Thread: No music

This is a WWBD post. What have you done or seen done in this situation?

Last night my iPod froze up 15 minutes into a 1 hour class, and wouldn't play anything. It has since made a full recovery and I know how to fix it now, but at the time it looked like I was facing 45 minutes of trying to teach with no music whatsoever. For a few seconds I considered playing my sagat for the rest of the class, then a student came to my rescue with her iPod, which had a Natacha Atlas CD and a different version of our choreography music on it. What had been a problem became an opportunity to learn about how Arabic songs don't always sound the same even if they have the same title (at least that's how I tried to sell it to everyone!). I was able to continue as planned.

But what if I'd been left without any music? It's not something I've ever planned for, but I feel the need to now. Any ideas?

I don't use music throughout my whole class. Often when I'm teaching something new/breaking something down we don't used music at all. I've also found it helpful to get students to SAY what they're doing to hear the natural beat that occurs. For example when doing a standing hip drop/hip drop release (names subject to wherever you live/have learned) I'll get them to say "up, down, up, release" so they can hear the 1,2,3,4 pattern. We'll then add more emphasis to certain words if that's where the accent is.

I like the idea of you using your zills! It would be a good visual for them as well.

Some years ago I forgot to take my music to class, so I had to sing the tunes we were using for choreography. To their credit, the students came back the next week!

My Ipod did the same thing. Luckily I had my backup Ipod with me. I always put a CD (Aheb Mesr) in my bag too as a last resort.

You can always drill the choreo and go a bit slower with the drilling without the music. "Lets go through this slowly" then look at everyone while they are doing it and go into further detail with any technique problems people seem to be having.

I was left music-less once when the owners of the studio I used to rent from were on their session break and forgot that my classes were still in session...they took their stereo home with them. I used sagat for most of the class so that we at least had rhythms to drill to (I could have used the opportunity to have them practice sounding out the rhythms too, but as I recall we were still working on very basic technique in that class). Luckily we weren't working on choreo at the time. If we had been, though, I probably would have just talked them through it.

I've never had to do a full class without music, although I've had a few close calls, but I would view that as an opportunity for one on one time.

I always walk through my choreography without music. This gives me time to break down the step, explain the transistions, count everything out when needed, and work on technique with individuals.

Same thing with drilling. The first few weeks of class I spend more time breaking down the move before we try putting it to the music.

Somedays when class attendance is low, and I don't want to go on the the next phase of choreo, I ask the students what steps they want to work on. There is always at least one or steps that most everyone has a problem with and students appreciate the extra time and personal explanation.

You'd be amazed how fast an hour can go by with no music when you take your time to break down steps and give each student individual attention.

PS, how did you fix it? I had to wait until the battery ran down on mine.

If I have a situation where music is unable to be played. I would use sagats. All my level one students begin to learn sagats.

This happens to everyone eventually and you just have to battle on regardless. playing zills for everyone is good but so is just working through technique. sometimes its good to not have the music and focus on moves weight shifts posture etc. i've gone through choreographies with me singing the music before now. you cope, just as you did-good for you.

I arrived at the Rec Center where I teach to find the whole island (outer banks of NC) without power. I drummed on an upturned plastic wastebasket for the class to dance and zil to. The worst part wasn't lack of music, it was lack of Air Conditioning!

Originally Posted by Emma

This is a WWBD post. What have you done or seen done in this situation?

Last night my iPod froze up 15 minutes into a 1 hour class, and wouldn't play anything. It has since made a full recovery and I know how to fix it now, but at the time it looked like I was facing 45 minutes of trying to teach with no music whatsoever. For a few seconds I considered playing my sagat for the rest of the class, then a student came to my rescue with her iPod, which had a Natacha Atlas CD and a different version of our choreography music on it. What had been a problem became an opportunity to learn about how Arabic songs don't always sound the same even if they have the same title (at least that's how I tried to sell it to everyone!). I was able to continue as planned.

But what if I'd been left without any music? It's not something I've ever planned for, but I feel the need to now. Any ideas?

Drill. Use your voice. Count. You'd be surprised what you can do without music, actually. I took a whole workshop doing this when my unfeasibly stupid husband borrowed my stereo without telling me.

Originally Posted by AngelaDiCaprio

If I have a situation where music is unable to be played. I would use sagats. All my level one students begin to learn sagats.

ditto. it's happened to me before and between zills and talking them through moves/counting things out, everything was all good.

I was taking a workshop some years back when there was a power cut - plenty of natural light but otherwise just me and my zills (not a pretty picture). I did break occassionally to sing ,r:;

I had the same thing happen to my ipod (OK it is very new, a christmas gift) lucky for me not at class.
My husband went onto a help sight and got me directions on what to do if that happens, it did work! It re boots the ipod? (not a tech person here). Good to get the directions for your model just in case it happens again!
I had it happen with a CD player once. My dear sweet husband drove another boom box over to me (I LOVE this guy!!!!). In the mean time I broke down moves that students were having trouble with. All reported that it was a very helpful class!

I've had this happen before, and I used my zills to keep the rhythm for simple choreography drills.

At a poorly organized workshop I took with Nourhan Sharif (not Nourhan's fault at all) there was no stereo. Until I realized that I had my boombox in my trunk, she had us clapping out different rhythms and doing drills to them. It was a good lesson in the rhythms!

Originally Posted by Bellydancingcaroline

PS, how did you fix it? I had to wait until the battery ran down on mine.

Slide the hold button on and back and then hold down select and menu for about 6 seconds. It resets.

some years ago on stage the music stopped. that was
during a drum solo. after the first shok I showed the audience
how to make the rhythm with hands and feets - it was
very funny, so I put this experience in my class...

I had a powercut at the Studio once, my tabla lives at our studio so I drummed for the students while they drilled their moves. I'm not the world's greatest drummer but it was sufficient. I always have my zills with me now cos I'm much better at zills than drums and they're so much more portable.:zillgallop: