Secrets of a good singaround?

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,FloraG
Date: 03 Mar 11 - 05:07 AM

I was involved in a very successful musical morris side. After dancing the aim of the singaround was to entertain the landlord and customers, as we were usually in the main bar, and to ensure we got invited back the following year, as well as encourage the more novice musicians to sing or play.

It did tend to mean that we did a lot of the same tunes or songs each week - and tended to go for ones that were more well known among the general public. Songs sung in g or D to allow the melodeons to accompany and songs with a good choras were ideal. It did not matter who 'lead' the song as we all knew the verses as well as the chorus.

This format did not suit some, as was to be expected. However, it did mean that we got to do paid events such as Sweeps which contributed to the sides charity for the year.

I personally think this format is a better ambassador for spreading and encouraging traditional music than some sing arounds I have been in which are fine for participants but not likely to draw a non folk audience. Horses for courses, I think.
FloraG.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 10:34 AM

I think they should be biased towards what the organizers like...if it is all cowboy songs or all sea shanties or whatever, great. Others can start their own or help out with the organizational duties and slip in more stuff they like in exchange. I do not think everyone has to accept music that they don't like on their free time..there are some people who like everything and hopefully they are the organizers in terms of pleasing the most people but if you try to please the most people you lose a lot in exchange. I say if you go to the trouble of organizing it, do it however you like it. mg

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 08:58 AM

I would agree great big long songs aren't always a good idea. But in our Singarounds the format is a very simple, performers (all standards) are drawn one by one from a hat and do a song or tune of their choice. I encourage less experienced and beginners to come to the Singaround as a way to learn, if that means reading words from an exercise book fine (I've seen plenty of accomplished performers who frown on this, often forget their words, start again from the beginning taking up far too much time!) The major annoyance/bug bear i have is otherwise very good musicians, more so guitarists, who don't even take the instrument out of it's case till it's their turn, them take more minutes tuning it before finally launching into some over long dirge, surely they must know how irritating that is to others, message is PLease Be Ready!

Desi C
The Circle Folk Club
Coseley West Mids UK
Mail me for full info or to join our free mailing list
Every Wed nights weekly Alternating Singarounds & Singers Nights
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,chris cole
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 06:41 AM

I had almost given up on singarounds/sessions until I moved here, as despite the fact that they are ostensibly spontaneous and organic, they tend to be biased towards whatever kind of music the organiser(s) want to hear. I think the secret is to keep the session eclectic We have 2 sessions in Wirksworth, Derbyshire and both are well supported, by performers and punters. Don't forget, the licensee has very kindly agreed to allow use of their room for one evening a week, so try and include something for everyone.I'm sure the average punter doesn't want to hear a twenty five verse Child ballad, nor does he or she want to hear a self indulgent "bedroom" song or listen to "diddly diddly" music all night!
    And ban melodeons!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 12:33 PM

Yes, Snail, a soupcon of misanthropy is part of my character - but it's there to provide a balance for my caring, sharing side.

The trouble is I find that, occasionally, I meet people who are insufferable and I reserve my spleen for them (the BASTARDS!!!!).

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: TheSnail
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 09:28 AM

GUEST,Shimrod

God! You're an argumentative...

Really? I thought I was responding in a calm and measured way to your rather splenetic misanthropy not to mention your misrepresentation of my views.

You wouldn't care to say where your part of the world is would you? Then the "crass no-hopers" can realise the error of their ways and crawl back under their stones.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 03:10 PM

God! You're an argumentative ... person, Snail! But I'm not getting into a 'yes-it-is-no-it-isn't' type argument with you.

Nevertheless, in my part of the world, the lazy, exercise book singers always seem to sing veeeerrrrryyyy llllloooonnnggg songs. It probably doesn't apply in your part of the world, Snail, where everything is ssssooooo perfect and everyone is perfectly selfless and reasonable (albeit argumentative for the sake of being argumentative).

