I'm curious about other musicians' experiences with contra medleys,
especially in relation to their length.
I've played for quite a few 6x6 medleys (6 dances, done 6x each) and
consider this a manageable length in a 4-person band (piano + 3 melody
players), provided I remember not to play the entire time.
Do any of you have experience with longer medleys?
Have you played one that goes 30 minutes or longer? If so, how many
musicians were in your group?
What are your personal limits?
Any experience alternating bands (or alternating individual musicians) in
longer medleys?
Thanks,
Susie Lorand (fiddler), Ann Arbor, MI
Hi Sue,
I'm a fiddler in a contradance band and would love to have tips on how to
pick tunes to satisfy callers - you know, the "balance in the first part of
the B" sorts of requests. I'm always surprised at how many callers have no
idea of names of tunes and aren't able to suggest something when looking at
a band's set list. I agree with Emily in Ottawa for what she'd like to see,
too.
Shelly Ann in New England
On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 4:07 PM, via Musicians <
musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Send Musicians mailing list submissions to
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> than "Re: Contents of Musicians digest..."
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Musicians Digest, Vol 9, Issue 3 (Emily Addison via Musicians)
> 2. Re: CDSS News--A Query for Dance Musicians
> (Erik Hoffman via Musicians)
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Emily Addison via Musicians <musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> To: musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net,
> musicians-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Cc:
> Date: Wed, 14 Oct 2015 12:12:25 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Musicians] Musicians Digest, Vol 9, Issue 3
> Hi Sue,
>
> I'd love to see a comprehensive section of the CDSS website with resources
> promoting learning re playing for dances. Related, an article in the
> newsletter promoting that page, highlighting some of the key resources out
> there would be amazing!
>
> Other ideas:
> - Tips on different improvising techniques + ways of learning how to
> improvise in a band. (+links to other resources)
> - Tips on exploring alternative chord options, for traditional
> accompaniment instruments AND others (+links to other resources)
> - Lots of different ideas for how to learn to listen to band members more,
> including neat activities/exercises to do together.
>
> Emily in Ottawa
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 12, 2015 at 3:06 PM, via Musicians <
> musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
>
>> Send Musicians mailing list submissions to
>> musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>>
>> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/musicians-sharedweight.net
>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>> musicians-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
>> You can reach the person managing the list at
>> musicians-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>>
>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> than "Re: Contents of Musicians digest..."
>>
>>
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>> 1. (musicians) Dance Fun (jill allen via Musicians)
>> 2. CDSS News--A Query for Dance Musicians
>> (Susan Songer via Musicians)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2015 10:22:36 -0500
>> From: jill allen via Musicians <musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> To: Musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>> Subject: [Musicians] (musicians) Dance Fun
>> Message-ID: <5807F0ED-CE2F-4629-AFE2-8B7B2AC37CB2(a)att.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>>
>> In response to David's question, some of my favorite moments have been at
>> our band practices. Getting in the groove playing a hot tune while the
>> kids are bouncing around the house and the cat is oblivious and asleep in
>> the fiddle case, or those creative group moments when you add a new tune
>> and it's a good fit!
>>
>> Playing for dances is always great, but the creativity behind the scenes
>> can be just as exciting.
>>
>> Jill Allen
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:46:34 -0700
>> From: Susan Songer via Musicians <musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> To: <musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
>> Subject: [Musicians] CDSS News--A Query for Dance Musicians
>> Message-ID: <000401d1050d$957ebd80$c07c3880$@com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> Hi All-
>>
>>
>>
>> The Dance Musicians' Task Group (I'm a member) is going to have oversight
>> on
>> a series of articles in the CDSS news. These articles will address issues
>> of
>> interest and concern to musicians playing for dances. We are working out
>> the
>> exact format these articles will take, and as part of that process would
>> like input from you. Yes, you who are reading this message! What topics
>> would you like to see addressed in these articles? All topic suggestions
>> are
>> welcome-eg.: What differentiates contra dance fiddling from other fiddling
>> styles? Or How can you tell when to switch from one tune to the next in a
>> medley? Or If an ECD dance does not have an associated tune, how can you
>> make a good tune choice for that dance? I'll bet you readers can think of
>> a
>> lot more topics that are worth exploring in some depth. You can either
>> list
>> them here or write me separately off list. Thanks in advance for
>> contributing ideas.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sue Songer
>>
>> songer(a)portcoll.com
>>
>>
Hi All-
The Dance Musicians' Task Group (I'm a member) is going to have oversight on
a series of articles in the CDSS news. These articles will address issues of
interest and concern to musicians playing for dances. We are working out the
exact format these articles will take, and as part of that process would
like input from you. Yes, you who are reading this message! What topics
would you like to see addressed in these articles? All topic suggestions are
welcome-eg.: What differentiates contra dance fiddling from other fiddling
styles? Or How can you tell when to switch from one tune to the next in a
medley? Or If an ECD dance does not have an associated tune, how can you
make a good tune choice for that dance? I'll bet you readers can think of a
lot more topics that are worth exploring in some depth. You can either list
them here or write me separately off list. Thanks in advance for
contributing ideas.
