Hi, everyone! I'm hoping you can give me some advice. I've been asked to direct one of the "celtic" ensembles for the folk music program at my University. I'm a music ed major, so it's great experience. I got the newbie group, consisting of a couple freshman, the lone bodhran player, and the know-it-all tinwhistle/singer with her no-show accordion player husband.
The group is really lazy! They don't work on the tunes during the week, so each time we rehearse and I'm trying to get them to arrange or improvise or anything, they're deep into their music, or playing the way they always do. We're sounding like cruz, and I don't know what to do with them.
Any ideas to make the rehearsals engaging enough that they will want to have their music learned, and be open to adjusting their style to fit the group?
Sounds like the boom-chucking guitarist is the least of your worries. Boom-chuck accompaniment is not highly respected today, but it has a solid history in the tradition.
Why are these people involved? Is it something they wanted to do?
Cool Eire, your guitarist can BOOM CHUCK? Wish I could do that, but sadly my vocabulary is limited to - "ER-OOK-OORA"!
I'd say you have two options Eire, i.e. the Carrot or the Stick. You can either bribe them, or beet the sh*t out o' them, if they don't toe the line!
But seriously, why not record them playing a couple of tunes, just the crap way they are right now.
Then play that back to them, followed by a couple of tunes played by a brilliant group with a similar musical line up, just to demonstrate how 'bad' they are, and also how good they could sound, if they only would just pull together on this.
Perhaps that'll gee them up a bit.
Just to expand a little on "Bob himself"'s questions, I guess I'd need to know a little more about this whole endeavor. Are you guys supposed to be working toward a public performance of some kind? What are the goals of the ensemble? Just to be able to play together? Are you looking to emulate a "classic" ceilidh band sound? Something more contemporary, a la Lunasa et al? Does everyone in the ensemble truly understand what the goals are?
If you haven't done so already, you may need to spend a rehearsal -- or better yet, choose a different day -- to talk about the group dynamics, what everyone -- individually and collectively -- should hope to achieve and, since you're the nominal leader, what your vision for the ensemble is. If people aren't learning the tunes quickly enough, then it may be that the ensemble will wind up playing fewer tunes. Is that acceptable to everyone?
As for the guitarist, can you hand him a CD or two which offers an example of how you'd like him to sound?
There's a pretty good formula for these rehearsals. First, move to a pub where the barman/maid can be convinced it's to his/her benefitt to dole out free drinks during your rehearsal. Find a nice spot in the corner where you can sit comfortably, perhaps in a circle. Ignore the other residents up the pub, unless they send in requests for Danny Boy or the Fields, in which case you sneer at them and play something else. Sharpen your ensemble's skills by not defining your "medleys" in advance - play each tune two to three times through, and then someone starts up a tune that he or she thinks will go well, everyone tries to join in, and so on. Draw the line at people "noodling" the tune if they don't really know it. Make sure everyone is improving week over week - if not, give them the embarrassed silent treatment (if you're in England) or bluntly tell them to shape up or ship out (everywhere else.) Don't allow shakey eggs, djembes, or saxophones.
There's a whole bunch people who have other do's and dont's. I know they're somewhere out there on the internet...
But, seriously - why not start a true Session with the group, separately from rehearsals? Could be good team-building.
Amen to grego's ideas. Inspire them with field trips to local pubs. Don't try to direct, as much as pick sets for everyone to work on--go for a trad approach. To encourage work between gatherings, go around the room and ask them each to play a tune solo so you can compare and critique it--our band director used to do this to us, and it really got us to work to prevent embarrassment at rehersals.
But I am no band director, so this advice is suspect.
Perhaps our own Fiddling Violin could chime in based on his experience in a school Celtic Ensemble.
Why not - instead of providing sheet music - provide the members with *recordings* of the tunes you will perform? This may force them to either 1) Listen to how the music should sound or 2) quit.
Also - again, the goals of the group need to be defined. If it's folks who just want a taste of trad playing there may not be much you can do.
My sympathy with you, EireLibra.
Just some ideas from my own experience: It's always good to have a common goal, a fixed date where you will be performing together. Pressure on the group only works if everybody respects your authority.
Take the time to sort out whats wrong, even to leave the instruments in their cases for one rehearsal. Don't hesitate to be open about your disappointment.
Perhaps develop a questionaire where members can lay out what their motives are to join the group, what bands and tunes they like etc. Then discuss which tunes you want to do so everybody gets the feeling that there is at least one of their favourites on the agenda.
You could suggest tailor-made arrangements to them. Would someone like a solo? Try to get them involved and make them see that its not only you who carries the responsibility.
If all else fails tell them you will resign if things don't get better within a given time.
Directing an ensemble
Directing an ensemble
Hi, everyone! I'm hoping you can give me some advice. I've been asked to direct one of the "celtic" ensembles for the folk music program at my University. I'm a music ed major, so it's great experience. I got the newbie group, consisting of a couple freshman, the lone bodhran player, and the know-it-all tinwhistle/singer with her no-show accordion player husband.
