[RhythmAgogo] Lots of Things

[Neil Jones]

Hi folks!

It’s been a while since I sent out one of these grab bag of everything
emails, but there’s lots to talk about at the moment, so here goes:



*Workshop Development*



I suggest we use this Monday’s practice to work on workshops – to workshop
them, as it were. The March 19th and April 2nd content will of course be up
to those actually presenting the workshops. Nevertheless, especially since
we’re looking at offering similar workshops at Ness, and potentially in
other contexts as well, I think it would be great to have as many of us as
possible involved in developing and testing ideas. I think there is a
possibility for us to give a workshop similar to the one we’re planning for
the children’s area at Ness at the Nature City Festival, May 24th – 29th.
(I have emailed the coordinators and am waiting for a response.) If there
are no objections, I propose we dedicate tonight’s practice to developing
our workshops together.



*Change of Practice Format*



On account of our relationship with Open Door, we are going to need to do
more to facilitate participation by newcomers and beginners. To that
effect, Julie and I decided on a new format. This is not set in stone yet,
but will need to be by the end of March, so please get back with any
feedback promptly. This is the format we are proposing:



6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: Community Connections Drum Circle – a time to learn,
share, and jam together

8:00 pm – 9:30 pm: Rhythm Agogo Rehearsal – a time to practice and plan for
performances and workshops



I realize that extends the time a bit earlier and later, while also
shortening the total rehearsal time. My thinking on this is that we tend to
spend quite a bit of time jamming, experimenting, and socializing during
practice as is, which combined with many of us having trouble making it on
time, cuts into our rehearsals quite a lot. I figure that, for those able
to make it for all or part of the drum circle before rehearsal, that should
help to burn some of that energy and get us focussed for rehearsal. For
those only able to make it to rehearsal (all or part), there should be more
of a feeling of effective use of time. This should also make our Monday
nights more accessible and welcoming for beginners of all stripes, for
folks whose primary interest is in jamming and not in performing, for those
who want opportunities to drum but are hesitant to take on another time
commitment, and especially for newcomers to share their own knowledge and
build connections through music. And for those of us who will more often
than not attend both sessions, that means… More Music!



Everyone’s thoughts on this are, as always, more than welcome.



*Hand Drum Parts*



Since most of our active tunes are from the Rhythms of Resistance
catalogue, and none of them include hand drum parts, I suggest we try to
get all of our hand drum parts written down over the next while. I can
start leaving the music folder at Open Door, so that, whether or not I can
make it to a particular practice, we have that reference and continuity.
I’m also hoping that, by giving our novice hand drummers a handy reference,
we will be that much closer to being able to achieve full instrumentation,
i.e. shifting some hand drummers over to covering other parts such as
snare, shaker, and agogo. Goals.



*Our Portfolio of Tunes*



I have been neglecting this myself, but I think we should try to work on
some of our less-practiced tunes at least every second practice. I’m
thinking of Ragga, Voodoo, Zombie (the Fela Kuti tune David shared with
us), and Crazy Monkey. I suggest we practice these, as well as some of our
less-practiced breaks, next Monday, March 14th, and about every second week
between then and Ness. This will mean we will have a bag of at least eight
tricks (i.e. tunes) for our stage show. I will be gone on March 21st, and
I’m hoping you all can coordinate to practice our more recently-practiced
tunes in my absence. (I can leave the whistle with someone.)



*Cuba*



I will be going to Cuba for a week. Lucky me! While I’m there, I plan to
check out one or two music stores in Havana for instruments. I’m thinking
güiro, clave, and other such small percussion dohickies. If you have any
requests or suggestions, let me know!



*Materials for New Instruments*



Please keep your tin cans, and bring them to practice sometime. We can use
them to make new shakers, along with some duck tape and the contents of the
industrial bag of cheap rice I plan to buy soon. They also may be useful
for making instruments in our children’s workshop(s). (And the new shakers
will provide a valuable backup supply of carbs for the zombie apocalypse,
assuming sources of potable water and cooking fuel are also available at
that point.)



*Bank Account*



It would be good to have a bank account. We can get a no-fees community
account at the New Community Credit Union. We just need three or more
signing authorities. Who wants to volunteer (aside from me)?



*Rhythms of Resistance*



I have emailed the maintainers of the RoR website to ask them to list us.
Hopefully that will be a thing soon.



*Facebook Fan Page*



I have added Fred’s Logo #1, which had the most enthusiastic positive
response, as our new icon on the fan page. I guess that makes it official?
Also, I suggest we try to use the fan page just for promoting our music and
gigs, with few exceptions, especially since we now have the…



*Rhythm Agogo Coffee House*



In case you missed it, I finally made us a group page on Facebook. I think
I have added everyone who comes out to practices as a member and also as an
administrator. (If I missed anyone, let me know.) I held off on doing this
as we had some people earlier on who were not Facebook users. There were
also some concerns about all the notification beeps the Facebook app was
sending out on people’s phones from the group conversation thread we had
going on before the listserv.



We can decide how we want to continue to use this email list, and what
functions we may want to shift over to the Facebook discussion group. At
the very least, I think that’s a good forum for more open brainstorming of
ideas, as well as for sharing audio and video links of things that inspire
us or that we would like to try to emulate and adapt. If notification
noises are bothering anyone, let me know, and I’m sure I can help you
change your notification settings as needed.



Also, please feel free to ‘personalize’ (collectivize?) away – for example,
if you have an idea for the cover image, that would be cool!



Again, any feedback on any of this is welcome and appreciated. Musically
yours,



Neil
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