Re: [Harp-L] Setting the Tempo

[The Iceman <icemanle@xxxxxxx>]

sometimes a ponderous slow pace can be inspiration to do the song a little differently.


my top-40 band did my arrangement of Pointer Sisters "Slow Hand" very slow, and it worked great.



-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Hess <TrackHarpL@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2013 10:40 am
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Setting the Tempo


Oh, I do this, but unsuccessfully.  I think there's a fear factor involved:  I 
worry that I'll rush it because I'm nervous, so I deliberately try to calm 
myself down before giving the count, and the result seems to be that I 
unintentionally slow myself down, too.

I do work hard on my timing -- I regularly practice with a metronome, work on 
rhythm patterns as part of my ambient thought-chatter, and get compliments on my 
playing from drummers.  (I cherish those, especially.)  It's  *tempo*  that I'm 
having trouble with.

Maybe the vividness of remembering how awful it was to perform "Shake Your Hips" 
at that ponderously (or, um, sinuously) slow pace Wednesday night will be enough 
to get me to really go for it next time I try that song.  That particular bit of 
hip shaking would have been more appropriate to Scheherazade than Slim Harpo, I 
tell you true.

Elizabeth H. (aka "Tin Lizzie")


On Jan 4, 2013, at 9:02 AM, The Iceman wrote:

> Sing the song to yourself for a moment before you begin the count.