Mid-Realm Bardic Madness X Classes

	Mid-Realm Bardic Madness X Classes

We've now filled the class schedule for Bardic Madness South X. Barring surprises, this is the class schedule for this year.

Class session 1 (11 to 12):

Bardic Arts for Beginners Lady Hilla Hamasdohtor This is an interactive class that focuses on developing creativity, thinking on your feet, confidence-building, and creating a bardic presence. Discussions on focus areas, time permitting. For the first-time bard, newer bard, or those wishing to brush up on these areas. Also a fun way to warm up for performing. All welcome

Tambourine Technique Master Robyyan Torr d'Elandris The tambourine is a percussion instrument well documented as extant within the period of interest to the SCA. But the available iconography suggests a playing technique quite different than modern "shake and slam". This class will explore some of the other things that can be done, and might be justified by the historic pictures we have. Bring a tambourine! (Earplugs optional.)

Improv Games Master John Inchingham Theatrical improvisation - deigned to help you learn to think on your feet.

The Patron and the Bard 101: Growing the Bardic Community Master Owen Alun The least understood of the Bardic Arts is that of the Patron. It's also the key art to growing the bardic community. What is it to be a patron, how to grow and nourish the bardic arts (including how to grow and nourish patrons), finding your inner patron. The art of the patron. A comparison of the historical and current periods, and suggestions about how to get beyond the bardic circle by interweaving bardic arts with the general course of events within our society.

Class session 2 (1:30 to 2:30):

How to Train Your Ear to Carry a Tune Lady Tabitha Pennywarden This is a class for those people who would like to be able to carry a tune, but don't think they can. Carrying a tune is a skill that can be learned. If you can remember how a tune goes, you can learn how to reproduce it. If you don't speak in a monotone, you are not tone deaf, and can learn to carry a tune. This class is limited to people who can hear and speak, and are over the age of 15.

Norse Poetry 101 Baron Torvaldr Torgarson Discussion of basic Norse poetry forms, the skalds and their position in Norse culture.

Basics of Vocal Production Lady Ursula the Widow This class is intended for those who have never had a voice lesson. The fundamentals of breathing, support, projection and placement will be covered. These basics are of use to singers, heralds, and anyone who needs to project and be heard. The class is active and will involve standing and singing. (If you are unable to stand, any upright posture will do). Limited to 8 gentles. No spectators, please

Mastering the Art of Performance Style Master Sir William of Fairhaven I've been involved with music most of my life along with being in the SCA most of my life. I joined the SCA in 198 and I started playing guitar solely to perform in the SCA in 1989. I quickly developed a love of Irish music (though non-period in nature) and pub tunes learned from a host of sources including Master Moonwulf and Master John ap Wynne). In 2002, along with some friends (some SCA and some not) we formed an Irish music band called FinTan based mostly out of Southwestern Ohio (www.fintanband.com, www.myspace.com/fintanmusic). 6 years and 4 CD later, the band has evolved and grown and we are getting ready to tour Ireland in January 2009. We've played pubs and parties, festivals and fairs and the one thing I've taken away from playing in a busy Irish pub band (above all else) is that we have to evolve as performers and that consciously working towards better performances is the one thing overlooked by almost all performers. Music skills are not innately entertaining to most audiences. Clever lyrics are rarely clever to the casual listener While I have a day job, I consider myself a professional musician and performer (I get paid to play music and entertain people - if you get paid or collect money for performing you are, by definition, a professional).
I've learned some very hard lessons playing for real money out in the real world. I will probably say some things that might hurt some people's feelings, but you need to have thick skin and be willing to honestly listen to criticism (good or bad) in order to get better. Playing in a band in front of total strangers with no disposition to like you or even listen is a good place to learn some of these skills. Hopefully this class will impart some of what I've learned in over 20 years of recording and performing music for money and you will come away with a better appreciation for the skills required to be a good performer, some tools to help you work on your performance and an improved understanding of the audience, their needs and what it takes to deliver knockout performances.
An hour is short time to cover a lot of ground, but please feel free to bring your music, instruments, etc and if we have time we'll workshop some skills that will help develop performing skills.

