strathspey@strathspey.org:44872

Charles Upton

Two Chords

March 24, 2006, 11:39 p.m. (Message 44872, in reply to message 44767)

Hi, most of the replies that I see against 2 chords, seem to come from
teachers and maybe they have good reason.  However, I'm not a teacher
but often am the MC but I don't seem to meet the many problems that
have been mentioned.
If we have a live band I check with the band that the dance will be
preceded by 2 chords and that if a encore is needed, it will be
preceded by 1 chord.  If this is agreed then I don't have to make any
statement whatsoever as this is the norm.
Incidentally, we do not have any briefings or walk throughs unless it
is a Beginners Ball, crib sheets have been previously issued (Minicrib
of course!) and most dancers have done their homework, though maybe
the local clubs have practised the more difficult dances beforehand.
If the dance is to recorded music (usually I am also the DJ), I don't
play CDs as I try to keep them in pristine condition, also I find CDs
inconvenient to use and that they usually contain many tracks that I
never use.  All the tracks I ever require have been previously
recorded onto MiniDiscs (no-one ever mentions MiniDiscs but the
standard box of 20 discs can contain more than 500 dances which are
all titled!) and having recorded a 2 chord dance it is very easy to
divide the dance into 2 tracks (the tracks are automatically
numbered), the first track contains the first chord only and the
second has the second chord followed by the required music.
To start the dance I play track 1 and it naturally runs on with track
2 and there is no break when it changes to track 2.  For the encore I
simply play track 2.  This ensures that if the 2 chords are different
the difference is maintained.
I don't need to give any instructions other than announce the dance
(and that's surplus as everyone has a programme) and check that the
sets are complete (if we follow ECD methods even that is not
necessary).
I find it hard to appreciate the problem so please keep the 2 chords,
1 chord will certainly confuse the dancers and will turn me into a
sergeant major issuing orders -"By the Right 3s and 4s cross Over" (Oh
No!).  I wonder how many times a tune is played when teaching as
against playing for a Dance
Charles Upton
Minicrib