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 <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 >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> List Name: Callers mailing list >>> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >>> <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> >>> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >>> <https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> List Name: Callers mailing list >> List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net >> <mailto:Callers@lists.sharedweight.net> >> Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/ >> <https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/> > _______________________________________________ > List Name: Callers mailing list > List Address: Callers@lists.sharedweight.net > Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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