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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Hope this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>In Service to the Dream,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Lady Adalia “Nyx” VonDerBerg <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com@ansteorra.org
[mailto:bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com@ansteorra.org] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Dawn Rummel<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, July 29, 2004 4:14
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Bardic<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Bards] Discussion
question</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Question: How do you, personally, work to become a
better bard?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<br>
Antonia/Dawn<br>
<br>
It's the little things in life...<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/aac/*http:/promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail/static/ease.html">Yahoo!
Mail Address AutoComplete</a> - You start. We finish.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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