It's time to start teaching the music...
#steppersbeatcolumn
In the
Stepper Music Group on Facebook
we've had a
bit of... well I don't want to call it a problem but for lack of
words... a problem.
Many of our members are anxious to post their favorite music. I
understand that. After all sharing music is what it's all about. The
problem is nationally speaking, a lack of steppers music education.
What is the right music to step to?
The four group administrators have been talking about this for quite
a while and we've stumbled on an idea that may just be a big part of
the solution. So I posted this in the group to start with:
Sometimes I think it would be better if there was a way to make
people listen to a few hours of stepping music before they are
allowed to post in the group.
Of course we can't do that but what we can do is work on educating
our members and getting them more involved with our favorite genre
of music.
We (administrators) talked about this and think we have a plan to be
able to do just that. In order to educate our members we need
experts on steppers music and fortunately we have those experts
right here in the group.
We have the DJ's! That's right the people we listen to when we go to
every set or party. They know the music and work with it every
day... some of them have been doing so since the birth of the genre. More Below
Check out this list of DJ's in the group:
Alvin McClendon, BigTony Owens, Charles DjChuckgog Moreland,
Christian DjMellowkhris Jackson, Cleon Asante Coker, Cynthia
Cynsitivity Richards, Darren D Train Crawford, Darren Stringfellow
Djdarren, Deanna DjDeelite Bright, Dee Jay Alicia, Diana Verner,
Djkahuna Djbigkahuna Howard, Djmarkeygproducer Chitown, Djraphael
Holmes, Djrichie Rich GR, Djshortysmooth Mrmakeudance, Donnell
Djdrfeelgood Coe, Drama Free Izme, Emile Djsteppine E Tankersley,
Eric DjEaze Robinson, Eric Djmre Potter, Eric ET Taylor, Glen
Trevillion, Harold Djdaddy Scott, IceMike Letsgotoworksteppers, Jay
Boogie, Kat N Tha Hat, Keith Hunt, Kirk DjKmix Peterson, L.c.
Henderson, Larry Cross, Marcus DjMre Young, Maurice Themusicpriest
Bufkin, Michael "Black Cool' Thornton, Morris Allen, Myron Robinson,
Reginald Chaison, Robert 'djramonjamahl' Johnson, Roy Smooth
Shannon, Sabrina Djladyc Cochran, Sarah Teagle, Semaj' Annod,
Sherman King, Steve Breeze Brewer, Stretch Alex, Theodore Capleton,
Tumuch da Winner, Va'Shawn Djbigshay Brooks, Vincent Randale, Walter
H Bonds Jr.
And they're just the tip of the iceberg... I'm sure we missed some
(hey we're only human) but it's a good place to start. The saying is
each one teach one... right?
Later today (or this evening) we're going to start laying the
groundwork for the serious business of teaching people about Chicago
Style stepping and the music people step to in the group. Membership
has its benefits! There's knowledge to be shared so you might just
want to join us in the group. It's fun and addictive too (and you
don't have to post any music (unless you have something that's not
on our list of over 5,000 songs). Just read, listen and learn.
Even as things are changing there's still
a need...
#steppersbeatcolumn
I've been thinking about something I said in one of
my recent past columns and was wondering how applicable yesterday's
technologies are going to be in the future.
At the end of my
column on the 19th I said: Document the history of the dance on paper. Publish it! Do
original and creative things on video and publish them! Those are
the types of things that get catalogued in the Library of Congress.
Look up ISBN on the web... that's a start. If we want to cement the
true history of the dance as owned by Black people we as individuals
and as a community have to do something about it in writing
otherwise it will end up lost in the flow of time along with rumors
and "urban legend."
Publishing and vetting the voracity of source information is
changing because of the sweeping changes information technology and
the web have brought to the table. Older pen and paper technology is
slipping by the wayside as a direct result. Remember not so long ago
when journalists were slamming bloggers... today many are used as
sources for the big stories.
Everything is digital today and the book now takes an electronic
form. You can literally carry an entire library with you when you
travel and it will all weigh just ounces (the weight of the Kindle
or iPad or laptop) We don't need to carry crates of records or bags
of CD's to DJ a set because an MP3 takes a small bit of space on a
drive or a memory stick or a phone that can be plugged into a sound
system. Continued
and Comment
Have something on your mind? Need to talk to Markie Bee? With Google
voice (A REAL phone number) you can call me directly (from the United
States only please) For FREE. If I'm available, I'll call you right
back.
The SteppersUSA
Daily News and SteppersUSA.Com are both
daily publications which update continually. We accept and
publish Steppers classes and workshops, Daily events, weekly events,
monthly events, special events, steppers news, requests for
information which we can't answer but our visitors may have an
answer to. All of this makes us the most complete listing of
Steppers information available anywhere. Send your submissions to us
at
webmaster@steppersusa.com
and send your pluggers/fliers to
pluggers@steppersusa.com
TODAY! If you would like your pluggers/fliers to be posted with
your event on the calendar,
CLICK HERE
