<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">I agree, mentoring is something that should be given more attention. That's why I put a mentoring page on the bardic website. Mentoring doesn't have to be reserved to a Laurel-apprentice relationship. It also doesn't have to be a one-on-one relationship. It can be a committed agreement, or a casual agreement. Using myself as an example, I've been the committed bardic student of Eleanor Fairchild. For several years we've had a non-Laurel-apprentice pact (though we may change that in time now that she is a Laurel). Whether she was near or far, it didn't matter. We made the effort to maintain it. She has also sent me to other bards to learn things from. Likewise, I have my own
bardic student, and I'll send her to other bards to learn things which I'm not able to teach her. I'll also teach anyone (if I can) who approaches me with something they want to learn. The key to mentoring is being willing to make the effort, either to find a mentor, or be a mentor. Anyone can potentially benefit from having a mentor, from the newest bard, to the wisened Laurel. There's always someone out there you can learn from, though the further you take your craft, the fewer and further between those teachers will be.</DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Alden<BR><BR></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: Robert Fitzmorgan <fitzmorgan@gmail.com><BR>To: Ansteorran Bardic list <bards@lists.ansteorra.org><BR>Sent: Tuesday, May 1, 2007 10:52:48 AM<BR>Subject: Re: [Bards] the Rules-well sort of.<BR><BR> The key I think is mentoring. <BR> Experienced Bards should try and hold some sort of local meetings where Bards can learn and grow in a supportive environment, instead of trying to learn by trial and error in front of an audience. Especially since the audience may not tell you what you are doing poorly. <BR> Experienced Bards should also find promising new bards and work with them on an individual basis. Helping them find new material, helping polish their performance skills, and teaching bardic etiquette.
<BR> This can be very rewarding and is the one thing we can do that will most strengthen bardic in Ansteorra. <BR> It's a long term aid and not much help at the event when the bad bard comes in and throws a bucket of ice water on the circle, but ultimatly it's about the most constructive thing you can do.<BR> I still think that we need to focus more on having more good Bardic Circles in the first place. Nothing spoins a Bardic Circle more than not having one. <BR><BR>Robert<BR><BR></DIV></div></body></html>