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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'>Help yourself. That’s what they’re
for! </span></font><font size=2 color=navy face=Wingdings><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:navy'>J</span></font><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:
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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>Cathy Polakoff<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, July 30, 2004 4:28
PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Ansteorran
Bardic list</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> RE: [Bards] Discussion
question</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<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>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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. <br>
<br>
Also, thank you for the advice, as I consider myself to be a beginner and what
you said was very helpful.<br>
<br>
Anna bat Chaim<br>
<br>
At 06:11 AM 7/30/2004 -0500, you wrote:<br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><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. <br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'> <br>
</span></font><br>
<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&<br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'> <br>
</span></font><br>
<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. <br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'> <br>
</span></font><br>
<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.<br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'> <br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'>Hope this helps.<br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'>In Service to the Dream,<br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'>Lady Adalia Nyx VonDerBerg <br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'> <br>
</span></font><br>
<font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial;color:navy'> <br>
</span></font><br>
<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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</span></font></div>
<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 [<a
href="mailto:bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com@ansteorra.org" eudora=autourl>mailto:bards-bounces+emily.minier=dtag.com@ansteorra.org</a>]
<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<br>
</span></font><br>
<br>
<br>
Question: How do you, personally, work to become a better bard?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Antonia/Dawn<br>
<br>
It's the little things in life...<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'>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.<br>
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