Have you seen the ASL sign dictionary for Mainstream square dancing? I got a copy many years ago, and we actually used it for a brief period when we had a non-hearing woman dancing with us. One of our chorus interpreters was actually in the square dance group at the time and signed some of the calls to her...it worked pretty well.
As for the other thread, I imagine this frustration will pass...
On an encouraging note, I know a number of callers that really don't have voices at all, don't have particularly interesting choreography, don't have much of a dance knowledge outside of square dance, but keep people happy and have long-lived clubs of their own.
On an constructive note, consider the teaching aspect rather that working towards being the consummate entertainer with the voice of a god. Being a perfectionist is fine, but don't beat yourself up about it if you don't think you ARE perfect.
I don't remember your voice being unpleasant on the one thing I heard you do. It takes lots of practice to get timing down...I know you've heard it dozens of time to NOT use the timing on the called side of a singing record. I'm not in the minority when I say that when I listen to music from the tape/cd services that I don't ever listen to the called side at all.
On an affirming note, when I picked up the microphone at age 30 to start this journey, I had never sung at all. Never. After 21 years of teaching/calling square dance and 7 years of gay men's chorus, I don't consider myself a singer of any particular merit, but I did find I could carry a tune!
If you want to yak voice about all this, my number's 'in the book' :-)
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Date: 2005-08-03 11:01 pm (UTC)Have you seen the ASL sign dictionary for Mainstream square dancing? I got a copy many years ago, and we actually used it for a brief period when we had a non-hearing woman dancing with us. One of our chorus interpreters was actually in the square dance group at the time and signed some of the calls to her...it worked pretty well.
As for the other thread, I imagine this frustration will pass...
On an encouraging note, I know a number of callers that really don't have voices at all, don't have particularly interesting choreography, don't have much of a dance knowledge outside of square dance, but keep people happy and have long-lived clubs of their own.
On an constructive note, consider the teaching aspect rather that working towards being the consummate entertainer with the voice of a god. Being a perfectionist is fine, but don't beat yourself up about it if you don't think you ARE perfect.
I don't remember your voice being unpleasant on the one thing I heard you do. It takes lots of practice to get timing down...I know you've heard it dozens of time to NOT use the timing on the called side of a singing record. I'm not in the minority when I say that when I listen to music from the tape/cd services that I don't ever listen to the called side at all.
On an affirming note, when I picked up the microphone at age 30 to start this journey, I had never sung at all. Never. After 21 years of teaching/calling square dance and 7 years of gay men's chorus, I don't consider myself a singer of any particular merit, but I did find I could carry a tune!
If you want to yak voice about all this, my number's 'in the book' :-)