Remko, . . . . I'm bored !
Can we change our rehearsal format with a 30-45 mins pagode at the beginning of each session ?
I'd like to play something new .
It just dawn on me that the Samba school have a repertoire of only about 5-6 songs . And I've been playing these 6 songs over, over,...an over for the last 5 years since 2003 ( with a variety of breaks ) .
Each week, I'm willing to carry my small Mackie active PA sytem ( 100W RMS, 2 channels + 1 RCA input ), 1 x microphone for you to sing and play the cavacinho. I can bring my tan-tan as well.
The advantages of this format are:
* We can all learn something new while waiting for people who turn up late.
* Play samba with few people as possible. Improve our chance of paid gigs in smaller venues.
* People have a chance of really learn an instrument because people can hear your own mistake. No safety in number.
* Buddy system : experience players can stop and show beginners how to play.
* Those MPB songs are so nice .
* Brian will stop whinging because he's not bored.
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14 comments:
I like the cut of your jib, Brian. Great suggestion! I would be up for that.
I'd love nothing more than to play songs. There's two issues though:
1) the PA, really need a serious one, a small one won't cut it as we've seen. That means setting up, transport, etc, need to be sorted out. If someone has a solution please let me know.
2) Quality. The main reason we're still playing the same rhythms is that, after some years, some people still struggle with some, it has to be said, very basic concepts. As a result, I have to keep on repeating stuff, which also means I get actually bored myself. It also doesn't encourage more experienced people to keep turning up. BUT at the end of the day I am not willing to compromise quality, this is not "just a bash". Go and play djembe if you like just a bash ;-) You can forget about playing songs (or pagode) if we can't get those basics right.
This is the main thing I'm struggling with at the moment. Because although you might be bored, I am getting bored too going over the same thing.
One option is to have a separate 'advanced' bateria, and although this would overcome my concerns, this is not the solution for everyone.
As for pagode, I definitely love it but it's as different from a samba school as a string quartet is from a whole orchestra. You just can't do it during the samba rehearsal.
Having said all this, I really liked the funky things we tried yesterday!
My honest reply, hope I'm not standing on any toes here...
Just read your post a little bit better, I guess your intro made me skim over the rest initially. Let's check out your PA and take it from there. Thank you.
By the way: Brian will NEVER stop whinging ;-)
1. The PA is not an issue: the suggestion is we play the opposite. Play to the sensitivity of the singers and cavacinho ie. play to match the PA system not the other way around.
May be using smaller musical instrument like pandero and tan-tan. That way when people make mistake, you'll know and try again. With big full samba outfit, people can hide under the big sound.
Pandero and tan-tan are a totally different instrument to learn too !
2. Quality : People come and go. Quality will suffer a little bit. But as long as the regulars carry the rhythm through, we'll all have fun.
I learn more from the pagode at our parties because the stops and starts of the choruses and verses. People have to concentrate and not just cruising.
It's a balancing act. Train new people but stimulate the regulars .
Remko, the pagode idea won't interfere with our normal rehearsal session. We don't start till 7:30 anyway, while waiting for people to turn up.
Why not use this downtime to make some serious fun. It's nice to sing your heart out !
We have nothing to lose and may attract more people this way. There's more to Brazilian music than bashing the drums .
Why can't the first half hour just be accoustic like it always is when we're playing on someone's verandah? I really don't see amplification as a problem if we don't have the whole range of drums involved - use alternatives like pandeiro for caixa or I could even bring my cajon.
As for quality, we're sounding pretty good these days and if we don't mix it up I forsee a few more departures. I don't want that to happen.
Sorry, Remko but I agree with Brian. Furthermore, whenever we've had our get togethers in the park, they've been quite a success - we want to practice pagode too, even if it's a jam for half an hour a week. Every little bit counts.
No need to be sorry if you agree with Brian, in principle I very much support the idea of more variety. It's just that I need to consider some of the practicalities. One thing I'm worried about is doing something with a 'select' group of people during part of the night. I don't yet know how to do that to give everyone a great night without people feeling 'not part of the club'.
Maybe we can discuss on Thursday, those who want to take part in that discussion please join me for dinner upstairs at 6pm.
It's a date, Remko !
No one will be feeling left out . Plenty of match boxes, everyone have to sing , and lots of beer/wine. We'll be very "happy" either way.
PS. Bring some CDs with songs you'll like us to learn. My PA doubles as a "karaoke" as well ! .... we can hear what the song is really sound like.
Hey Remko, I assure you that I don't have anything to do with this pagode revolution!!
hehe
Hey Fernando, Can you suggest to us some popular songs from the last 3 years ? .....I'll get you some fresh delicious Vietnamese Springrolls ....and the special fish sauce!.
Man, I just know a couple of pagodes. Ask Remko!
If you want to know more about heavy metal music I can give you some tips. hehe
Brian I have recently made a CD of a few of my favorite samba/pagode songs in order to give a copy to whoever might be interested. I'll bring you one on thursday.
Angus
Great ! . . . . Remko,can we try heavy "death" metal- pagode ? I don't know how it's going to work but it'll be unique, progressive and avant-guarde ! Thanks , Fernando.
Thanks, Angus. I'll bring the CD player tomorrow.
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