Hi Jeff,
While I understand your point & agree with the outcome that you suggest,
I see a sheet of music more like a dashboard in a car - the gauges are
there to glance at once in a while as need be but the important thing to
watch is the road. For myself, the best example is the (thankfully)
rare occasion when we are asked to do an unending grand march. We
string 3-6 tunes together, in different keys, 6/8 & 4/4, etc to keep it
interesting. I always scribble out the first couple of bars of each
tune, in order, so that I don't blow a transition or start into the
wrong tune in the agreed upon order.
As for "playing by ear", do we really mean learning by ear? If that is
the case it doesn't matter much to me. Whether I learn a tune from a
friend, a recording or a piece of paper, by the time it gets used it is
memorized & has entered into a state of constant flux.
Finally, It is guys like you, the "rhythm section", who can most easily
create excitement via rhythmic & chord moves. If that is solid &
driving, the melody instruments can float on top & add the filigree. As
proof, I can remember you with the Synchpaths going several times in a
row through a tune with no melody at all & without a single dancer
looking perplexed. Maybe all of us fiddle players should just pack up,
forget about the tune & go out on the floor & dance.
Regards, Tom Verdot
On 5/17/2019 8:52 AM, Jeffrey Spero via Musicians wrote:
I’m in complete agreement with Jeff Kaufman. If you have the music in front of
you, you’re much more likely to play exactly what you see on the page as
opposed to being in the moment and playing WITH the other musicians and FOR the
dancers. For those that can play by ear, I encourage them to do so. And for
those who are uncomfortable with that, I encourage them to learn the music off
the page, and then put the music away while playing.
The other Jeff
Culver City, CA
On May 17, 2019, at 3:53 AM, tom hinds via Musicians
<[email protected]> wrote:
I’d like to know people’s opinion of using music while playing for a contra
dance. Is it easier to create excitement if the musicians play by ear?
Thanks in advance for your opinion, Tom Hinds
Sent from my iPad
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