Music and How to Pick It For YOU – Jim Woolsey
Music is very personal and subjective thing to each caller. How is music used? The
cowboys sang to the cattle to calm them down. In movies music is used to set the
mood. Music is used to stir up or create excitement or to sooth the savage beast.
Music may be one of the most important part of the square dance program. We pick
music for different reasons and to fill different spots on our calling program.
Records, MP3, and CD’s all sell for about $7.00 each plus postage. This is a good
reason to always pick our music carefully to make sure we can use the music. We
all have music lying around that we will never use. Please note there are no wrong
or right reasons for picking music. Everyone is different. Let’s look at some of
the things that we use to pick music.
1. Hoedowns and Singing Calls – Use some singers as hoedowns a. Make sure that you
don’t use all singers or all techno as hoedowns all night! Remember to use different
music to set the mood for your dance.
2. Hoedowns are 50% of our calling program. They are important and should not all
sound the same. Program your hoedowns.
3. Is the music produced using a live band. If not can I live with the music and
use it.
4. Do the dancers know and like the music?
5. Do I know the song? Is it popular or on the charts.
6. How will the music fit in my program? Can I make the song mine?
7. Different musical instruments. Fiddles, Steel Guitar Piano Banjo.
8. How well the music is phrased and is there a melody line.
9. Use different song types. Mexican flavor, Rock n Roll, Western Swing, Gospel.
Make sure that you have some classic music El Paso, Summer Sounds. The dancer like
to hear some classics as a change up.
10. 2/4, 4/4 or 6/8 timing makes a difference in setting the mood of the dance.
11. If the song is a singing call (& you like the music) and you can’t use it as
singer, can you use it as a hoedown?
12. What do you think the dancer’s reaction will be?
13. Who is the the record producer. Some record labels have better music.
14. Techno music or traditional music.
15. Are there any words in the tag lines that need to be changed? Make sure that
there no words that may be offensive to the dancers.
16. What age are you calling for?
17. Each piece of music you select should have a specific purpose. Smooth, floor
burner, excitement, mood music, theme & holiday music.
18. What is the key & tempo of the music? In the digital age this is not as important
as it was in the past.
19. Phrasing of the music. Does it talk to you? Is there a melody line that you
can follow or is it all rhythm.
20. Will I have to work hard to master this song? If so will it be worth it and
add a lot to my dance.
21. Will this music allow me to put my best foot forward? Showmanship!
These are just some of the reasons or items that you can look for to pick music
just for you!
Make the music work for you and the dancers will win.