Country Dance and Song Society English Dance Musicians Course at Buffalo Gap July 8 - 15, 2000

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English Dance Musicians Course at Buffalo Gap July 8 - 15, 2000 Program Director: Jacqueline Schwab
Tentative Schedule: [Back to Top]
9:00 - 10:00
English Dance Musicians Course: Small Ensembles or Instrument Classes
10:15 - 11:15
English for Experts	Helene Cornelius
English Flavors	Alisa Dodson
Calling 101	Cis Hinkle
11:30 - 12:15
Camp Gathering	Doug Olsen
1:15 - 2:00
Community Sing	Doug Olsen
2:15 - 3:15
English Dance Musicians Course: Small Ensembles or Instrument Classes
3:30 - 4:30
English Dance Musicians Course: Small Ensembles or Instrument Classes
4:45 - 5:30
Daily staff or camper-planned offerings; presentations
8:00
Couple Dances
8:15
Evening Dance Party
11:00
After-dance refreshments Late-night parties (camper initiated)

Program Description: [Back to Top]
This course will aim to give intermediate and advanced players both practical ideas and new paradigms to develop their English country dance musician skills. Working in a friendly, supportive group, you will be encouraged to explore your own idea of what makes good dance music rather than copying someone else's style from alpha to omega. (On the other hand, we'll also practice copying someone else's licks!) You will be encouraged to find your individual, bold, expressive, playful and heartfelt musical voice and at the same time to play cooperatively in ensemble without bloodshed.

You will have daily chances to dance with the rest of camp -- a morning English country class and the evening English/American dance. Drawing on that, we will look at the musical and movement styles found in English country dancing and explore relaxed and fluid ways to infuse our music with movement, breath and pulse. As part of this, you will be encouraged to play without written music where possible.

In addition, we will explore different approaches to melodic and harmonic improvisational flights of fancy. We will develop arrangements, looking at orchestration, form, texture and mood, and we will divide up into small groups so you may experiment on your own. We will also talk about the (inevitable) issues of band dynamics, bad pianos, sound systems, etc.

The course, held concurrently with Dance Week at Buffalo Gap, will be led by pianist Jacqueline Schwab, an English country dance musician for over twenty years and a member of Bare Necessities. Her own style is influenced by her classical and improvisational training, her many years as a folk dancer, her love of traditional music and her experience playing for many styles of dance (including modern and ballet). She has taught English dance and music at workshops around the country. Jacqueline, whose music has been heard on the soundtracks of Ken Burns's PBS documentaries, plays on over 30 recordings, including two solo and several English country dance recordings.

Where possible, Jacqueline will invite other staff members to coach on their own instruments.

The schedule includes participation in English country dancing (as described above) as well as in the full range of camp activities, from singing to swimming to socializing to saunas. Please check the description of Dance Week for details on the rich and varied program and staff. There will be limited opportunities to play at the programmed evening dances, but playing at informal, camper-instigated dances and music sessions during free periods will be encouraged.

Registration: [Back to Top]
Enrollment in the English Dance Musicians Course is limited to ensure ample opportunity for active participation. There will be an acoustic piano, but piano players are encouraged to bring an electric keyboard with headphones. We will attempt to keep a balance between melody players and accompanists. Participants should feel comfortable playing tunes at dance tempo. Scholarships are available.

Program Description Tentative Schedule Top

413-268-7426 FAX: 413-268-7471

Country Dance and Song Society 132 Main St/PO Box 338 Haydenville, MA 01039-0338 Office Hours M-F 9:30am - 5:00pm EST

http://www.cdss.org/