As for my singing? Well I'm never happy with it and I could always practice harder. Nevertheless, I went to one of my favourite clubs the other night and even though I was unavoidably delayed and turned up late I was still asked to sing ... so I'm probably doing something right. But, as I say, could do better ... although not to please you, Snail. Yah boo sucks! Up yours, Snaily-waly!!!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Speedwell
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 02:33 PM

The essence of a good singaround seems very complex - almost a microcosm of life!. Thankfully everyone (in a singaround) is different and can bring that variety to the event and I think that the different characters, approaches to performing, musical abilities, favoured types of songs or tunes help to make a session engaging for everyone. And engagment is key to a good session IMHO. If you're engaged in the activity then you probably enjoy it and want to sing/play along (when appropriate) and want to come back. In the past I have found that a core of (understanding) good quality performers helps to set a reasonable standard but doesn't stop new people performing.
Regarding MCing or not and if so how to MC I think there needs to be some gentle guidance but low-key and with the respect and consideration you would like to see shown to everyone there.
Isn't, though, the secret really about finding the session that fits with your expectations of fairness to all and enjoyment of singing and playing? Your folk niche?
I suppose too I'm a believer in giving feedback both positive and negative. Positive is sometimes not given because it doesn't seem necessary, negative is sometimes given in the wrong way or is taken badly. But maybe this is also the secret of creating and maintaining a good singaround - as MC to encourage comments from the people there perhaps during the break and as a participant to say what you think to the MC? This may be a rather ideal scenario and I would be the first to admit that in practice, of course, it can be very difficult to handle certain situations. Good thread!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: TheSnail
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 09:46 AM

GUEST,Shimrod

The point that I'm trying to make is that if you take the attitude that you have some sort of 'right' to perform and to hog a session

Two entirely separate things. Yes, at a Come-All-Ye you have a right to sing. That's what Come-All-Ye means. No, nobody has a right to hog a session no matter how good they are.

- even though you've put minimal effort in and can't even be bothered to learn the words you are showing disrespect to the other members of the singaround and to the songs.

Where do you find these people Shimmy? In my experience they are so rare as to not constitute a problem.

The point I was trying to make with my X Factor comment was that I find it distasteful that some people consider themselves worthy enough to stand in judgement over others. How good are you?

If you are concerned with raising standards, start with yourself. Practice hard and YOU will give a good performance and inspire others to do likewise.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: CET
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 09:08 AM

There's been a fair bit of discussion about take your turn sessions vs. jump in sessions, which seems to stem from a comment I made last year about the after hours Shanty Sing at the Mystic Seaport festival. I don't want to give the wrong impression - generally a guided session where everybody gets a chance and nobody gets to hog the floor works best, particularly if the venue is relatively small. It's just that there was something special about Mystic. The venue was a community hall, not the typical back room in a pub and there seemed to be a few hundred people present. It's also been running for years, and it has developped it's own dynamic which might not work at another event. Two things struck me about this session. First, the singing was simply better than at most other sessions I have attended. It was a knowledgeable crowd, who really knew their sea music, and included some very accomplished singers. Second, there were no floor hogs and the more advanced singers (including some of the performers at the festival) would do a song every now and then, but leave a lot of space for the others. Admittedly, that put some pressure on everyone to be prepared before they launched into a song, but to my mind that is no bad thing. It was a good place for a singer to raise his or her game a little.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 08:48 AM

If some people sang good songs well, as often as they grump about on here ................

L in C#

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 08:32 AM

I've been to several differnt formats of singaround and session in the last year or so, and at none of them has anyone "jumped in" or tried to hog more time than anyone else.

