RUM
I didn't mean to go two months between posts. My personal life has been a bit crazy lately. I actually have two posts in mind. One I've been thinking about for a while, and this one about RUM. Of course, I also meant to post right after the event while everything was still fresh in my mind. Better late than never, as my mom says.
Overview of European Music 600-1300 - This class was originally combined with OoEM 1300-1600 as a 1 hour class called Introduction to Period Music. alasais and I talked to the RUM chancellor and the head of the College of Performing Arts about splitting the class, and they agreed. We also changed the name since we do not discuss anything other than European music. "Period Music" implies discussing all types of music in period. Because I was only discussing 7 centuries worth of music (and actually only 5 since we didn't have music written down till the 9th century), I could expand on some of the idea I used to gloss over before, play musical examples, and show more plates and illustrations. Overall, I think both classes were very well received. I do have some tweaking that needs to be done (know my musical examples better, teacher/outline notes, etc), but I think every teacher goes through that. I have to remember not everyone has my level of knowledge about music, and some have NO knowledge at all. I don't need to necessarily "dumb down" the class, just be better prepared.
Overview of European Dance 1400-1700 - This is also a new class for RUM. It was developed at the request of the chancellor to give an option for a dance class to those who do not dance. It is also good for dancers to give them an idea of how dances progressed and how they fit into the history we study. I LOVE teaching this class. It is the first time I have taught it without petefrogboy to be my "steps demonstrator." Luckily, alasais stepped in to demonstrate those steps I was not physically capable of doing. Unfortunately, we did not get to demonstrate any actual dances (I think I might add that information to the handout so the students will be able to recognize the names of the dances and the steps during a revel or dance class at a later time). I also need to work on my teachers notes for this class so I can easily glance down and know where I am. This was the biggest class I taught, with 15-20 students.
Now for the actual event. Bleh Bleh BLEH!!!! I arrived on site Saturday at 6am. Considering that the first class was at 8, there were very few people up and moving. The wake-up call did not go out until 7 when breakfast was ready. Breakfast was good, but they did not make nearly enough. All the classes were held outside under tents to allow the hall to be kept free for socializing, cooling off, official RUM business (CLEP tests, attendance sheets, etc), and feast prep. They tried something new by having evening classes both Friday and Saturday. From what I heard, the Friday night classes had small to zero attendance. Saturday night classes (imho) are a good idea, but only if everything runs close-to on time. Because they had set out all the tables and chairs the night before, everything was covered in a thick layer of dew. This might not have bothered anyone else, but I had electronic equipment (battery pack, ipod, and speakers) that I could not set on the ground and books that I could not set on the table. The table ended up being very crowded, and I had to teach out of my bag to keep my books from getting wet.
On a side note, children's benedryl is now a staple of my event packing. I was bit by a fire ant on my toe during the middle of my class. Since I had to teach again in the afternoon, I couldn't take a regular benedryl. Thank heavens for a prepared laurel. Luckily some of the side effects (numb mouth, tingling/numbness in fingers and toes, slightly disconnected feeling) didn't show up till after the class and were gone in an hour.
Air conditioned cabins were a godsend. That is probably the only way I survived the weekend. While it might not be the best site, a/c is definitely a plus. The beds definitely are not. Instead of individual bunks, the beds wrap around the walls on each side of the cabin. So you essentially have three sets of bunk beds but they are all connected. Pray you are staying with people you know and like. Also, the top bunks are very strange. The mattresses are pieces of foam over a wood frame with fabric over it and stapled to the frame. To tuck the sheet, you have to lift up the entire wood frame. And because the foam is maybe 2-3" thick, you can feel the slats of the frame.
Court was outside in the shade so they could set up the hall for the feast. Everything up to that point pretty much ran on time. I think feast even started close to on time, or at least close enough to not be much of an issue. It just ran very very long. Far too long between courses. The food was....interesting. There seemed to be plenty. Unfortunately, except for a couple of dishes that everyone at the table loved (or just loved playing with), quite a bit of it went back to the kitchen. Towards the end, a couple of specialty dishes went out that were carried around and served rather than trenchers placed at each table. While I love frog legs and calf liver, I'm not quite sure about their place in a feast. By the time the final course came out, we were more than ready to be out of there.
