Country Dance and Song Society

English Dance Musicians Course at Pinewoods
August 13 - 20, 2005

As of April 6, this week is full with a short waitlist.

Buffalo Gap	Pinewoods			Ogontz
English & American Family	Early Music American Dance & Music Square Dance Callers	Campers' English Dance Leaders English & American American Musicians	English Dance English Musicians Family Folk Music	Family Week 1 Teacher Family Week 2

Schedule & Fees

Classes

Registration

English Dance Musicians Course at Pinewoods
August 13 - 20, 2005

Program Director:
Jacqueline Schwab

Tentative Schedule: [Back to Top]

7:45 - 8:15 Breakfast

9:00 - 10:10

English Dance Musicians Course

10:25 - 11:35

English Dance Musicians Course

11:35 - 12:15 Swimming, Bookstore staffed

12:15 Lunch

1:45 - 2:15

Gathering TBA

2:30 - 3:30

English for All / Open Band Barbara Finney / Mary Lea

ECD on the Continent: Reconstructions from 18th-Century Sources Carol Marsh

Experienced Longsword Steve Howe

Beginning / Intermediate Clog Andra Herzbrun Horton

3:35 - 4:25

Singing John Roberts

4:00 - 4:25 Tea

4:30 - 5:30

English Dance Musicians Course

5:30 - 6:15 Swimming, Bookstore staffed

6:30 Dinner

8:00

Couple Dancing

8:15

Evening Dance Party

11:00

Optional After-dance Activities

Program Description: [Back to Top]
Look up our Special Programs for some general information; here is more detail about this particular program and staff.

Looking to create more rhythmic energy and excitement in your English dance music playing? This latest installment of the intensive English Dance Musicians Course will focus on flow and pulse in the music. We will examine how we feel pulse in our own bodies, find ways to express pulse and flow and grow our own ideas of how to make lilting English country dance music groove while it flows.

The course, held concurrently with English Dance Week at Pinewoods will be led by pianist Jacqueline Schwab, an English country dance musician for over 25 years and a founding member of Bare Necessities, which has 11 recordings of English country dance music and plays for English dances throughout the U.S. and beyond. Jacqueline's dance music playing has developed out of her classical and improvisational training, her passion for English country dancing 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's music has been widely heard on the soundtracks of ten PBS documentaries by Ken Burns. She has made over forty recordings, including three solo ones.

In a user-friendly, encouraging environment, we will play a wide variety of English dance tunes, with tune list and music provided before camp. However, we won't aim to get through a lot of repertoire as we focus more on finding percussive ways to play large sweeps of dance phrases. We will explore how to play more efficiently and fluidly on our instruments. We will also play games around the topics of pulse, tempo and flow. We will divide into small groups to play together, some times working in lab mode, with a specific assignment, other times trying ideas that come up within the group. Additional topics may arise for the week.

This course is open to all musicians who feel comfortable playing a tune at dance tempo. Ability to read music is not required but is helpful; playing without the written music will be encouraged. All instruments are welcome (voice, too)! Participants are asked to plan on attending all three classes each day. Where possible, Jacqueline will invite other staff members to coach on their own instruments. If a number of pianists register, we'll have a few piano-oriented sessions during the week.

We've had a lot of fun at past English Dance Musicians Courses, where topics have focused on harmonic progressions, melodic improvisation and orchestration, as well as several general classes. Some participants have returned more than once! We hope you will come join us or return this year!

Please check the description of English Dance Week at Pinewoods for details on that rich and varied program and staff.

Class Descriptions: [Back to Top]
The course will meet for three periods each day. There will be an additional open-band period, led by another staff member, for those who want to play through a lot of tunes, on the fly, for dancers. Each night, you will have the opportunity to dance English country dancing at the all-camp evening dance. Outside of this class, you will have the opportunity to play for the Camper Night evening dance, either as a big band and, perhaps, in small ensembles.

Materials: [Back to Top]
A tune list and music will be provided before camp.

Registration: [Back to Top]

The registration deadline for this course is March 14. If it is oversubscribed on the 14th, there will be a lottery. This course is limited to 15 participants to ensure plenty of opportunity for active participation. In case of over-subscription, some preference will be given to applicants from areas that are under-served with English dance musicians. Scholarships are available.