I've been to sessions where performers well-known to the MC seem to get more time than others, but none where people have shoved themselves forward. I guess that I've attended sessions/ singarounds at 8 different venues in that time and just never seen this behaviour. However, it sounds widespread from some of the comments on here so I guess I've just been going to the wrong (or right!) events.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 06:30 AM

The point that I'm trying to make is that if you take the attitude that you have some sort of 'right' to perform and to hog a session - even though you've put minimal effort in and can't even be bothered to learn the words you are showing disrespect to the other members of the singaround and to the songs.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 05:07 AM

Having been to several different types recently, I must say that I vastly prefer the "circle" approach where the "next on" spot just moves logically around the room from person to person. The "MC" role is very limited in that scenario, but (s)he can still make a valuable contribution by keeping things moving, ensuring that latecomers slot in at an appropriate place, decide when it's time for some "all join in" tunes, and ensure that people aren't aligned to that you have 5 unaccompanieds followed by 5 guitars.

I don't much like the set-up where the MC "gives the nod" to the next person to perform while the current performer's singing/ playing. If the MC knows all the participants well it may work, but often results in someone being missed out, or MC's favourites getting preference.

A good singaround should *appear* to run itself.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: TheSnail
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 07:33 PM

Er, no Shimrod, that's not what I meant.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Tootler
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 04:01 PM

Jump in is generally OK for a tune session where everyone joins in but for a singaround where everyone joining in (except in choruses) is not the norm, I prefer round the room with an MC who ensures that everyone who wants to sing gets their turn. Even with a session having someone who keeps an eye on things and ensures that everyone who wants to at least has an opportunity to start a tune makes for a better session.

A good singaround has a good mix of solo and chorus songs. One or two who play a tune or recite a poem instead of singing also helps to provide variety.

I think it's important to bear in mind that a singaround is a social occasion. It's about participation rather than performance and it's not a concert. The norm is that everyone who wishes to is given the opportunity to contribute. OK so some are not as good as others but the number of really bad singers/players is very small indeed and I think that those that bang on about them are getting things out of proportion.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 02:44 PM

"Ah, the X Factor approach."

If you mean by that, Snail, the approach of some of the outrageously and spectacularly crass no-hopers who appear in the earlier stages of X Factor (the only stages worth watching ... that is if you happen to get your rocks off watching car crashes)I would agree with you!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: TheSnail
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 06:25 AM

GUEST,Shimrod

But 'Go All Ye' annoying, boring, tedious tw*ts who never practice, sing out of an exercise book (and still can't remember the f***ing words), can't sing in tune and yet still insist on hogging as much of the session as possible by 'learning' (or, rather, not bothering to learn) the longest and most tedious songs that you can possibly find!!

Ah, the X Factor approach.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 05:21 AM

PS - By shit I don't mean singing, I mean attitude & egos. Ron Baxter claims to be the worst singer in the world but his presence in a singaround is always a catalyst for the good. The problems start when people start taking themselves more seriously than the songs they're singing. No matter how good they might be, it just becomes an excercise in ego-tripping... but, getting back to Kipling:

And when they bore me overmuch, I will not shake mine ears,
Recalling many thousand such whom I have bored to tears.
And when they labour to impress, I will not doubt nor scoff;
Since I myself have done no less and sometimes pulled it off.
Yea, as we are and we are not, and we pretend to be,
The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 05:15 AM

A circle gathers its own momentum; it's a wheel, it rolls, and that's a natural law. Another natural law is human community, which gives, takes and accomodates on the principle of what goes around comes around. I doubt jumping in would work in numbers of 17, though I was recently at a singaround where someone has insisted on jumping in because the singer whose turn it was was taking too long (in their view) to decide what song to sing! Egos at the door, as I say. Maybe these things take time to unfold, to establish the unwritten lore of each community which is based on the requirements of the individuals involved. Maybe larger numbers do need greater guidance, but the best leaders are the ones you don't notice - although Ron Baxter & Les in Chorlton manage to be both visible and inspirational!

Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and cruise the human vibe which is what grass-roots folk is all about. I just wonder why so much shit goes down there as well. Shame really, or is that all part of it too???

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 05:08 PM

Some people just cannot do math. If there are 17 people in a group, and there are 4 singers...no matter how good.... who each feel they cannot go more than 4-5 songs without doing another, it soon becomes evident that some are going to get few, if any, turns. Thus, I prefer to have 'some' sort of order or leader, unless all know each other very well and are used to the idea of 'better' singers getting most of the time.

