DANCE BANDS.

Evening Star, Issue 21743, 11 June 1934, Page 2

DANCE BANDS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,- —As one of the oldest dance band players, in years and experience, in Dunedin I have been interested in the controversy under the above heading. Might I suggest to the writer of the first letter that ho approach the committeee of the St. Kilda or the Kaikorai Band with the request for the loan of its band room on Sunday, June 17, at 2.30 p.m,, for the purpose of holding a meeting to thresh this matter out. No band would have the excuse of playing at a dance, and any band not represented would be very conspicuous by its absence. The price of an advertisement in your columns could be recovered by a small levy of probably a penny a head from those at,the meeting. I hope this letter will be the means of getting something done instead of just spilling ink. Let him start the music and get on •with' the dance, for we are not here to listen to the M.C. making speeches.— I am, etc., Poco Acrur,. June 11. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Apparently a “ Back to Good Dance Music ” movement is fermenting in our midst, and bands like ours should be rather perfurbed Jest something definite arises- out of it and we find ourselves out of dance playing altogether. Prom my oWn experience, extending over the last two years, as a player (not musician, mark you), 1 emphatically state that, should the dance hall proprietors engage good musicians, the Dunedin dancers would not notice the difference. The band I play in makes no pretensions to musical knowledge, but, as I view the large number of engagements we have fulfilled, 1 am justified in saying that we have satisfied the dancing public of Dunedin. Also, we are classed as a popular band, which is further, proof that th.e.dancers of Dunedin are interested'’ frf, not good music, but .bands that can entertain them. Out of sheer generosity 1 enclose a few sound- rules we have - followed, and which the disgruntled good musicians can take advantage of should they have sufficient ambition to form another “ popular band:—(l) Learn enough choruses of popular songs tor one programme of dances. Play them in the key of G to avoid confusion, and all players sticlc to the melodies, and don’t bother about this so-called harmony—the dancers are not interested in it. (2) Avoid the verses, as thev often lead to other strange keys for "the choruses, and are apt to disorganise the combination of the band. (3) To avoid monotony, all members of the band should sing choruses.. It does not matter if your voices individually are no good. When all sing together this is not noticed, and it gqes a Jong way towards entertaining the dancers. (4) Have sufficient stock of funny false faces and silly hats to put on at unexpected times during the dances. This sort of thing always nuts the dancers in a happy mood. (5) Rehearse at least once a week to develop the personality of the band and, lastly, forget about your evening suits, as they won’t assist in putting vourselves over.—l am, etc., Popular. June 11.