As I'm linking, I'm realizing I didn't post these
10/26
Today was a rehearsal just like the one I observed before. P1 explained that they choose tunes/songs to perform by bringing in recordings and then making a chart. Each member of the ensemble is responsible for bringing in a piece that is "theirs," even if they say, don't actually sing the songs or are featured on the tune. They start rehearsal on a Bela Fleck tune, which is new. I noticed that P1 gives cues with his eyebrows. The form of this one is difficult and the fiddle part is technically demanding as well as improvisationally demanding. P1 makes some interesting comments:
"All music is made up."
In reference to making a fiddle solo work.
"Make the sounds good fiddle players make."
In reference to how you should decide what to play, again to C the fiddle player.
I noticed the form of all of these pieces is basically the same. Two part tune, and the melody is then played as a solo by each member in turn. Not really much new information this time, but just getting to see them interact in their normal environment.
11/2
This session was really interesting because of two reasons. I guess my informants are getting used to me coming by now, because they started talking about their lives and their families. NOTE: See informants page for information.
I also got to hear the ensemble before this one talking to a prospective student. From what I overheard, many of the players at SPC come to school without really knowing how to play anything. SPC teaches them the basics and beyond. Most of the students are encouraged to pick up several instruments while they're there. Students tend to "pick" with each other on the weekends, with one or the other of them "hosting" the session. This year, most of the students who host the picking sessions have graduated, so it doesn't happen too often.
The ensemble spends much of the time today talking about doctoring the bridges of their banjos. There are several new things on the board, which I think are referring to class presentations on the Banjo, Lloyd Lear, Jason Carter, Delmore Bros, Vassar Clements, and the Dobro. The one place where the professors gig in town is Larry's Smokehouse, an older place that just moved across town. I'm also invited to a gathering in Meadow. R explained that they play bluegrass in a back room and country on the mainstage. It's the second Saturday of every month.
11/14 Meadow Gig
Mitch and I drive out to Meadow. The directions I was given are few and far between--> Just drive around till you see a lot of cars. So I mapquest the place, and find out where main street is. We drive around for a little while, and once we find main street it's fairly easy to find the gathering.....as it had all of the cars there. The place looks like an old dance hall/church. There are pews instead of chairs, but there's an area for dancing anyway and a snackbar. The mainstage country is more of a gig, with people dancing in the back. D sees me, he is dressed in a black stetson and cowboy boots. He has just finished playing mainstage country, and shows me where the bluegrass guys are playing. It's a small unheated back room with abour 15 people crammed in, plus us now. Two of the guys from SPC are there, R and D. A said he would try to make it, but he doesn't. Two main guys call the songs/tunes: R and G (guitar and vocals). R is playing banjo exclusively instead of his usual guitar/dobro/banjo mix. Some of the songs I recognize: Fox on the Run. Two of the musicians in the middle are related (young man and his father). They switch between mandolin, guitar, and upright bass several times in the evening. This gathering serves several purposes. 1) Teaching the tradition to other people (as we left we were told to come back and pick with them) 2) Learning appropriate social interaction in this setting (Young girl was desperately trying to get her brother to pass a note to the young mandolin player, and was told to behave several different times by various musicians.).
Today was a rehearsal just like the one I observed before. P1 explained that they choose tunes/songs to perform by bringing in recordings and then making a chart. Each member of the ensemble is responsible for bringing in a piece that is "theirs," even if they say, don't actually sing the songs or are featured on the tune. They start rehearsal on a Bela Fleck tune, which is new. I noticed that P1 gives cues with his eyebrows. The form of this one is difficult and the fiddle part is technically demanding as well as improvisationally demanding. P1 makes some interesting comments:
"All music is made up."
In reference to making a fiddle solo work.
"Make the sounds good fiddle players make."
In reference to how you should decide what to play, again to C the fiddle player.
I noticed the form of all of these pieces is basically the same. Two part tune, and the melody is then played as a solo by each member in turn. Not really much new information this time, but just getting to see them interact in their normal environment.
11/2
This session was really interesting because of two reasons. I guess my informants are getting used to me coming by now, because they started talking about their lives and their families. NOTE: See informants page for information.
I also got to hear the ensemble before this one talking to a prospective student. From what I overheard, many of the players at SPC come to school without really knowing how to play anything. SPC teaches them the basics and beyond. Most of the students are encouraged to pick up several instruments while they're there. Students tend to "pick" with each other on the weekends, with one or the other of them "hosting" the session. This year, most of the students who host the picking sessions have graduated, so it doesn't happen too often.
The ensemble spends much of the time today talking about doctoring the bridges of their banjos. There are several new things on the board, which I think are referring to class presentations on the Banjo, Lloyd Lear, Jason Carter, Delmore Bros, Vassar Clements, and the Dobro. The one place where the professors gig in town is Larry's Smokehouse, an older place that just moved across town. I'm also invited to a gathering in Meadow. R explained that they play bluegrass in a back room and country on the mainstage. It's the second Saturday of every month.
11/14 Meadow Gig
Mitch and I drive out to Meadow. The directions I was given are few and far between--> Just drive around till you see a lot of cars. So I mapquest the place, and find out where main street is. We drive around for a little while, and once we find main street it's fairly easy to find the gathering.....as it had all of the cars there. The place looks like an old dance hall/church. There are pews instead of chairs, but there's an area for dancing anyway and a snackbar. The mainstage country is more of a gig, with people dancing in the back. D sees me, he is dressed in a black stetson and cowboy boots. He has just finished playing mainstage country, and shows me where the bluegrass guys are playing. It's a small unheated back room with abour 15 people crammed in, plus us now. Two of the guys from SPC are there, R and D. A said he would try to make it, but he doesn't. Two main guys call the songs/tunes: R and G (guitar and vocals). R is playing banjo exclusively instead of his usual guitar/dobro/banjo mix. Some of the songs I recognize: Fox on the Run. Two of the musicians in the middle are related (young man and his father). They switch between mandolin, guitar, and upright bass several times in the evening. This gathering serves several purposes. 1) Teaching the tradition to other people (as we left we were told to come back and pick with them) 2) Learning appropriate social interaction in this setting (Young girl was desperately trying to get her brother to pass a note to the young mandolin player, and was told to behave several different times by various musicians.).
posted by Lauren at 5:35 AM
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