   (I used to sit and study certain groups and watch the body language of known 'circle hogs' as they leaned forward, waiting for the last note to die away so they could 'take' the next turn with barely a seconds pause.)

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 04:57 PM

The secret to any successful singing group of people is inclusion. Sings songs with strong choruses occasionally so that people can join in, those who are not spotlighted.
This fosters a community feeling that opens the door for receptivity to new songs,
new performers and different points of view in the songs themselves.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,AEOLA
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 04:37 PM

Yeh!! Variety is the spice of life, it,s all about enjoying life!!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 01:47 PM

Round the room, or jump-in, I don't really mind; it's a matter of scale & I doubt jumping in would work with more than 12 there anyway. I hate those man-in-change singers sessions where you're sitting there waiting for the hammer to fall, no way I can relax and enjoy the other singers which is, after all, the main reason for going to a singaround anyway. Two song floor spots? Forget it! A singaround isn't about performing as it much as it is about participation & making a contribution to a community.

I take it as read that anyone attending a singaround has prepared themselves to the very best of their ability. Last night we had some very fine voices + 2 boxes, ukulele, hurdy gurdy, 3 fiddles, banjo, union pipes, bass clarinet, trombone and three concertinas (one of which turned out to Mudcat's own Ralphie pumping out some real magic on his legendary McCann Duet) & all of 'em jumping in quite happily. Singround / Session / Sesh / Accompanied / Unnacompanied - these things blur in a mighty Come All Ye where egos are left at home & everyone melts into one glorious whole by way of a spontaneous happening. And no-one's making banjo / bodhran / melodeon jokes either - and I sang Bogie's Bonny Belle without anyone mentioning Les Barker. Joy!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 01:17 PM

I agree with that, BobKnight. It's also asking a lot to expect a jumper-in to hit the right key and remember the opening words of his/her song whilst also dealing with the tension involved with finding an appropriate gap to jump into.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: BobKnight
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 11:49 AM

I much prefer the sing-in-turn type session. I'm not the greatest at pushing myself to the front - modest I believe is the word, and there are others who may be shyer than me who would find it almost impossible to "jump in" with a contribution if there was no one to lead the session.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 26 Feb 11 - 10:44 AM

'Come All Ye' indeed!

But 'Go All Ye' annoying, boring, tedious tw*ts who never practice, sing out of an exercise book (and still can't remember the f***ing words), can't sing in tune and yet still insist on hogging as much of the session as possible by 'learning' (or, rather, not bothering to learn) the longest and most tedious songs that you can possibly find!!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Nick
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 08:07 PM

Work enormously hard and with great clarity create an ethic which veryon who comes understands.

Uphold it for some period of time (years?).

(Sow - reap - harvest)

Have one perfect night and live with the disappointment for ever after

Until you pull yourself up and do it again (only better)

Lovely idea the Come All Ye but only if they are quite good

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 10:08 AM

I second that, we had that Will Fly at ours some time ago and we have never looked back

L in C#

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Siochain
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 10:00 AM

"Some people spread happiness wherever they go.
Some spread happiness whenever they go."

True, that!

Thanks for the laugh - I needed that!

-Siochain

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 09:31 AM

One of the sectrets of a good singaround is to have Will Fly, Alan Day and Bob Kenward there!!!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 09:28 AM

Some people spread happiness wherever they go.
Some spread happiness whenever they go.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: JHW
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 06:38 AM

Depends on who is there
and just as importantly
who is not

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 05:37 AM

I'm a lifetime believer in The Singaround as the ideal Seance in which to commune with the spirit of Traditional Folk Song, idiomatic or otherwise. A Good Singaround will always run itself; if a leader is needed, the best of them will just kick it off and let it run. We're talking pissups in breweries here. Unfortunately there persists the need for Moderation (much as we find here on Mudcat) which all too often results in singarounds being presided over by one or more self-styled puffed-up authority figures who are evidently getting off more on the power than on the music. Worse than that, the singers not only allow them to get away with it, but respect then for it with cowering deference. This is, of course, a vicious circle; the more the leaders puff, so the more the singers cower, and the more the singers cower, so the more the leaders puff. I'd love to name names here (two of the worst offenders have named mine often enough!) but I just avoid their singarounds in the hope that most other discerning singers do likewise, and will gather (as they do) for a more satisfyingly spontaneous gathering elsewhere.

