[Callers] Using music in the pre-dance lesson

Wed Sep 11 22:51:46 PDT 2019

Hi Michael,

We are going to agree to disagree. My pre-dance lesson has been very 
successful -- we've observed that many newcomers in those lessons 
continue to stay into the second half of the evening or all the way to 
the end.  I've run my style of pre-dance lesson for more than 400  
dances, and the observed results are quite clear. It works.

But one thing I consider important -- that the ultimate goal of a lesson 
is for people /to learn/, not for us to teach. As teachers, we may favor 
certain things -- like dancing to music -- but that might not be the 
best way for the newcomers to learn to dance. Too many things happening 
at the same time, with too many words of explanations.

So I break it down -- first the moves, lots and lots of muscle 
repetitions. Then placement and holds, including allemandes, swings, 
balance and swing, circle left, circle right, etc. Then the courtesy 
turn -- again and again and again. Then counting -- a right-and-left 
through with a courtesy turn takes 8 counts.  Then, and only then after 
they have done these moves 10-20 times, then we add the music. So in 20 
minutes my lesson builds, piece by piece in small, logical, 
understandable steps. For example, first the courtesy turn. Then the 
pass through with a courtesy turn. Then the right-and-left through with 
the courtesy turn. Then the ladies chain with the courtesy turn. All in 
a firm count of 8. Sometimes I'll add 9 and 10 for slow movers and 
everyone laughs. Then a half-hey, in a count of 8. Then the full hey in 
the count of 16. Then and only then, the music -- when the dancers can 
put this together in response to the calls, one move after another 
without a break, all to the music. And so the dancers get the "feel" of 
the music and moves subliminally. And it works because by then they are 
ready to add the music to their knowledge base.

This way of learning is also the best way of learning languages -- just 
copy and speak, copy and speak. We don't spend time on verb declinations 
or extensive rules of grammar. That's how they do it in academia, of 
course, but not in the Peace Corps or the Foreign Service. Or when we 
are young children and we learn our language by copying and speaking. 
Musical bars and musical phrases don't mean anything to newcomers who 
don't play instruments; counting does.

Do you remember the old movie "The Karate Kid"? The newcomer kid wants 
to learn Karate, but the sensei tells him instead to spend his time 
waxing his cars. A lot. But eventually, in a scene where the sensei 
suddenly throws punches at him, the kid uses those same arm motions to 
automatically block the blows successfully. Much to his surprise. Of 
course that was Hollywood, but the lesson is real. Learning doesn't have 
to be direct. Sometimes indirect roads lead to a more successful outcome.

BTW, "no music, no dance". Have you ever seen an acapella clogging 
routine? It's dancing without "music", but it's clearly in rhythms and 
tempo; it's clearly dancing.

Woody

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On 9/11/2019 3:24 AM, Michael Barraclough 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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>>
>>
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