I am Walden. At least, some people seem to think that (I’ve been called Walden not a few times 
).
So have I.
Hey Monst,
Don’t get into dots raves with Dixie and Trad players man!
My dear departed dad hadda play that s***e but was always a cool-jazz and big band man, he had to read or the union would have not gotten him gigs. He could play the whole Joe Morrella tutor start to finish by sight or memory - the one that starts on independence (L/R hand). He was the only guy in Oz who could handle 2 Gordon Lacognia lessons a week back in the 50’s and he hadda read because everyone got arrangements thrown in front of them! Trad eventually became rock and roll. It’s good to revisit as a cultural thing or even be loving it new, but it will be as trad as ITM and these trad things insist on the Oral Organic - they must or they would die.
The thing is that really good players with a few years experience don’t need dots to lug a number - they’ve done it all a hundred times. But! Rehearsal is the only way to get tight on new material. I cannot imagine the Chieftains (for e.g.) being able to do what they do without some form of rehearsal - the more experienced the less you need. I heard of a gig with Chuck Berry once here in Oz - he hadda pick-up local musos because of union rules, anyhow, at the 30 second rehearsal he spent the time saying “When I stomp my foot start, when I stomp my foot again stop. You all know the songs.” and the gig went fine. Underlying that was the truth of sound recording that can take the place of dots if you’ve got an ear for it. But if you need to get something cracking straight away - reading dots will weed-out the amatures pretty quick for starters, and everyone knows who the boss is. But, and a very big but, reading dots don’t make a musician. Besides, there’s a zilloin other ways to codify arrangements. Whatever suits your purpose.
Headbutting with folks only gets a flat head. Specially if they’re armor plated. Respect the armor plate - no one has it without a good reason. Remember to address a request to those who you want to reach, passers-by may comment, but the target is still reading and will have their own opinion. Don’t engage with spoilers - and don’t judge them, they might just be protecting their own senses with guff, or running the fences for their flock of other bystanders. No one can know. Without knowing all you can do is ignore. Talking to The Internet is like shouting into 5 billion ears, no matter what you say, there’ll be some who don’t like it, and if you get shouted-down? doesn’t matter, cos 5 billion judges watched that happen too.
If I was standing on the street and someone gave me that sorta jive man to man, I could take it as a personal attack and might invite him up the alley for a private session. On the net it’s different. Flaming is like the Colloseum - a few good folks die, some carnivores get fed, the people get entertained and Rome falls.
Would you lower da boom on 'em?
I find your dialect refreshing. I’d like to subscribe to your newsletter.
The word’s “brouhaha”. “Bruh-hah-hah” is the noise a petrol lawnmower makes when you try to start it on a wet Sunday morning.
But it wasn’t a brouhaha. It wasn’t even a fracas. Certainly not a furore. It was barely a rumpus.
Hmmm … da boom was installed at da factory gate, Most of the workers ran into it on their way home that day because it suprised them. I suppose the term might suit. Our chief weapon is Surprise! Suprise and Fear … our chief 2 weapons are …
Meanwhile back at the comfy chair, a new name got added to the newsletter …
Crackin good write up Mitch.