[Callers] Using music in the pre-dance lesson

[Erik Hoffman]

I diddle a tune. Having witnessed many other callers lead workshops, I can attest that not all callers can do this. But I'll diddle a tune, and include rhythmic patter calling as I do. If you feel comfortable singing (lilting?) (mouth-music?) this can be a good way to introduce phrasing. If not, ask one of the musicians.

I can do this for the intro to the intro: circle left, right, into center, "that's all you need to know, there are calls to remind you of the figures, and the music tells you when the next move starts. As you get familiar with the figures it will be easier to hear the phrases of the music, and let them guide you." 

As I go through figures, I can patter/chant, to continue to give timing along with the idea of musical phrasing.

~Erik Hoffman


-----Original Message-----
From: Callers <callers-bounces at lists.sharedweight.net> On Behalf Of Rich Goss via Callers
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2019 3:14 PM
To: callers at lists.sharedweight.net
Subject: Re: [Callers] Using music in the pre-dance lesson

I will often ask the fiddle player to come out on the floor and play for a short circle dance.   This is an opportunity to get them dancing right away, teaches connection (giving weight), phrasing (counting to 8), and swing basics. 

Sometimes the whole band wants to play. 

Rich

> On Sep 10, 2019, at 12:41 PM, jim saxe via Callers <callers at lists.sharedweight.net> 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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