I’m back from a brain- and leg-wearying weekend spent attempting to learn C3A. Obviously, one can’t start from scratch and learn the level effectively; we’d all spent a lot of time memorizing (or at least attempting to memorize) the definitions of the calls. For me, the memorization helped in dancing; I could focus on how the call worked with the whole square rather than on having to remember the definition on the fly.

At CALLERLAB this year, there was a session on music distribution in the future and on using digital music. At least a couple of music producers (no point in calling them “record” producers any more) are beginning to distribute their music as MP3 files rather than on vinyl. Supreme Audio is distributing MP3s from Lou-Mac and Shakedown: Digital Square Dance Music. I’m especially happy to see Shakedown; Pat Carnathan had stopped producing records because of the high production costs associated with vinyl, but he hadn’t stopped producing music for himself; now that music can be made available to the rest of us in a more cost-effective way.

Once you’ve bought and downloaded your MP3 square dance music file, then what…obviously you need something to take with you to the dance to play the music.

You have several options:

• Bring a laptop and plug it in to your amp. Vic Ceder has provided some detailed information on how to use your laptop in this way and how to create MP3 files out of your vinyl records: Calling with MP3 Files. Vic’s program, Ceder Square Dance System includes a music database and MP3 player that allows you to categorize your MP3 files, loop them (for patter), and change their tempo on the fly. It’s way cool.
• Record your MP3’s from your computer to a CD. You need a CD-burner and a portable CD player. You need to be sure to record the MP3’s as audio files.
• Record your MP3’s from your computer to a MiniDisc. You can do this in digital (Mac to MiniDisc Tutorial or Thunderwire) or analog (simply connect the line out from your sound card to the line in on your MD recorder) mode. You need a MD recorder.
• Download the MP3 files to a portable MP3 player. For a comparison of MD and MP3, see Portable Music 200: MiniDisc vs. MP3

Since I already carry a laptop to most of my dances and already use Vic’s program, I’m seriously considering moving to MP3 files for all my music. It’ll be a lot of work, but once it’s done, it’s done. For me (since I’m already using MDs), the advantages of using the laptop are (a) the on-the-fly tempo adjustment, and (b) the organizational capabilities of the music database.

Musical possibilities for today:

• On May 3, 1939, “Beer Barrel Polka”, one of the standards of American music, was recorded by The Andrews Sisters for Decca Records. Patti, Maxine and LaVerne turned this song into a giant hit.
• In 1956, the Frank Loesser musical, Most Happy Fella opened on Broadway and ran for 676 performances. The music included “Standing on the Corner”.
• It’s Pete Seeger’s birthday. I checked Songs by Pete Seeger, and didn’t see any songs that I have square dance records for. Among his more famous songs are “Turn, Turn, Turn,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “If I Had a Hammer,” and “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine.”
• It’s also Wynonna Judd’s birthday, so you can break out all those Judd songs.