Music & Understanding "The Beat"

[michael]

I just wondered if there is a particularly good CD that you could listen to that would help with listening to the beat in the music. I dont mean real obvious oh so easy beats i mean a sort of standard but diferent (if there is sort a thing) type of tunes. Ive probably got everyone confused by now but ime sure some of you know what i mean?

When trying to dance I just listen to the sound of the music and beats are all meaningless to me. The problem with just starting is that you concentrate on learning enough moves to keep you happy (and others less bored). I was thinking about it whilst working at the computer and thought it would be helpful listening to a suitable CD while doing my work.

Also some tips on just what you are listening for, i know this sounds stupid but it seems different people have different ways to listen to the music. If i dont really know what to listen for then whats the point

[Chris]

Someone might be able to give much better tips, but one thing I find usually helps is listening to the bass beat.

Sometimes I've seen warm-ups before classes done to fairly fast music - stretches - footwork - spinning - all to the beat - I think this helps get everyone accustomed to it too but I don't see it at Ceroc very often.

Hope you have good time in Edinburgh tonight, Michael. Catcha sometime

[Lounge Lizard]

Try Friday 13th by Royal Crown Revue,
want to know how to pick out the music styles, ask the best
Nigel & Nina their workshops on musicality and interpretation are the best

A tip when dancing to blues or soft-swing music don't listen for the beat - feel it!

p

[Gadget]

Originally posted by michael
Also some tips on just what you are listening for, i know this sounds stupid but it seems different people have different ways to listen to the music. If i dont really know what to listen for then whats the point

What to listen for varies depending on the music and what you want to dance to in it.
Actually that's a lie- what bit of the song to dance to depends on what your partner is listening to in the song;{ } the skill lies in sifting through the various "levels" of the music and finding the closest match.
Or, if you can't find the same level, then it's up to the man to show his partner through the lead and hope that she can pick it up.

Some tips to practice "listening"; When you listen to a song, try to follow and focus on various instruments within it: Symbols and high-hats are generally quite easy, with high tsst.t.t.tsst.t.t.... Base generally follows the beat in terms of structure, with some key changes. Piano is quite easy to follow, and sometimes guitar. You can also try to listen to the vocals; not the lyrics, but where the voice raises and lowers, gets softer and louder etc.

I don't know about anyone else, but when I focus on an area of the song, that the focused area seems louder and all the other bits fade slightly. It takes too much concentration to do this when actually dancing , but I can generally pick up on my partner's rhythm and try and match it as LLizard says - just feel the music...

[Lounge Lizard]

Want to learn how to feel the music, try Beach Boogie Splurge 2 - the Blues bit.
It's on the Isle of Wight, but worth the trip.
I think Steve will agree on this.

(Will you be there Mr. T? - now there is a link anyone remember the A team!)

[spindr]

I agree Niigel and Nina's musicality w/shop is great. One other option covering similar ground, is to have a look at the video
"World of Swing 9: Secrets of Improvisation/Dancing to the Music" by Marcus and Barbl. Admitedly, the example dancing will be Swing, but they are excellent and a spot of footwork won't hurt you! And music is music is music. Check out www.worldofswing.com -- some other sites may have example clips.

Alternatively, just listen to anything and everything -- Radio 2 is surprisingly good; there's blues on Thursday eve. followed by R'n'R. There's also ska and reggae with Mark Lamar (but we won't mention the hammond organ experience on a Tuesday -- unless you're intending to take Modern Jive in a whole new direction).

The "Swing" CD from the film "Swing" has some excellent tracks -- "Spot the birdie" is particularly good for training to spot breaks.

Hope that helps,
Neil.

[michael]

Much happier with that aspect, yes feeling the music is for me.

That said i suppose if you are dancing frequently or listening to the same records at home you will as Gadget hints start to hear certain aspects of the tune and you can time certain stops to that part or whatever. Excuse my ignorance but i take it that a break is just simply a stop or pause in between the dancing.

What with dancing as often as possible and now listening as much as possible, when the hell do you get time to do the other bits in your life. Me thinks i will just have to find a "dancing" partner for the much closer still moves.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Lounge Lizard]

Originally posted by michael
Much happier with that aspect, yes feeling the music is for me.

What with dancing as often as possible and now listening as much as possible, when the hell do you get time to do the other bits in your life.

What other bits - you mean there is more to life than dancing and music? Surley not!

[Lounge Lizard]

Originally posted by michael
Much happier with that aspect, yes feeling the music is for me.

Me thinks i will just have to find a "dancing" partner for the much closer still moves.

Now that is the hard bit.

[Dave Hancock]

Originally posted by Gadget
It takes too much concentration to do this when actually dancing , but I can generally pick up on my partner's rhythm and try and match it as LLizard says - just feel the music...

While semi-agreeing with some of which Mr Gadget has written would have to question this comment, on trying to match your partners rhythm, I always thought Ceroc classes start with the immortal line that "it's the man who is in control"

However I do agree that it helps if men are at least slightly tuned into what there partner is doing as this will generally make a dance a bit smoother

[DavidB]

Originally posted by michael
That said i suppose if you are dancing frequently or listening to the same records at home you will as Gadget hints start to hear certain aspects of the tune and you can time certain stops to that part or whatever. Excuse my ignorance but i take it that a break is just simply a stop or pause in between the dancing.

A Break is an interruption to the rhythm of the song. In some songs (especially blues) they are predictable, and you can work out where they are going to happen, even if you have never heard the song before.
In other types of music (eg 'dance' music) they last a lot longer, and are harder to predict.

One interesting thing about listening to music at home compared to at a jive venue - you hear different things. I don't know whether it is the PA system or the acoustics of the venue, but you can lose a lot of the detail in the music.

David

[michael]

Your absolutely right Dave WE LEAD AND WE CONTROL RIGHT.

Me has a sneaking suspicion that this Guy leads bit was a cleverly devised tactic put in by the opposite sex to make us guys "THINK" we are in control. The female species is far more manipulative, clever and cunning than we EVER give them credit for......unless...er.....over to you Mr Brush

[Gadget]

Originally posted by Dave Hancock
have to question this comment, on trying to match your partners rhythm, I always thought Ceroc classes start with the immortal line that "it's the man who is in control"

Perhaps it's just me; I was dancing in night clubs long before I "found" ceroc and if you want to dance with a lady on the dance floor using primative, non-tactile methods, you have to match their rhythm and moves. {OK, you don't have to, but if you want more than just this dance...} The "matching your partners rhythm" is probably just a throwback from then.

[Lounge Lizard]

Originally posted by Dave Hancock
I always thought Ceroc classes start with the immortal line that "it's the man who is in control"

Yeah, but they only say that so the men will come back the following week!
The ladies know they will get their way in the end

I find the lead should change according to your partners dance style and experience, the space on the floor, the music that's playing and how many Budweiser's you have consumed

[michael]

Gadget, I take it you mean if you would like another dance or another type of Rhythm and move

[DavidB]

Originally posted by Lounge Lizard
and how many Budweiser's you have consumed

So that's the difference between a seducer and a drop...

[Lounge Lizard]

Originally posted by DavidB
So that's the difference between a seducer and a drop...

think you missed an 'o' out on that one

[michael]

I sincerely hope (still waiting) your 3 DVDs have plenty of drops in them rather than droops Mr Lizard

[Gadget]

Originally posted by michael
Gadget, I take it you mean if you would like another dance or another type of Rhythm and move

[Lounge Lizard]

posting DVd's today