I entertained myself and my table by singing during feast. I pulled out my big book and just started leafing through. I was sitting next to Rachel, who was also in our local choir while I was directing. We sang several things that we both remembered. Mikal joined us for the ones were he knew the tune. At some point one of the teenagers who had been part of the children's choir I tried to start came to me and asked if I remember one of the song I had taught them. I grabbed the music from my book and joined her and her sister at their end of the table. They did such a good job they were able to sing the melody while I sang the round against them. We even sang for the Queen and the Prince, and they want to learn more pieces. Time for me to do some research on things we can learn in an afternoon at an event!
The hafla was FUN!!! There were issues with getting the hall cleared so it could start. I know at least two of the evening classes were canceled because of the late hour. The middle eastern dance class was a much truncated version to allow us more time to dance. The beer tasting/judging class was moved to a corner of the hall so they could have light and be part of everything going on. The food at the hafla was wonderful. The music was outstanding. More than just drums, there was a oud (aud?), a lute, and a flute to provide melody. Improvisational music is so incredible! I love dancing when there is a melody to follow rather than just a beat. I got to wear beautiful clothes, play with scarves, and even drum a little. Must do more!!!!
Things I learned:
Always bring something to munch on. I brought drinks this time, but forgot snacks. Luckily I have friends who don't mind sharing, but I really need to bring my own stuff.
I prefer to teach in an informal setting, rather than standing behind a table with all the students in front of me. Put the table behind me so I can use it but it is out of the way.
Trying to demonstrate dance steps in ankle high grass is futile.
My mp3 player automatically puts music in alphabetical order. Putting numbers in front of particular pieces in a playlist will keep them in the proper order.
2 hours of sleep Friday night, 1 hour nap Saturday, and dancing for hours on end followed by 5 hours of sleep Saturday night means I will CRASH Sunday. Just expect it.
Pictures of the event can be found at http://aylekeepe.smugmug.com/SCA%202007. Page 1 #3 I am wearing the blue sari teaching the OoEM class. Page 3 #9 I am shopping with friends. You can see the fake hair we braided into my own to give me a more period look. We used my green silk sash to wrap where the fake hair and my hair are together. Starting on page 4 are pictures from the hafla. I am wearing the purple undergown, green overgown, and tapestry hat. You also can't see it, but I have on yellow pants and my purple Eeyore socks. I MUST have an outfit like this and learn more about ME dancing. Mistress Jadi says I have a Turkish style of dance. Not sure what that means other than I am fluid but also bouncy, but I want to find out!
Overview of European Music 600-1300 - This class was originally combined with OoEM 1300-1600 as a 1 hour class called Introduction to Period Music. alasais and I talked to the RUM chancellor and the head of the College of Performing Arts about splitting the class, and they agreed. We also changed the name since we do not discuss anything other than European music. "Period Music" implies discussing all types of music in period. Because I was only discussing 7 centuries worth of music (and actually only 5 since we didn't have music written down till the 9th century), I could expand on some of the idea I used to gloss over before, play musical examples, and show more plates and illustrations. Overall, I think both classes were very well received. I do have some tweaking that needs to be done (know my musical examples better, teacher/outline notes, etc), but I think every teacher goes through that. I have to remember not everyone has my level of knowledge about music, and some have NO knowledge at all. I don't need to necessarily "dumb down" the class, just be better prepared.
Overview of European Dance 1400-1700 - This is also a new class for RUM. It was developed at the request of the chancellor to give an option for a dance class to those who do not dance. It is also good for dancers to give them an idea of how dances progressed and how they fit into the history we study. I LOVE teaching this class. It is the first time I have taught it without petefrogboy to be my "steps demonstrator." Luckily, alasais stepped in to demonstrate those steps I was not physically capable of doing. Unfortunately, we did not get to demonstrate any actual dances (I think I might add that information to the handout so the students will be able to recognize the names of the dances and the steps during a revel or dance class at a later time). I also need to work on my teachers notes for this class so I can easily glance down and know where I am. This was the biggest class I taught, with 15-20 students.
Now for the actual event. Bleh Bleh BLEH!!!! I arrived on site Saturday at 6am. Considering that the first class was at 8, there were very few people up and moving. The wake-up call did not go out until 7 when breakfast was ready. Breakfast was good, but they did not make nearly enough. All the classes were held outside under tents to allow the hall to be kept free for socializing, cooling off, official RUM business (CLEP tests, attendance sheets, etc), and feast prep. They tried something new by having evening classes both Friday and Saturday. From what I heard, the Friday night classes had small to zero attendance. Saturday night classes (imho) are a good idea, but only if everything runs close-to on time. Because they had set out all the tables and chairs the night before, everything was covered in a thick layer of dew. This might not have bothered anyone else, but I had electronic equipment (battery pack, ipod, and speakers) that I could not set on the ground and books that I could not set on the table. The table ended up being very crowded, and I had to teach out of my bag to keep my books from getting wet.
