon
http://www.woodylanecaller.com
cell: 541-556-0054

On 9/10/2019 12:41 PM, jim saxe via Callers wrote:
I'd like to hear from any of you who can share experience or advice about making use of music during the introductory lesson (a/k/a "new dancers' orientation", "beginners' workshop", etc.) that often precedes a regularly scheduled contradance.

What source of music do you use? (Recorded music played on a device that you control? Live music played by a musician assisting with the lesson? Music that you yourself can play on some instrument while leading the session? Your own singing of song lyrics, nonsense syllables like "la la la", or dance calls? Music that may happen to be coming from the evening's band doing their sound check at the other end of the hall?  ..)  How--in as much detail as you care to supply--do you use that music in your teaching? What do you think/hope your use of music contributes to the effectiveness or fun of the lesson?

I tossed out a few ideas on this topic, with much uncertainty about which ones were any good, in a message I sent on September 2 in the "Brain Dead - Need Suggestions" thread.  I'm re-raising the topic here under a more descriptive Subject line in hope of getting responses from people who can offer comments based on actual experience.

Thanks.

--Jim

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