[RhythmAgogo] Lots of Things

[Chelsea Moore]

I'll be there tonight!
On Mar 7, 2016 12:35 AM, "Neil Jones" <neil.edward.jones at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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>
>
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