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Grey Gargiyles Home This page maintained by Cerian Cantwr, cerian@minstrel.com.
Last updated: 2016-05-06

Bardic Arts for Beginners	Lady Hilla Hamasdohtor	This is an interactive class that focuses on developing creativity, thinking on your feet, confidence-building, and creating a bardic presence. Discussions on focus areas, time permitting. For the first-time bard, newer bard, or those wishing to brush up on these areas. Also a fun way to warm up for performing. All welcome
Tambourine Technique	Master Robyyan Torr d'Elandris	The tambourine is a percussion instrument well documented as extant within the period of interest to the SCA. But the available iconography suggests a playing technique quite different than modern "shake and slam". This class will explore some of the other things that can be done, and might be justified by the historic pictures we have. Bring a tambourine! (Earplugs optional.)
Improv Games	Master John Inchingham	Theatrical improvisation - deigned to help you learn to think on your feet.
The Patron and the Bard 101: Growing the Bardic Community	Master Owen Alun	The least understood of the Bardic Arts is that of the Patron. It's also the key art to growing the bardic community. What is it to be a patron, how to grow and nourish the bardic arts (including how to grow and nourish patrons), finding your inner patron. The art of the patron. A comparison of the historical and current periods, and suggestions about how to get beyond the bardic circle by interweaving bardic arts with the general course of events within our society.

How to Train Your Ear to Carry a Tune	Lady Tabitha Pennywarden	This is a class for those people who would like to be able to carry a tune, but don't think they can. Carrying a tune is a skill that can be learned. If you can remember how a tune goes, you can learn how to reproduce it. If you don't speak in a monotone, you are not tone deaf, and can learn to carry a tune. This class is limited to people who can hear and speak, and are over the age of 15.
Norse Poetry 101	Baron Torvaldr Torgarson	Discussion of basic Norse poetry forms, the skalds and their position in Norse culture.
Basics of Vocal Production	Lady Ursula the Widow	This class is intended for those who have never had a voice lesson. The fundamentals of breathing, support, projection and placement will be covered. These basics are of use to singers, heralds, and anyone who needs to project and be heard. The class is active and will involve standing and singing. (If you are unable to stand, any upright posture will do). Limited to 8 gentles. No spectators, please
Mastering the Art of Performance Style	Master Sir William of Fairhaven	I've been involved with music most of my life along with being in the SCA most of my life. I joined the SCA in 198 and I started playing guitar solely to perform in the SCA in 1989. I quickly developed a love of Irish music (though non-period in nature) and pub tunes learned from a host of sources including Master Moonwulf and Master John ap Wynne). In 2002, along with some friends (some SCA and some not) we formed an Irish music band called FinTan based mostly out of Southwestern Ohio (www.fintanband.com, www.myspace.com/fintanmusic). 6 years and 4 CD later, the band has evolved and grown and we are getting ready to tour Ireland in January 2009. We've played pubs and parties, festivals and fairs and the one thing I've taken away from playing in a busy Irish pub band (above all else) is that we have to evolve as performers and that consciously working towards better performances is the one thing overlooked by almost all performers. Music skills are not innately entertaining to most audiences. Clever lyrics are rarely clever to the casual listener While I have a day job, I consider myself a professional musician and performer (I get paid to play music and entertain people - if you get paid or collect money for performing you are, by definition, a professional). I've learned some very hard lessons playing for real money out in the real world. I will probably say some things that might hurt some people's feelings, but you need to have thick skin and be willing to honestly listen to criticism (good or bad) in order to get better. Playing in a band in front of total strangers with no disposition to like you or even listen is a good place to learn some of these skills. Hopefully this class will impart some of what I've learned in over 20 years of recording and performing music for money and you will come away with a better appreciation for the skills required to be a good performer, some tools to help you work on your performance and an improved understanding of the audience, their needs and what it takes to deliver knockout performances. An hour is short time to cover a lot of ground, but please feel free to bring your music, instruments, etc and if we have time we'll workshop some skills that will help develop performing skills.