[Bards] bardic styles and such

[Gerald of Leesville]

I love it when we talk bardy!

Response to the 1st two paragraphs:  Agreed and agreed.  I think what
Robin's asking/suggesting/yahdayahdayahda... that we should be wary of using
only the "easy" format.  <Looks out at all the fingers poised to type about
the bardic competition they went to and it wasn't an "easy" format dabbit!>
No, not every competition is like that, and Robin isn't suggesting that they
are, but he, and now I, am suggesting that those who are titled bards should
raise the bar on how to invoke diversity rather than provoke it <No,
seriously, keep the holier-than-thou-I've-never-done-anything-like-that
stuff to a minimum, please.  I'm REALLY not talking about you!>.

Third paragraph - Lately?  My work is such that <I'm watching a hummingbird
at rest.  Oh well, that was short, sorta like my attention span> I barely
have enough time to get to the Duck for an open Irish session, let alone
work on new pieces, but I'm still working on adding a new cantiga to my
schtick as well as working on training myself to read original notation,
something I played around with while working with an early period music
group.

I've gotten to a point to where every time I'm performing is as much
practice as it is performance.  What could I have done better, what REALLY
worked, what didn't, ditch it, work on it?  If "challenge" means that I'm
never satisfied with my repetoire as it stands, that I'm trying to broaden
range, depth, improv skills, blahblahblah, then yes, I'm trying to challenge
myself (or just involving myself with a self-induced inferiority complex,
you chose).

Next level?  Where do I go?  If I were looking at cookies it would be
kingdom bard, title bard for every barony/shire/commonwealth, laurelingus,
and then king simply through a battle of wits.  In reality, I'm at a level
now where it's just grinding the stone and seeing how shiny we can make it,
or what interesting shape.  Teaching classes?  I think people get tired of
hearing me say "practice", which is really how we hone our skills.  Some
people start with a sharper set of tools, but practice ALWAYS makes the
skill-set better; some of us just require more than others.

I have many teachers.  To name a few; Avatar, Robin, Modius, Sandra, Rose,
Kat, Alden, and Ihon McFergus.  And that's just a few.  Do I teach others?
I think "encourage" comes closer to what I do rather than teaching.  I
promote the idea that this bardic stuff can actually be fun, and that the
worst that can happen when you perform in front of a bunch of people for
free is for them to cut your pay.  There are now at least a double handfull
of people who blame me for their entry into the bardic world, and I'll take
that as payment any day of the week, thank you very much.





-----Original Message-----
From: bards-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org
[mailto:bards-bounces at lists.ansteorra.org] On Behalf Of Alden Drake
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 10:49 AM
To: Ansteorran Bardic list
Subject: [Bards] bardic styles and such

I think the prevalence of multi-style competitions is that it's an easy way
to add a challenging element to a bardic competition.  Other such challenges
include requiring documentation, a piece to a specific theme, an original
composition, or while juggling flaming geese.  There are many ways to
challenge bards in competition (as others have mentioned).  
Such challenges force bards to play outside of their comfort zone.  The
trick, for the performer, is to accept those challenges and still entertain
the audience.  Such challenges serve to help the performer grow. 

The thing is, these are competition requirements.  They are what the
presiding nobility, outgoing bard, and/or other "ruling body" has decided is
an important factor for the person who is going to represent the branch as a
titled bard.  Outside of the competition arena, you're free to perform
anything and everything that you (and your audience) likes, and I encourage
you to do so....often!

My (somewhat rhetorical) questions for everyone are - Do you challenge
yourself as a bard?  If so, how?  What things do you do to improve your
craft?  Do you look ahead to the next level and ask yourself, "How do I get
there?"  Do you see a next level?  Who do you look to as a measuring stick?
Do you have a teacher guiding you?  Do you teach others?

Alden




Alden





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