MUSIC Forum at canaaninstitute.org

[Mike_L]

Yes this is happening!

Scroll to near the last post to find THIS YEAR'S jam schedule and location.



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This is in the idea stage ... but I am starting a thread. The first quote is from today's email

[Mike_L]

Feed back -- we need more emails like this!

Hi Mike,

I am very interested in Jam Tent.
What is there to do to get it goin?

Hank


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I said: "You just did it, we need more emails like this!" -m
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Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

....

I think this is a really cool idea. I would participate and
even help with the nuts and bolts work.

-Bill M

....
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

from Harry ...

...

I have circulated the jam tent idea to Traonach. Personally I am
interested, too, but I don't know how to work the website (seems to
need a username etc). it would be best to have some generally themed
slots like two hours of old timey, two of contra tunes and two of
Irish. It takes a good hour to get into the Irish groove, so a one
hour slot does not make any sense to me.

HL

...
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Hey Mike, this in response to the jam tent idea.

It would be fun, but there are two things that come to my mind. One is that I see the IFest as a chance to see groups I don't see otherwise, so jamming would deprive me of that. The other thing is carrying a guitar around all day. It might be asking a lot, but could the jam tent be secure enough to leave instruments there?? I have often wished I had my guitar with me at some time during the festival, but don't want to haul it around all day.

Jeb
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Yes, I'd be interested in playing and I bet at least some key people on the bluegrassjam list would be interested.

Phil
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Mike--
I am definitely in favor of the Ithaca Fest Jam Tent idea! Not only
will it be a lot of fun, it will get the word out about the existence
of the various jams.

Sorry I've made it to the Wednesday night jam only once so far. I'll
be back eventually, but not tonight.

Cheers!
Melissa
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Last year was my first time at Ithaca Festival; hope it won't be my last. A jam tent w/ rotating varieties of jams sounds like a great idea!

Thx -- Kathy S., Oneonta
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Tue Apr 29 2008 - Yes! This is happening for sure! Details to follow ...
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Mike_L]

Great news about the proposed jam tent at the Ithaca Festival - not only have the Festival organizers signed on enthusiastically, but they've invited us to expand the idea to possibly include jams on all three days of the festival! [There will be things happening at STEWART Park this year all 3 days!] We have the option of thinking small scale - one day, a smallish tent, no amplification. Or we could go bigger and intermix jams with dance events. This would give us the facilities of the dance events - a larger tent, more time slots, and a PA system.

Let us know what you prefer! You can post to the forum or e-mail me (Mike)

If we're going to have jams all three days, we'll need additional groups to jam. So far, we're planning to have bluegrass, Southern old-time, Irish, and New England/contra (Mon/Wed. night group). Any other groups want in? How about folk song, jazz, or international folk groups? Interested groups should have an established membership core but be welcoming to newcomers. Think about whether there is any dance group you might want to coordinate with, what day/time you'd prefer for your group, whether a 2 - 3 hour time slot works for you, and any conflicts you might have with other Festival events.

And we're still welcoming suggestions about other aspects of the Ithaca Festival jam. Here's what we're leaning towards so far: An instrument check was suggested and would be nice but doesn't really seem feasible this year due to staffing and liability concerns - it would create a huge logistical problem that we cannot handle as yet. But, musicians with less portable instruments (like a bass!) should contact me (Mike) for a possible way to transport it into the park. I have also volunteered to take on the responsibilty of welcoming people to the jams. We will be writing blurbs for each jam for the festival guide - let me know what you'd like me to say about your group, including the guidelines you expect people to follow for your jam.

The theme for this year's festival is "I am Ithaca". Jamming at the festival would be a great way to express the theme!

FEEDBACK NEEDED! - PLEASE REPLY TO THIS THREAD OR EMAIL ME - (I CAN EASILY COPY/PASTE A COMMENT AS A REPLY TO THIS THREAD). THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS ARE READING THIS THREAD. WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK
_________________
Michael Ludgate - forum administrator
The Canaan Institute http://www.canaaninstitute.org/

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[Bill Mutch]

OK...good to hear it's progressing.

Here's my three cents...inflation, don't you know.

I favor the smaller tent proposal, not a larger venue combined with dance slots. I don't know what YF&N, 4Hands or other dance groups may be working on, but to me the idea is for acoustic jams to have an outlet for a smallish, wander in sort of audience and players. I'm opposed to the idea of a sound system with the possible exception of a SINGLE mike (omnidirectional in the middle or a cardioid hung from the tent ridge pole) with a LOW volume, clean amplifier. I think it also important to not allow so large a venue as to get jams which are mob scenes where the right hand cannot hear the left.

I think it would be difficult to fill three days with quality jams but that there's too many to allow a single day with slots longer than an hour, although Harry's point about enough time to work up energy is well taken. I think we could do well with two days, Saturday and Sunday, requiring two groups to commit to be lead off for a day.

I feel strongly that some attention needs to be given to avoid genre ghetto-ization, so that some cross fertilization can take place among participants and to allow for the spontainious. In practice this mean that we shouldn't timetable 1:43 to 2:18 Bluegrass followed by 2:20 to 3:10 Orangegrass, followed by Desert Stubblegrass at 3:22. There needs to be space between pre-existing groups with established repertoires and a total open mike free for all.

I think it productive to discuss guidelines of the sort: "play something you know" "play one and pass it clockwise" "originator owns the key and tempo" "beginners and newcomers are welcome" (or not) It helps if guidelines can be agreed and participants are aware of them. ??How to do that without anyone feeling there is a jam dictator??

I guess that's four cents...so...discussion ??

73, Bill M.

[Mike_L]

[Mike_L]

[May]

It might be fun to use the dance tent for some combined dance and jam events - like a waltz (and other couples dances?) jam, a square dance, or a contra... But I think most jams would work better in a smaller space, with no amplification. And I'd prefer to have jams generally scheduled back to back, without interruptions for dance events, to encourage musicians to try out music genres that are new to them.

[Mike_L]