One rule seems to be the smaller the better both in room and in numbers. Our regular sing is a jump-in session with maybe twelve singers / musicians and absolutely no evident hierarchies and total mutual respect for each others work. I often wonder what it is about the Folk Scene that generates the small minded bitterness that seeks sympathy for its cause when that cause runs contrary to the very nature of Folk itself. Happily though, and for the most part, people just get on with it, as people do, otherwise I'm sure I wouldn't bother, life being too short in most other respects. Maybe I'm just being naive in believing Folkies have an especial responsibility to be nice to one another, respectful of each other's efforts and, most importantly, encouraging and supportive of all comers of all abilities. Maybe I'm just being naive in my belief that The Singaround is the perfect way to manifest such an anarcho-egalitarian ideal, where the only rule is to prove to equality of all comers by means of a more philosophical approach to quality control and thereby transcend the commonplace into the very heavens. But Folkies are a quirky lot - curmudgeonly eccentrics whose forveable religiosity often manifests as an unforgiveable righteousness that so very often runs contrary to the cause. That said, aware that this is very much par for the course in the folk world (The People, Lord, Thy People!) I strive to accomodate this too.

Finally... I've lost count of the times I've been pulled up by self-styled Purists for accompanying Traditional English Songs on non-traditional English Instruments, or for using small amplifiers for small synthsisers or electronic shruti boxes. Trouble is, these people aren't Purists at all - rather small-minded bigots whose understanding of the wider condition of English Speaking Folk Song Tradition and its Revival is so small as to be non-existent. In my life I've only met maybe three or four individuals whose enclyclopic knowledge and 100% commitment to the cause of Traditional Folk Song has earned them the right to be called Purists, but of course they never do - just as they have never once complained about anything that goes down in a singaround other than the puffed-up rank pulling that has the potential to ruin an otherwise good sing.

The secret of a good singaround? A very simple equation best expressed by the formula Come All Ye.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Gram Reno
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 11:47 AM

For your information, the Reno Song Circle (USA) has been meeting monthly on the second Friday for fifteen years. There are usually about 40-60 people. Each person gets a name tag with a number on it. When that number is called that person calls the tune (we use the Rise up Singing collection as our primary text, but people will bring distribution copies of other songs, too). When all the requests have been called (usally after about three hours)then the singing goes free form, stream of consciousness determining the selections; most often this is by far the really interesting part of the night. There are usually around five to ten musicians (mostly guitar, but we've had nearly every instrument from time to time including Chinese "fiddle," stand up bass, banjo, mando, dulcimers of all types, etc.). The cost? Bring a dessert to share and $1 to support the mailings of the schedule. This format works for us. Join us if you're in Reno NV on the second Friday of the month. Best regards

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Working Radish
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 07:29 AM

Thanks, Les - looking forward to it. I'd just like to chuck in my idea for next Wednesday (which is my own) - that as it's the third birthday of the Beech singaround, anyone who is so inclined should bring along a song which they associate with the Beech, whether because they've sung it there, they learned it there, they've never heard it there & think it ought to be sung there, or whatever.

And if you haven't got any memories of singing at the Beech, come along and get some!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 07:25 AM

At our club we have singarounds every second week, and they've consistently been proving more popular than our full P.A singers night. I M.C it but from the start I did that in a very loose way, just draw names out of the hat and sing one song in turn. We even have folk up and dancing by the end of the night as we encourage sing-along songs in the last half hour. There's no formula or plan really, just keep it very informal and friendly and welcome newcomers, and it's a great way for beginners to learn the Folk Trade

The Circle Folk Club
Every Wed Night
Coseley West Mid's UK
For info or to recieve our regular newsletters
Mail [e-mail]
next Singaround Wed 1st Dec

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 05:16 AM

Singaround at The Beech, Chorlton, Manchester. Third Birthday Wednesday 1 December.