The group is really lazy! They don't work on the tunes during the week, so each time we rehearse and I'm trying to get them to arrange or improvise or anything, they're deep into their music, or playing the way they always do. We're sounding like cruz, and I don't know what to do with them.
Any ideas to make the rehearsals engaging enough that they will want to have their music learned, and be open to adjusting their style to fit the group?
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by EireLibra
Re: Directing an ensemble
oh, and another note. How can I get my guitarist to stop Boom-Chuck-ing?
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by EireLibra
Re: Directing an ensemble
Sounds like the boom-chucking guitarist is the least of your worries. Boom-chuck accompaniment is not highly respected today, but it has a solid history in the tradition.
Why are these people involved? Is it something they wanted to do?
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by Bob himself
Re: Directing an ensemble
Cool Eire, your guitarist can BOOM CHUCK? Wish I could do that, but sadly my vocabulary is limited to - "ER-OOK-OORA"!
I'd say you have two options Eire, i.e. the Carrot or the Stick. You can either bribe them, or beet the sh*t out o' them, if they don't toe the line!
But seriously, why not record them playing a couple of tunes, just the crap way they are right now.
Then play that back to them, followed by a couple of tunes played by a brilliant group with a similar musical line up, just to demonstrate how 'bad' they are, and also how good they could sound, if they only would just pull together on this.
Perhaps that'll gee them up a bit.
Anyway, best of luck.
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by Ptarmigan
Re: Directing an ensemble
Just to expand a little on "Bob himself"'s questions, I guess I'd need to know a little more about this whole endeavor. Are you guys supposed to be working toward a public performance of some kind? What are the goals of the ensemble? Just to be able to play together? Are you looking to emulate a "classic" ceilidh band sound? Something more contemporary, a la Lunasa et al? Does everyone in the ensemble truly understand what the goals are?
If you haven't done so already, you may need to spend a rehearsal -- or better yet, choose a different day -- to talk about the group dynamics, what everyone -- individually and collectively -- should hope to achieve and, since you're the nominal leader, what your vision for the ensemble is. If people aren't learning the tunes quickly enough, then it may be that the ensemble will wind up playing fewer tunes. Is that acceptable to everyone?
As for the guitarist, can you hand him a CD or two which offers an example of how you'd like him to sound?
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by sts
Re: Directing an ensemble
Making the rehearsals engaging...
There's a pretty good formula for these rehearsals. First, move to a pub where the barman/maid can be convinced it's to his/her benefitt to dole out free drinks during your rehearsal. Find a nice spot in the corner where you can sit comfortably, perhaps in a circle. Ignore the other residents up the pub, unless they send in requests for Danny Boy or the Fields, in which case you sneer at them and play something else. Sharpen your ensemble's skills by not defining your "medleys" in advance - play each tune two to three times through, and then someone starts up a tune that he or she thinks will go well, everyone tries to join in, and so on. Draw the line at people "noodling" the tune if they don't really know it. Make sure everyone is improving week over week - if not, give them the embarrassed silent treatment (if you're in England) or bluntly tell them to shape up or ship out (everywhere else.) Don't allow shakey eggs, djembes, or saxophones.
There's a whole bunch people who have other do's and dont's. I know they're somewhere out there on the internet...
But, seriously - why not start a true Session with the group, separately from rehearsals? Could be good team-building.
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by grego
Re: Directing an ensemble
Amen to grego's ideas. Inspire them with field trips to local pubs. Don't try to direct, as much as pick sets for everyone to work on--go for a trad approach. To encourage work between gatherings, go around the room and ask them each to play a tune solo so you can compare and critique it--our band director used to do this to us, and it really got us to work to prevent embarrassment at rehersals.
But I am no band director, so this advice is suspect.
Perhaps our own Fiddling Violin could chime in based on his experience in a school Celtic Ensemble.
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by AlBrown
Re: Directing an ensemble
EireLibra:
You might care to visit the instructional materials at
http://coyotebanjo.com/music.html and scroll down to "Instruction"
chris smith
# Posted on October 7th 2005 by coyotebanjo
Re: Directing an ensemble
Why not - instead of providing sheet music - provide the members with *recordings* of the tunes you will perform? This may force them to either 1) Listen to how the music should sound or 2) quit.
Also - again, the goals of the group need to be defined. If it's folks who just want a taste of trad playing there may not be much you can do.
# Posted on October 8th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: Directing an ensemble
My sympathy with you, EireLibra.
Just some ideas from my own experience: It's always good to have a common goal, a fixed date where you will be performing together. Pressure on the group only works if everybody respects your authority.
Take the time to sort out whats wrong, even to leave the instruments in their cases for one rehearsal. Don't hesitate to be open about your disappointment.
Perhaps develop a questionaire where members can lay out what their motives are to join the group, what bands and tunes they like etc. Then discuss which tunes you want to do so everybody gets the feeling that there is at least one of their favourites on the agenda.
You could suggest tailor-made arrangements to them. Would someone like a solo? Try to get them involved and make them see that its not only you who carries the responsibility.
If all else fails tell them you will resign if things don't get better within a given time.
# Posted on October 9th 2005 by kuec