Realizations

[ladysprite]

I love my friends, and the social circles I associate with in general. We're a bunch of smart, funny, witty, creative, imaginative, forward-thinking, helpful, mentally active, talented folks. There are more skills represented in a dozen people on my friends-list than I would ever have thought possible - I can't imagine a question that I couldn't get answered by posting it here.

That said, I have come to a realization recently.

We are one damn rhythm-deprived gang of nerds.

There are a handful of exceptions - a few dancers, a few more musicians, but it truly seems that most geeks can't find a beat with a map, a flashlight, and a copy of Fodor's Guide to 4/4 Time. I'm not trying to be mean or critical, but given the number of music-appreciators I know, I think something needs to be done about this. We need to set up a rhythm-bank, or maybe a rhythm-transfusion center, where those with an overactive Groove Thang can donate spare tempo-awareness to the needy. And over time, we might even be able to set up a fund, with celebrity spokespeople (I'm envisioning a kind of before-and-after thing, maybe with Colin Machrie and Hugh Grant) and charity auctions and a National Awareness Day and ribbon bumper magnets - pinstripe, I think.

Or maybe I shouldn't consider things like this when I'm functioning on four hours sleep and left alone at work with an internet connection....

Comments

[flowing-dancer.livejournal.com]

ROFL!!! That sounds great!

[madamruppy.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean - Jim doesn't have two left feet - I think he has 4 and a terminal case of white boy can't dance. I've tried to "show" him the beat to a song and he just can't get it.

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

most geeks can't find a beat with a map, a flashlight, and a copy of Fodor's Guide to 4/4 Time.

*raises hand*

Yeah, that'd be me (not that I lay claim to being a geek, you understand). You know how musicians sometimes encourage the audience to clap along with a song? I get out of sync very quickly unless I watch someone else.

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

I don't want to give up my extra groove though... I think I am going to pass on this charity.

In all seriousness, I have experienced someone actually getting rhythm before. We danced swing for over a year and a half together off and on, and suddenly one day, he found the beat. It can happen.

[hugh-mannity.livejournal.com]

How about some White Guys on Djembes?

Actually I shouldn't be snarky. EDC is a great bunch of folks and Drum and Dance Saturday has been going on for years now. I stopped going when my arthritis got so bad I couldn't walk to the event from the parking.

[hugh-mannity.livejournal.com]

Just checked the dates -- There's one tomorrow night.

[citabria]

I've never before heard EDC's Drum and Dance referred to as "white guys on djembes" ... but I'm loving it. ::giggle::

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should start with group sing-alongs where you pass out rhythm instruments to everyone, kind of like in kindergarten? (No, I'm not kidding or exaggerating.) From there you can get people up and marching around in 4/4 time, and after they know their left feet from their right feet you can try some really simple Playford dances some time when you're feeling especially brave.

I'd offer to help but for the geography.

[catalana.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd support that. *grin* But I taught a person with *no* sense of rhythm to dance in the SCA, so I'm always up for seemingly-hopeless causes like this.

[solipsistnation.livejournal.com]

That's what drum machines are for.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

Why's a drum machine better than a (rock-band-) drummer? You only need to punch information into a drum machine once.

[siderea]

*snork* I hadn't heard that one before!

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

I think I have just about enough rhythm for me -- I can usually tell 4/4 from 3/4, and can usually stay pretty much on-beat right through a swing dance, but I don't feel like I have any to spare. I think the problem will be finding people with rhythm to spare, the depositors in this bank, among your (or my) friends.

Hm... maybe some sort of incentive for deposits, like at a blood bank?

[mindways]

Well, there's two pieces to the problem.

#1 is having a sense of rhythm - sensing the beat, and getting it in your head. This is a mental thing.

#2 is doing something with that sense of rhythm - tapping along, dancing or clapping your hands with deliberate timing. This is a kinesthetic thing.

Whether this makes the challenge easier (divide and conquer!) or harder (twice as much to deal with!) is left as an exercise to the reader. ;)

and a copy of Fodor's Guide to 4/4 Time

*snork-laugh*

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

You have simply never heard me sing...

Alas most of my repetoir is filks that I usually bring out at Pennsic, as many of them were not appropriate for use in Carolingia after all. The base songs are far too late period.

[citabria]

I'm having trouble not hooting like some hurt and depraved being and scaring the neighbors, as my front door is currently open....

I'm up for the rhythm-transfusion center.

[droewyn.livejournal.com]

I can find the beat well enough... my problem is that because I have knee trouble I can't do *anything* that puts lateral pressure on my knees or they may go out on me. So my "dancing" is pretty much stomping in place accompanied by arm movements.

If you want someone to clap along to music, though, I'm your girl.

[hermitgeecko.livejournal.com]

I have great rhythm -- but 7 years of band and 1 year of ballroom dance will do that to you. (Hopefully. It did to me.)

[baron-saturday.livejournal.com]

I have had many talented and groovy people try to lead me to the beat. Thus far my whiteness is undefeated. I have been told by professional directors that I am hopelessly arhythmic. And several girlfriends, too. :-)

[gyzki.livejournal.com]

Current location: "The First Cut Is The Deepest," Sheryl Crow

I remember when Cat Stevens was there. And Rod Stewart.
:-)

[alexx-kay.livejournal.com]

I'm working on it already, via Guitar Hero II :-)

[jducoeur]

Heh. Now you've got me imagining the snooty high-street shops selling 6/4 to rhythm-deprived rich white girls, and back-alley hits of 7/8...