Our songleading band has an opportunity next summer... at our diocesan convention which, among other diocesan biz, "shows off" a different, unusual-to-some musical feature each year. When I've attended Convention, frankly I've never appreciated having these "new" things shoved down my throat-- they're showcased as the worship music for one of the brief worship services, and people tend to like worshipping in the style they're used to. :~) And the presenters are always so.... earnest... and sincere.... and uh..... smarmy. We're never smarmy-- we're FUN!

So I've been thinking about exactly how we might use this opportunity, and I've decided that unless we're tapped specifically for a worship service-- there will be lots of church bands vying for that chance-- we won't put ourselves forward.

Instead.... I'm going to take a table/booth in the display hall, run a boombox quietly with some of our field recordings, put out the CD-ful of field recordings I'll have by then where you can hear us teaching new songs to groups, and a little brochure about what we do.

Out of all the field rec's we have so far, the ones most interesting to listen to now, I think, are the several teaching tracks. They're old spirituals, of course; I can easily nab quite a few more of these in the coming year. And (tra-lah!) I can set out a lyric sheet without messing into copyright trouble!

DUH!

There are workshops as well-- maybe I'll do one. Not workshops like you might know them from festivals, where it's more of a song cirtcle or jam, but actual teaching workshops. "How to enliven your music program with spirituals, without choir."

I blame Charmion (she'll know why). :~)

~Susan