Sue Songer
songer(a)portcoll.com
Hi Sue,
I'd love to see a comprehensive section of the CDSS website with resources
promoting learning re playing for dances. Related, an article in the
newsletter promoting that page, highlighting some of the key resources out
there would be amazing!
Other ideas:
- Tips on different improvising techniques + ways of learning how to
improvise in a band. (+links to other resources)
- Tips on exploring alternative chord options, for traditional
accompaniment instruments AND others (+links to other resources)
- Lots of different ideas for how to learn to listen to band members more,
including neat activities/exercises to do together.
Emily in Ottawa
On Mon, Oct 12, 2015 at 3:06 PM, via Musicians <
musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
> Send Musicians mailing list submissions to
> musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>
> http://lists.sharedweight.net/listinfo.cgi/musicians-sharedweight.net
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> musicians-request(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> musicians-owner(a)lists.sharedweight.net
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of Musicians digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. (musicians) Dance Fun (jill allen via Musicians)
> 2. CDSS News--A Query for Dance Musicians
> (Susan Songer via Musicians)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2015 10:22:36 -0500
> From: jill allen via Musicians <musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> To: Musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net
> Subject: [Musicians] (musicians) Dance Fun
> Message-ID: <5807F0ED-CE2F-4629-AFE2-8B7B2AC37CB2(a)att.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> In response to David's question, some of my favorite moments have been at
> our band practices. Getting in the groove playing a hot tune while the
> kids are bouncing around the house and the cat is oblivious and asleep in
> the fiddle case, or those creative group moments when you add a new tune
> and it's a good fit!
>
> Playing for dances is always great, but the creativity behind the scenes
> can be just as exciting.
>
> Jill Allen
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 12 Oct 2015 09:46:34 -0700
> From: Susan Songer via Musicians <musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> To: <musicians(a)lists.sharedweight.net>
> Subject: [Musicians] CDSS News--A Query for Dance Musicians
> Message-ID: <000401d1050d$957ebd80$c07c3880$@com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi All-
>
>
>
> The Dance Musicians' Task Group (I'm a member) is going to have oversight
> on
> a series of articles in the CDSS news. These articles will address issues
> of
> interest and concern to musicians playing for dances. We are working out
> the
> exact format these articles will take, and as part of that process would
> like input from you. Yes, you who are reading this message! What topics
> would you like to see addressed in these articles? All topic suggestions
> are
> welcome-eg.: What differentiates contra dance fiddling from other fiddling
> styles? Or How can you tell when to switch from one tune to the next in a
> medley? Or If an ECD dance does not have an associated tune, how can you
> make a good tune choice for that dance? I'll bet you readers can think of a
> lot more topics that are worth exploring in some depth. You can either list
> them here or write me separately off list. Thanks in advance for
> contributing ideas.
>
>
>
> Sue Songer
>
> songer(a)portcoll.com
>
>
In response to David's question, some of my favorite moments have been at our band practices. Getting in the groove playing a hot tune while the kids are bouncing around the house and the cat is oblivious and asleep in the fiddle case, or those creative group moments when you add a new tune and it's a good fit!
Playing for dances is always great, but the creativity behind the scenes can be just as exciting.
Jill Allen
Can you describe a fun and/or rewarding moment while playing for a dance?
I have many, but at the first dance camp I attended/played, I got to play
an evening with Rodney Miller. I had played his records to death, and the
opportunity to play with him was wonderful.
Dave Firestine