Anyone who ever sang, played a tune, joined, had a drink, muttered, thought about any of the above - all will be welcome next Wednesday

Cheers

L in C#
PM for further details

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Johnny J
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 04:18 AM

A "good one" is being planned for Edinburgh.....

http://www.tmsa.org.uk/scottish-music-news-detail.asp?n=287

No musical instruments unless accompanying a singer. Double basses are banned altogether.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: sciencegeek
Date: 29 Apr 10 - 01:00 PM

over the years I've gone to a fair number of open sings, sing arounds, and sessions and what is the biggest turn off is to excluded from participating (doing a song or tune as opposed to just joining in)... either by a leader who will select their friends and ignore anyone they aren't familiar with or when it is dominated by a few individuals who jump in as soon as there is a pause, even though they have already done more than one song.

I just attended an open mike singaround in a nearby town for the first time... all fine performers and very welcoming and enjoyable company. a small group and yes most of them knew each other... but was one of those meetings of "friends you hadn't met yet". You can bet that we'll be back next month for this one.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,JohnH
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 12:52 PM

I forgot to mention that keys are only a convention and in some circumstances can be regarded as flexible.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: GUEST,JohnH
Date: 28 Apr 10 - 12:48 PM

How's about good friends, good songs (and music), good manners and good beer? Seems to work at the sessions I go to. Add humour and you could be there!

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Soldier boy
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 08:00 PM

I think you are right Marje. They don't always know the difference and can be wary because of this.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Marje
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 03:53 AM

I thin sometimes pubs are implicated in the confusion, because the landlord is often unaware of the difference between an open session and a band-led event. They think of a "band" as a noisy, amplified staged (and paid!) gig, so a few guys playing guitars in a corner must be a "session".
But if the person who set it up didn't know the difference, I should think he does now!

Marje

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 07:13 PM

A GOOD Singaround should be so advertised , and NOT called A Session
which is a different animal entirely !
Went to an advertised session a while back , and had (Admittedly Competent) performers doing James Taylor songs in C# . As I had been confirmed by the guy running the So Called session that it WAS a session I felt NO Compunction in joining in ! Though C# is NOT my favoutrite mandolin key ! (And NO ! I dont use a capo)

It WAS Fun thugh !

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Marje
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 06:19 AM

Yes, "Shall we Dance?" is a good example of a polka, thanks.
The Blue Peter theme is one type of hornpipe (not unlike a polka, confusingly), while the Captain Pugwash theme (Trumpet hornpipe) is an example of the other type with the dotted rhythm, which is more distinctive.

Marje

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 04:49 PM

Apart from the Bluebell Polka, it's "Shall we dance?" from "The King and I" that's the classic.
One-two three hop!
Ah, but I've just spent last weekend learning POLSKAS: all in 3/4, but then there's EVEN polskas and UNEVEN polskas.

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 02:16 PM

"current popular tunes rather than folk tunes" - dunno really. It's often easier to explain a time signature by reference to a tune that is generally known by most people.

Blue Peter theme as a hornpipe?

L in Eb

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Marje
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 10:47 AM

Well known polka ... let me see...
How about the song that goes "Oh, you New York girls, can't you dance the polka?" But I suppose even that's not really known outside folk circles. Or "Little Brown Jug", which is well known but hardly "current".

Then again, I'm not quite sure what you mean by "current popular tunes rather than folk tunes". Call me an old git, but does current popular music have "tunes"? I know some slower songs do, but anything fast enough to dance to tends to lack any obvious tune, far less any attributes of the polka.

Marje

Subject: RE: Secrets of a good singaround?
From: Soldier boy
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 10:26 AM

Boring!!!