Organizers

organizers@lists.sharedweight.net

4 participants
515 discussions

[Musicians] response to 'the balance thing'...info request

by Linette Charpentier

Hi everyone, I just subscribed to sharedweight.net last night and was reading through the archived messages. I am a classically trained violinist of almost 30 years, who has been playing fiddle music for the last 12 years or so. (After reading 'the balance thing', I don't think I will dare to call myself a fiddler yet at this point, or if I do, it will definitely have 'beginner' preceding fiddler.) Besides certain songs that have specific dances for them, such as La Bastrange, I did not realize the significance of exactly how a melody line can influence a dance pattern. This concept was actually introduced to me last evening at the Worcester Contra in a conversation with Chris. Then, as mentioned previously, I read through 'the balance thing'. It explained an aspect of fiddlin' that I was completely oblivious to. Input from the caller in the form of adjectives describing the type of character they want in a tune is what I am familiar with in deciding which pair of tunes will be played for an upcoming dance. Once the dance begins, my main focus has been that the pace is where the caller wants it to be according to the proficiency level of the dancers and the difficulty of the dance, and on staying rhythmically steady and energetic while still keeping the tune musical. Coming from a classical background, the things I find the most elusive thing about fiddling definitely fall under the stylistic aspects of playing. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend much, if any, of NEFFA coming up in a few weeks due to prior commitments, but I was wondering if there were any other such events coming up in the near future. Any advice or recommended resources to help demystify what seem like 'the unspoken rules' of fiddlin'? Thanks, Linette

17 years, 2 months

[Musicians] Glen Echo Open Band Podcast

by Chris Weiler (home)

I just was tipped off to this website: http://www.openbandonline.com/ Sounds like a great way to practice playing for contra dances. You can use this software: http://www.ronimusic.com/ The "Amazing Slow Downer" to turn the podcasts into a slow jam. Enjoy! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH Too embarrassed to play with real musicians yet.

17 years, 2 months

[Musicians] [Fwd: [trad-dance-callers] Ralph Page Weekend photos]

by Chris Weiler

-------- Original Message -------- All, I've posted photos from this past weekend's Ralph Page Legacy Dance Weekend on my Flickr site. The link is at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougplummer/sets/72157603786306193/ <http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougplummer/sets/72157603786306193/> Doug Plummer Doug Plummer Doug Plummer, Photographer www.dougplummer.com 206-523-2525 __,_._,___

17 years, 4 months

[Musicians] Ralph Page Legacy Weekend

by Chris Weiler (home)

Hello everyone, Once again, frigid New Hampshire was home to another warm and special Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend. It was great to see people from all over the country who came to dance and learn. The SharedWeight lunch gatherings were a couple of the high points for me. We had fascinating discussions about style, teaching, stubborn minded dancers, stubborn minded callers, psychology, choreography and so much more. Both Beth Parkes and Nils Freidland's caller's workshops made us think and philosophize this year. Beth's on what it means to be a "professional" caller. And Nil's on why we dance, why we call and what virtues we want and need to bring to the stage with us. The retrospective video about Ralph Sweet by David Millstone was great! Fun and funny and informative, David again shows his talent for storytelling. It would be great to hear from other people about their favorite parts. It was great to see everyone who came! Happy Dancing! Chris Weiler

17 years, 4 months

[Musicians] Annual Ralph Page Gathering

by Chris Weiler (home)

Hello everyone, Cynthia beat me to the punch. Yes, it's time for the Ralph Page Dance Legacy Weekend again. Yes, we shall have a SharedWeight gathering during lunch on Saturday in the dining area. For those who haven't been there before, we push a bunch of tables together for an informal gathering. I always look forward to seeing people from far away and meeting people new to the lists. I try to be there early with a little printed SharedWeight sign on the table at the back of the dining hall. You'll recognize me on the dance floor sporting a tie-dye bandanna. Or you can look at the picture on my website: http://www.chrisweiler.ws/ Safe travels everyone! Chris Weiler Goffstown, NH

