[Bards] Discussion question

Mon Aug 2 03:54:22 PDT 2004

Help yourself.  That's what they're for!  :-)

  _____  

From: bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com at ansteorra.org
[mailto:bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com at ansteorra.org] On Behalf Of
Cathy Polakoff
Sent: Friday, July 30, 2004 4:28 PM
To: Ansteorran Bardic list
Subject: RE: [Bards] Discussion question

Speaking of lines that beg to be used in a piece, would you mind if I used
the "Do Fighters Dream of More than War" line? It struck a chord with me (no
pun intended) regarding a piece I'm trying to write about Triple A. 

Also, thank you for the advice, as I consider myself to be a beginner and
what you said was very helpful.

Anna bat Chaim

At 06:11 AM 7/30/2004 -0500, you wrote:

My method of becoming a better bard began with an attempt to increase my
repertoire (sic).  I was tired of singing and hearing the same songs at
every event we went to.  So, I began seeking out pieces from bards in other
regions of our great Kingdom as well as a few from bards in other Kingdoms.
I sought permission to perform those pieces, then set about learning them.
>From there, I found a bit of inspiration and (on the occasion that the muses
smile down on me), I can write my own.  Another source of inspiration for my
own pieces is listening to the stories people tell (outside of the bardic
circle).  Many people are passionate about their pursuits in the SCA and
when they are around their friends and families, they will sometime ramble
on and on about something they ve seen or done that touched them in some
way.  Usually (for me at least), those stories have at least one line that
will stick with me and BEG to have a piece written about them.  I have a
notebook that I keep those single lines in and when the hankering to write
hits me and I can t decide what to write about, I pull out that book and
flip through it looking for inspiration.  (Some examples of lines in the
book are:  Real Men Don t Wear Lace and Do Fighters Dream of More than War)
Now, I am not condoning the act of eavesdropping on private conversations&I
m merely talking about taking in your surroundings and listening to the
people who share this dream with us.  

As far as performances&Some of the things I ve learned to be a better
performing bard&If you start a piece and it s not reaching the audience, don
t be afraid to stop the song and start a different one.  NEVER apologize for
your performance (i.e.  I know I don t sing this song as well as So-and-So,
the Titled Bard of Everywhere, but here s my rendition).  Instead, introduce
the piece (especially if it s not one of your own), list the author if you
know who it is (and if you don t find out).  People have favorites that they
ll want to hear from you every time you walk through (or near) their camp
THIS IS A COMPLIMENT, treat it as such.  If you ve just walked up on a
circle, and someone says Sing Something , and you haven t had a chance to
read the circle to know what the mood is, pull a couple of old stand-bys
(songs you know forwards, backwards, and upside down), put the songs into
categories (goofy, happy, war marches, love songs, etc) and ask the group to
pick a category&don t list the songs as many will not know them&

Before I wrap up, one last thing.  If possible, find another bard you
trust&when you ve got a new piece to perform ask them to listen to it and
ask them to give honest, constructive criticism&be willing to accept the
critique and learn from it (remember, you don t have to agree with them or
incorporate all of their suggestions into the piece)&Polish the piece if
necessary and then ask them to listen again.  I ve never met a bard who isn
t willing to listen to another bard and offer pointers .  I may be a bit
naïve here too, but I ve never met a malicious bard who will give negative
pointers to worsen the piece.  

Here s where I break one of my own rules&I know I m not the greatest bard in
the Kingdom& I know that I still have a lot to learn and lot to write
(sometimes I wish the songs would come out as a solid unit though)&But I m
willing to gather whatever knowledge I can from whichever bard is willing to
share (that seems to be most of them I ve found) and run with it&I ve come a
long way (from knowing two songs not worth singing in my own encampment to
being one of the Titled Bards of Namron), but I know the journey is just
beginning.

Hope this helps.

In Service to the Dream,

Lady Adalia Nyx VonDerBerg 

  _____  

From: bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com at ansteorra.org
[mailto:bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com at ansteorra.org
<mailto:bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com at ansteorra.org> ] On Behalf Of
Dawn Rummel
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 4:14 PM
To: Bardic
Subject: [Bards] Discussion question

Question: How do you, personally, work to become a better bard?

Antonia/Dawn

It's the little things in life...

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