Steph's Roots Music

Jamboree

2006-12-02T17:24:00.000-06:00

I think that our stand by far was the best there! We did really good, and I would have to say that we spent the most time with ours, movie, food, and the posters. Other's were ok, but ours rocked! I really liked it, and I think that it was really good. I'm pretty happy with how it all turned out and how it was! Good job everyone and thanks!

Jamboree Time!!!

2006-11-27T17:27:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited for Jamboree on Thursday. I can't believe that it's coming so fast, good thing that we have so much filmed. I have got all of it edited so far, up to our cooking scene. I can't wait to do that I think it will be so much fun! I have a sweet hat and an apron just for it that I bought! I'm really excited and I can't wait to see the final project, and see how people react! Thanks everyone!

Chapter 4 of Folkways

2006-11-14T10:58:00.000-06:00

I finally got this to work! It took a long time, but now it's working. I really liked the part about the 1991 Harry Smith Grammy Ceremony. This kinda shows that there are so many people that won grammys that I didn't know of. He started about1952 with his music success. He got a huge award that year. He kept his speak short and sweet. It was too bad that he died a couple of months later. He brought a whole to style of music.
I really didnt' like the second song "Judgement", the only part that I liked was the kids singing. I think the song was really annoying, the raspy voice, Sister Reverend Mary Nelson and two others not named, recorded in Chicago, IL, in 1927. I didnt' like it at all, and this relates because the music is all different and others like certain music and some don't like it at all.

Chapters 4 & 5

2006-10-25T20:24:00.000-05:00

I can't get the 2 listening chapters to work on my computer. I will try to get them to work more, but it's taking a very long time. Sorry they may be a bit later then what you may want them to be. SORRY!!

Jamboree

2006-10-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

I think that we should make a music video sometime soon. But when we present it in the place, we put out couches and chairs so people will sit and watch. We can also serve, instead of popcorn, Cajun food. For example:

Anzacs which is a Cajun dessert. The recipe is:
1 cup butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup flaked coconut, unsweetened
1 cup sugar
Soften butter slightly, then cream in maple syrup. Add the remaining ingredients. Roll into small balls; place well apart on greased baking tray. Bake in moderate oven (350F.) for approximately 15 minutes. Cool on tray before removing.
Servings: About 4 dozen

Or Pineapple Delight:
Ingredients for 100 Servings
16 7/10 can 20 oz pineapple
16 7/10 box l ounce box jello Vanilla sugar-free pudding
16 7/10 - 8 oz light cool whip

This takes about 20 mins, to make. Maybe more because of the serving size.

These are my ideas for snacks that we can make for the jamboree. We could also have like a sit down concert too with snacks. Joe can play his kazoo, and Tyler could play the guitar. And others can sing some songs. I think if people would really get into this, it would a lot of fun, and we can get it really good!

We would want to be in Oyate Hall. For the size of the set up, I think we should have like 2 rectangle tables wide, and 1 table length wise. It will be repeated since we might do a movie/music video. I would say 1 rec. table and 1 round table and 5-8 chairs, 2-3 behind table and others in front of the screen. We will need a bigger TV and a DVD player. So that's it.

Folk Waves Collections:Chapter 3

2006-10-22T17:17:00.000-05:00

This was a pretty long part to listen to. It wasn't too bad though to listen to. It gave a lot of different songs of examples. I really liked the guy who did a poem type of song to a tune. That was good. The next one after it was even better! The guy who could voice over his own voice was awesome! That is called Tubing Throat Singing. That was amazing. I would like to listen to more of his music. Right after his voice thing, then women joined in. That was so sweet with the yodalling. We had talked about how the yodal in cajun music brought out things. It's such a unique sound, and it's not easy for everyone to do. I know I wouldn't be able to do that. There are many talented people in our world with music. There are so many things to talk about it's hard to. I liked reading the books, but this will be a different activity to do for the class.