On a side note, children's benedryl is now a staple of my event packing. I was bit by a fire ant on my toe during the middle of my class. Since I had to teach again in the afternoon, I couldn't take a regular benedryl. Thank heavens for a prepared laurel. Luckily some of the side effects (numb mouth, tingling/numbness in fingers and toes, slightly disconnected feeling) didn't show up till after the class and were gone in an hour.
Air conditioned cabins were a godsend. That is probably the only way I survived the weekend. While it might not be the best site, a/c is definitely a plus. The beds definitely are not. Instead of individual bunks, the beds wrap around the walls on each side of the cabin. So you essentially have three sets of bunk beds but they are all connected. Pray you are staying with people you know and like. Also, the top bunks are very strange. The mattresses are pieces of foam over a wood frame with fabric over it and stapled to the frame. To tuck the sheet, you have to lift up the entire wood frame. And because the foam is maybe 2-3" thick, you can feel the slats of the frame.
Court was outside in the shade so they could set up the hall for the feast. Everything up to that point pretty much ran on time. I think feast even started close to on time, or at least close enough to not be much of an issue. It just ran very very long. Far too long between courses. The food was....interesting. There seemed to be plenty. Unfortunately, except for a couple of dishes that everyone at the table loved (or just loved playing with), quite a bit of it went back to the kitchen. Towards the end, a couple of specialty dishes went out that were carried around and served rather than trenchers placed at each table. While I love frog legs and calf liver, I'm not quite sure about their place in a feast. By the time the final course came out, we were more than ready to be out of there.
I entertained myself and my table by singing during feast. I pulled out my big book and just started leafing through. I was sitting next to Rachel, who was also in our local choir while I was directing. We sang several things that we both remembered. Mikal joined us for the ones were he knew the tune. At some point one of the teenagers who had been part of the children's choir I tried to start came to me and asked if I remember one of the song I had taught them. I grabbed the music from my book and joined her and her sister at their end of the table. They did such a good job they were able to sing the melody while I sang the round against them. We even sang for the Queen and the Prince, and they want to learn more pieces. Time for me to do some research on things we can learn in an afternoon at an event!
The hafla was FUN!!! There were issues with getting the hall cleared so it could start. I know at least two of the evening classes were canceled because of the late hour. The middle eastern dance class was a much truncated version to allow us more time to dance. The beer tasting/judging class was moved to a corner of the hall so they could have light and be part of everything going on. The food at the hafla was wonderful. The music was outstanding. More than just drums, there was a oud (aud?), a lute, and a flute to provide melody. Improvisational music is so incredible! I love dancing when there is a melody to follow rather than just a beat. I got to wear beautiful clothes, play with scarves, and even drum a little. Must do more!!!!
Things I learned:
Always bring something to munch on. I brought drinks this time, but forgot snacks. Luckily I have friends who don't mind sharing, but I really need to bring my own stuff.
I prefer to teach in an informal setting, rather than standing behind a table with all the students in front of me. Put the table behind me so I can use it but it is out of the way.
Trying to demonstrate dance steps in ankle high grass is futile.
My mp3 player automatically puts music in alphabetical order. Putting numbers in front of particular pieces in a playlist will keep them in the proper order.
2 hours of sleep Friday night, 1 hour nap Saturday, and dancing for hours on end followed by 5 hours of sleep Saturday night means I will CRASH Sunday. Just expect it.
Pictures of the event can be found at http://aylekeepe.smugmug.com/SCA%202007. Page 1 #3 I am wearing the blue sari teaching the OoEM class. Page 3 #9 I am shopping with friends. You can see the fake hair we braided into my own to give me a more period look. We used my green silk sash to wrap where the fake hair and my hair are together. Starting on page 4 are pictures from the hafla. I am wearing the purple undergown, green overgown, and tapestry hat. You also can't see it, but I have on yellow pants and my purple Eeyore socks. I MUST have an outfit like this and learn more about ME dancing. Mistress Jadi says I have a Turkish style of dance. Not sure what that means other than I am fluid but also bouncy, but I want to find out!