17 years, 5 months

[Musicians] Jam sessions

by wendy parham

Hi - We have jazz jam sessions going on here. http://www.myspace.com/2rus. We play mostly coffeehouses. Starbucks loves to have live music and they'll throw in a coffee for everyone on the house. We play out of the Hal Leonard Real Books and have them available for C concert, Bb, and Eb, bass clef and vocals. There is a core of us called In Two but several others who come around and play. I got started by taking the jazz ensemble classes at the local university, University of Central Arkansas. I got to know a few other musicians with whom I am still in contact. I also got playing with a Western Swing band at Senior dances. Between the two, I was meeting quite a few musicians. Finally, about 5 years ago, I joined a community big band through musicians I had previously met. In Two is a jazz combo and the emphasis is on playing jazz standards and improvising. We are playing for dances in community centers, retirement centers and nursing homes. I hope your community is getting their groove on too! Wendy

17 years, 8 months

[Musicians] September 27-30

by mtlaurel＠gwi.net

Hi All, I am a flute player who is travelling to Massachusetts next weekend for a conference and will have the evenings free. I love to jam and am wondering if there is anyone on the list who is out there in western Mass who might know of a jam that is open or want to play some. I am an intermediate beginner player, as far as dance music goes. Thanks! Sandy River mtlaurel(a)gwi.net

17 years, 8 months

[Musicians] Happy 3rd Anniversary SharedWeight!

by Chris Weiler (SW)

Hello everyone! It was three years ago that Seth and I started SharedWeight. The first invitations went out on September 19th and the first messages went out shortly afterwards. We'd like to thank everyone for sharing their thoughts, material, opinions and attention. It's been our privilege to see you take our vision for what these lists could be and make them a reality. This next year is going to be an exciting one as well. As the Musicians and Organizers lists get going, there are more plans in the works for SharedWeight. Happy Dancing!! Chris Weiler

17 years, 8 months

Re: [Musicians] Musicians Digest, Vol 3, Issue 1

by mmcconeghy＠cox.net

Amy You are a genius. No kidding. if only everyone else I've played with had thought things through this way, life would be so much easier. It does take a LOT of experience, though, to understand the tunes and match up at this level. We're working on it! When we have played 1/10 the number of venues you have, we will be a lot more with it. Meanwhile it would be good if the callers had the same feel for things and could suggest some tunes that they know work well with various dances, (like in English CD. But then you lose the opportunity for Catharsis and all the other great new tunes...) Matt McConeghy Providence

17 years, 9 months

[Musicians] Amy's Rant

by George Fowler

Hi Amy, OK, I'll wade in. Having sat in the fiddler's chair for almost 30 yrs, (and behind the caller's mic almost as long), I'd say your "rant" covers lots of thoughtful, and dance-technical ground, but for me is overly analytical. What I like to hear from a caller is not much more than "jigs works well for this one", or "reels, please" and modified with "smooth & flowing", "march-like", "brisk", "old-timey is good for this dance", etc. Or, "I'm going to call Petronella next." Beyond that, I don't much care for, or need, more detail. The caller's job is to clue the band as to style & feeling of tunes desired for a particular dance, and the band's job is to be observant of the dance, the appropriate tempo, the skill level of the dancers and to help denote where important phrases & pauses might be. I'm certainly not going to rearrange a set of tunes because there's a balance at the start of B1, or an allemande followed by a circle. Our sets are arranged to inspire the dancers through their progressions of key & chord changes, and thematic ideas. They are also chosen within genre's: old-time, standard New England, French-Canadian, Irish, flowing jigs, bouncy jigs, which will suit the flavor of the dance. Occasionally Heaven is inadvertently achieved when the perfect tune meets the perfect dance, but I'd say the vast majority of the time both the caller and band achieve consistenly solid results, if not Nirvana, by thoughtfully pursuing what I've thumbnailed above. All the best, George George Fowler Oakum Bay String Band Blue Hill, ME gfowler(a)hypernet.com

17 years, 9 months

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