And yes, the pace of walking has a lot to do with this.
Any suggestions and ideas on how we could practice this would be appreciated!
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Parading
One of the things that was clear last Sunday was that we still have some way to go in how we parade. Fair enough, we didn't even know we were parading until 2 minutes before time, and on the second occasion they even changed plans while we were mid way on the field, but I know we can do better.
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What aspect of the parade need improvement, Remko ?
I wasn't there. Busy with the djembe drum circle :-D
All aspects need improvement. But I bet you it was still better than a drum circle.
Actually, funny you ask that question Brian. I still have a great video from a performance in SunCorp Piazza at Southbank, where we all (well, almost all!) walk out together at the end of the performance. All, except you Brian, as you were a bit distracted by all those dancers and followed us about 5 seconds later. Hilarious!
Back to the question, boys. :)
Suncorp Stadium is a bit different, in that we need to cover such a lot of ground, so we have to move fast.
But in a street parade, the first and most important thing to remember is that different instruments are different weights.
It's easy to streak away like a hare with a repinique or a tamborim. It's quite another thing to keep up that pace when you are carrying a surdo.
The result is that the back of the group is so far away from the front, that you can't hear the repinique at all. And the resulting sound is all over the place.
But every street parade we've done, I've brought this up, and the response has been "Yes, sure" and the music starts, and in the excitement that gets forgotten, and the race is on again.
So that's one thing that could help. The sound is better if we all stick together.
I don't mean that we travel at a snail's pace, just that we don't take enormously long strides, for the sake of the surdo players.
Can't think of anything else to suggest. Except perhaps we might sometimes do some parading up and down the hall on Thursday nights, just so the newer people get the feel of what it's like to march and play at the same time.
Good feedback Patty. Nicki just showed me a video of the second parade, and even though all are lined up very well this time it spreads out too much, as you say probably because the pace is to high.
West End Carnival march was great. We walked in time with the music and surely that's the easiest way to do it.
We could start by trying to bob side to side as a group in time to the music - something we should probably try to do anyway. Once we have that, we just need to bob in a consistent direction.
Turning as a unit seems a bit more trick though, I'm not sure the best way to tackle that. It would be good if you had a couple of signals Remko - cause you may want us to pivot individually or pivot as a unit.
"Left, together, right, together, left, together, ..."
West End Carnival march? Did I miss something?
It was a samba parade done by the dudes from Rio Rhythmics and the associated capoeira folks. Jason and I beefed up the caixa section.
Oh yeah, I remember that. Ben and I played as well. Will's right about the marching with the tempo...of course, Remko might find it difficult to keep the tempo to a suitable pace for walking rather than the 100m sprint.
Cheap "Walkie-talkies" from Dick Smith would help with the communication from people in the back to Remko.They can be connected to earpieces like the American secret services.
Useful with Lang Park gig as well. Often we are divided in groups on the opposite ends of the field.
No sure whether we can hear it while playing but certainly useful during the assembly stage.
Ten Four . Over. Roger ?
I'm worried already.
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