Week of Oct. 9

2006-10-17T10:36:00.000-05:00

Well this week in review was pretty easy. On Tuesday we went to the Library and learned how to use the search engines like google, and the library search also. That took up the whole hour. Now Thursday was a great day. We had a guest speaker, well technically player. He played the Banjo. He was a transfer student three years ago, and his first year he lived in Indy Hall. He started playing the guitar for about 3 years then in Idaho at the Homestead Pickin' Parlor he was taught how to play the banjo. He thought it was much more fun to play the banjo. It's a loud and fast type of music and it's the "Rock and Roll of Country". The high strings on the banjo really screws up guitar players, and when you roll your fingers randomly. The Hammer Claw is when you drag your fingernails on the string instead of picking the strings. It's easy to learn and it's easy to get. The only thing hard about it is tuning. He also played some songs for us that were great! I wish I could just pick up an instrument and play, like he did. He was awsome!
We then had performances. Tyler played a Skip James song, it was played in O Brother Where Art Thou. He did a very good job on that. He also gave a background of Skip. He was a bootleg wiskey seller, and he played for Paramount. He disappeared for aobut 30 years in 1931, and later found in 1960. He then started recording again and performing up until he died in 1969.
Lindsey did a paper on Muddy Waters. Chuck Berry was started by Muddy, and when he was started then Rock got popular, so Muddy's kind of music "the blues" died out. He started the Britain Revolution with guitars, and he opened for Eric Clapton and played with the Rolling Stones. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, even though he was a Blues musician. He won many emmys too. For a more modern type, these artists were associated with Muddy. Led Zeplin, and the Rolling Stones were named after Rolling Stone by Muddy Waters. There are over 200 artists that covered some of Muddy's songs. That is amazing! Some are AC~DC, Bob Dillon, Elvis Presley, and David Bowey. Muddy lived untill the late 70's to early 80's.

***Just a reminder also to everyone. Jamboree Planning is Next THURSDAY! Come with your ideas on what we are going to do!!!

Thursday's Performances

2006-10-06T10:10:00.000-05:00

I thought that I would comment on yesterday's performances. They did such a good job! She sang great, and I love the song she chose. It was very meaningful, even with the way she sang it. Joe did a great job on his too! I liked his circle graph, but he mixed up the names. That was fine though. He brought up great point of differences and alikes within blues and rap. I also liked how he did some songs, and then he Kazooed to the one. It was acually good too! Joe, become a pro Kazooist!

In the Country of Country-Prologe and Section 2

2006-10-02T21:14:00.000-05:00

I LOVE THIS BOOK!! I'm so happy that we have started this book! I'm really liking it. I'm not a big country fan, but actually reading it, I was amazed. I started reading the book on Saturday, just to get ahead of schedule, and I couldn't quit. I started reading at Pomme de Tarre Park and I had to move cause there was wedding pictures, so I moved to the East Side Park, where I finished. This must be pretty good, since I read it all the way through. It's hard for me to concentrate on a book for long, I get bored, but with this one, I couldn't stop, I can't wait to keep reading. I'm gonna start right off with section 2. I had known about these three ladies, but hadn't KNOWN about them. The first lady is Sara Carter. I did not know much about her at all. I knew about her daughter June Carter Cash, but I had no clue that was her daughter. She married at the age of 16, that surprised me. It's sad though that she divorced, pretty much her love of her life too. He worked so hard, A.P did for them. But she just did the singing for him, and she just wanted to be a stay at home mom. Her heart wasn't in it, unlike his.
Kitty Wells sure did make her way into success too. She hit big with "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels". She had a heck of a voice too! She was one of the first country singers who made it big, she really made a big stepping stone for women today in country music.
Now Patsy Cline, is one lady that I have heard of. I didn't know how she died though, and how she did was very sad. In the pictures, I loved the way she looked. Then if only it was in color, her bright red lips, and her skirts and her stockings. I also liked the way they said in it that she was a flirt and didn't care what she said to guys, with how she would sleep with them and, "I'm Patsy Cline and I'm gonna screw the boots off you." She had a very good sense of humor. I feel really bad for her though, with what she had to go through growing up. People in her home town don't even like her, and for her funeral they didn't even go, it was mostly out of towners. It's so sad.
I'm so glad to start reading this book, and very excited to keep going on it, I hope the rest is this good!

Performing and Chapter 2

2006-09-19T22:32:00.000-05:00

I think I will be working with Laura on her week of performing. We have thought of a way to incorporate dance into our work. I will be learning how to line dance (yes me the worst dancer there is will be line dancing). We will be studying what kind of dances were used back in the Cajun days and how it has changed. I think this will be pretty good, and I think it will be a lot of fun. I love to dance, even if I'm not good, and I'm excited to learn. The idea was Laura's and it's really cool!!
I think that this chapter was much better then the previous one and the prologe. To be honest, I had no clue what was going on in the first bit. This chapter made more sense, and it was accually somewhat interesting to read. I thought the bottle tops on the fingers was a cool way to make guitar sounds. Then we heard it on the movie today and it made even more sense to me. I also thought at then end of the chapter with the lynching of that guy who killed those people, was to give an example of what blacks would go through, and to show what the US government can do when put onto them. It's a sad story cause they died, but it showed a lot. The discussion was hard to kind of understand today also. It was going so fast, and once I thought of something to say, another thing would come up and I would forget. I feel bad for not participating more, but it's hard for me to discuss on a book then real life things. It's easy for me, because I feel more into life then I do a book. I will read better for the following discussions so we can have more to talk about.
That is the end of another blog of mine.

