Jamboree

Although not too many people showed up to dance for our swing performance I thought the ones that did had a pretty good time! I think the overall participation of people at the jamboree was kind of low. People walked by the booth and picked up some lemonade but didn't seem all that interested in what we had to say about the class. But at least food got them to the table! I think our dancing would have been better if we'd taught it like a class. So the people would have had to be there at noon and stayed to learn swing in a set hour! But that would have been hard seeing as how the rest of the Jamboree wasn't set up like that. We were kind of scattered in our dancing but it was the best way to go about it with what we were given. And I know Kat kept tellin' us to keep dancing but it's tiring after so long and boring when you only know like 5 or 6 steps! The band played well but by the time they decided to play we didn't have many guy learners down there to dance like we thought we would.

country music

I've just posted my discussion summary and i'd like to say dido to that here...
I really have enjoyed the variety of stuff being done in class.
and I really like the 'In the country of country' (the book we're reading). I'd have to say that i like it more than Deep Blues, but i'm not saying deep blues was bad, it's just hearing about country music interests me more b/c i like it more. It's interesting to hear about where people got there start and to hear names that I know, or at least recognize. Allison Krauss was mentioned in the book when she was young, and I really like her music. Same with the Carter family and Patsy Cline. I think that's also because this music genre is a bit "newer" than the Deep Blues we were hearing about. Like on Pandora I'm liking the newer music better because it sounds better, i can understand it more, and I like the overall flow and beat of this new grouping of music. It's a lot more fun to listen to the music when you're feelin' it!

In class performance ideas

Well the first thing that came to my mind when we were told to do a "performance" was anything instrumental.
So with that I thought that now would maybe be a good time to break out that harmonica I got last Christmas, but after hearing Nic play his I was for surely not about to embarrass myself that bad in front of everyone. But then again if I start practicing....
The only thing is what would I play?! I can sorta read music... I was in band for 3 yrs. in middle school!
My other thought was to play the kazoo, but again I'd have to find music!
Or I could cook, but I don't really have a kitchen to cook in....
So my ideas are really just at a loss for figuring out how to execute them!
Any ideas, or recommendations for music let me know!

The first readings of Deep Blues

Ok... so it's taken me awhile to get something up about this... I finally got around to reading the prologue and the first chapter just now though.
So I'll just start from the beginning. I really enjoyed reading this book. The subject really interested me when they were talking of the musicians and their lives. I got a little bored when I got into the first chapter and it went into the African era of the music. That also just could have been my reading it for so long...
Overall I liked how the Blues genre of music came to be in existance. The fact that it comes from a mix of so many types of music and from different parts of the world fascinates me. It tugs at my heart strings to think of all those slaves singing without instruments, and about such small everyday things. It really gives you a feel for how life was for them. It truly shows us how music is a powerful force in our everyday lives. The point that came from the part in African music were they said that it usually wasn't one person singing but a community made me think of times in our lives where we "sing" as a community. Some examples would be at church, concerts(usually people sing along with the artist), and at sporting events. All soccer players know the Ole song, I've never been to a professional game where it hasn't been played, or at any event where you stomp your feet on the bleachers(that creates a rythm, in turn music). On page 38 it says, "...tap their heels on the resonant board floor to imitate the beat of the drum..." I love that "simple" music. Like just using the things around you to make sounds and then to create those sounds into meaningful rythms!
In class we discussed the white folks taking away the slaves music. To me that seemed just a way to control them. White people back then, especially white males, felt it was their right to own others, to control the world they lived in. And really it wasn't their job at all. But that constant need for control and the power of music made them fear and destroy black music. But music is such a strong soul within itself that once it's there it won't leave, and obviously it didn't because we're still talking about their music today.

Our discussion on the Govenor

I personally thought that the Govenor's speech was a bit of a bore...
I thought she made some good points but as a speaker she didn't really captivate me. I thougth our discussion about her in class revealed that much of the rest of you felt the same way. It would have been a much more fascinating speech if she had made it a bit more personal.
That's all I have about that, I probably should have blogged about her visit earlier but time ran me over!

First Round of Questions....

I signed up for this class because I heard it was really fun from other students who took it, and also because I really like music in general.
Hmmm.... only five pieces? That question is really tough... I think I'd have to take my favorite song, Jessies Girl by Rick Springfield. And oh geez, I don't really know the names and artists of my other favorite songs. But here's an idea of them; Killing me Softly, I want you to want me by Cheap Trick(I think), my absolutely favorite newest song... Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol. And last but not least... the world widely known soccer song, Ole Ole!! That's all they say, I don't think anybody really has recorded it, but it's a song none the less! But this list could definitely change... I love so much music, I mean I love country and I don't even have it on this list!
My grandparents own Polka music and old country. I don't know the songs or the artists but I know I've heard it when I've been to their house!
Oh boy, that's kind of a loaded question! But for this one I'd probably pick a country song, and probably a classic artist, like Johnny Cash or even Alabama. But when it comes to picking just one song I can't say that I'd be able to!
Well I definitely love to dance! and I've boughten a harmonica, but have yet to really even closely master it!
I'd probably just ask her about the lifestyles of people down there, because I imagine it to be very different than Minnesota!