which brings us back to peter t.; what is your image of a song circle?

charlie, you make it sound like every week i am to come up with a polished performance. i don't think song circles are the same as performance circles where everyone happens to join in on the chorus.

here's a for instance. a few weeks ago, i heard a new song on the radio, by jenny lester. i had fortunately taped the show and was able to learn it well before my cd arrived in the mail. by song circle night i was able to sing it very well, and accompany myself very well at the piano. when i taught it, the group picked the chorus up quickly and the harmonies were grand.

that first time doing the song with the group, i needed both the words and chords in front of me! but that did not detract from the energy and beauty and love i felt for that new song. the next time we met, i was requested to do that song again.

now i have no problem leading it withoout the words in front of me. i have led it from the piano, with no instruments, and another time with my guitar partner playing for me. each change was a bit of a risk, but really nice.

if song circle had judged that my contribution was not valid until i had memorized the song, i wouldn't have gone through the process i needed to do in order to make that song my own, and that song wouldn't have developed into our group's repertoire.

i agree with you rick, about copying words into one's own book. i have some lyrics/chords on big sheets that can sit as far away as the floor and still be understood, and i have a teeny-tiny notebook which is also unobtrusive. i like to have a collection of my own, anyway.

about number 3...... if someone is playing F's with my Dm's, i don't hesitate to say, even in the middle of a song, that i'd rather do this on my own so i can hear myself think. our group doesn't seem to have a serious problem with number 3, fortunately. but i don't like it when someone else starts leading a song that another has started, whether it be the words or the accompaniment.

and hey, rick, would i argue about the need for people to be in tune? ME? after meticulously tuning 36 strings?!

(oh, btw, you should have heard me play guitar in dadgad the other night!)

~more hugs, (which is also a very important part of song circle etiquette which hasn't been mentioned yet)

black walnut