Looking at others Blogs

2006-09-13T21:40:00.000-05:00

I started looking at what others have to say on their blog. I went into Lindsey's page and found her comments on the songs of this weeks choice. It makes a lot of sense about the names and what they mean! There are some goofy ones on that list, and if you think about it, there are some odd ones today also.
nieve and Ruby X made a good point about us being so critical about Gov. Blanco's speech. There were some people who complained about it more then what we should have, just about the little things too. That shouldn't be what we focus on when a political figure is giving a speech, we should be focusing on what she has to say, not what she does.
Mary Beth wrote a lot on her last blog. She is really enjoying the book since she hasn't learned a lot about the blues. I'm in the same boat as her with the learning of blues and the musicians, I have heard the names but I don't know who they are. It will be an interesting bit to read I think.
Liz Sorensen has written a lot so far, which is a very good sign! She has also enjoyed the book and what it has had to say so far. She also has like the song list somewhat, as she says "some are vomit worthy". I think that is a bit far, but it's all her opinion. She also liked the Gov. Blanco speech, and how she beat the odds of getting into the office. It is remarkable and it's great to see a woman in office. Now it's getting one in the big office of Presidency.
Laura made a great point about Gov. Blanco's speech, " She discussed the importance of the opportunities we will have, then related that to her life. This helped make it it seem more real, and helped it feel less like she was preaching at us. She also talked about the inevitable setbacks we will encounter. We need to hear about this. It is important for us to know that they happen to everyone, not just to us. " I thought that was a good thing to put in her blog. It is very true about what she talked about!
I liked that Emily is starting up a radio show in the early morning, sorry but I won't be up that early. I will write about it though for you Emily, Listen to KUMM at 3-6 AM when you are studying so hard and long and you need some great music! KUMM at 3-6 AM!!!
Culture Jammer had a very touching story on his site. It was about Gov. Blanco's speech and how life just isn't fair. He knew a family that had 5 kids and their parents died. Life isn't fair and I will agree with that saying totally. Some people get life pretty lucky while others are stuck with trouble, it sucks, it really does. He also noted stuff about stereotypes. It's very true about covering it up just makes it stick out more. There is a huge problem in the USA with stereotypes.
BradyO'Rourke had some interesting comments about Gov. Blanco's speech. He thought that she was defending herself from the media portrayal. I didn't see that at all in her speech, she talked mostly on her way up the ladder to Gov. The theme of her speech was also good "you can go wherever you want to go", means alot to kids our age. Some may not think that they can do much, but we really can. He also wrote some about the prologe and ch. 1. He really like it and is looking forward to ready the rest of the book.
Ashley Gorski wrote that Gov. Blanco's speech was a bore, and that she would have liked it more if it was more personal. I think it got very personal with her life. I'm not judging at all, but she talked about her son's death, and her way up from being a stay at home mom to Luet. Gov. to then becoming Gov. She worked very hard and I thought shared alot of personal things with us.
Overall, there was some people who wrote on their blogs plenty, but then there were a lot of people who either didn't even do the first assignment, or has just done the one assignment. It was kinda cool to read through and see what people thought about things. I glad I was able to do this!

Pandora

2006-09-12T13:42:00.000-05:00

I just started up Pandora yesterday and I just got all the songs going today. It isn't playing the songs on the list but they are by the artists. I don't mind it at all accually. I like the type of music that it's playing, they are pretty good. Just thought I would write about Pandora. It's a good sight and anyone who doesn't have it should get it. I can't wait to hear the songs that we are suppost to hear though!

Blanco's Speech

2006-09-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

I thought that Gov. Blanco's speech was really good when she started. I really like how she spoke in front of people. She was a good speech giver. I could feel her emotions also when she talked about loosing her son too. It was interesting to hear what she had to do during and after Kartrina, how she had to get Pres. Bush up to date and everything. What I didn't like about it though was the ending. The questions went along with her speech and then she took them the opposite ways. It was too much explaination for them, it got too much off topic. Overall I like the speech, it just got too long with what she was talking about.

first blog ever!

2006-08-31T15:21:00.000-05:00

The reason why I signed up for Root's Music is because it sounded interesting to me. It had the movie Oh Brother Where Art Thou on the description and I really liked that movie.
If I went to a desert isle I would bring *"Animals" by Nickelback *"In the arm of an Angel" by Sarah Mclachlan *"I write sins not tragedies" by Panic of the Disco *"Cherry Bomb" by John Mellencamp *"I've had the Time of my life" from I believe Dirty Dancing
I think a piece of music that I associate with my parents or grandparents is Bruce Springsteen or Frank Sinatra.
I personally like the National Anthem that we have, but since I have to change it I would choose, "Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy" just because I have to choose a song, and everybody calls us western and that we are "cowboys".
I have played some instruments and I could back-up sing, even though I'm not good at singing, but I will try as hard as I can.
Asking Gov. Blanco a question I would have to ask, "If there was anything that you could have changed about how Hurricane Katrina was handled, what would that be?"