Louisiana Folk Roots Cajun, Creole, Zydeco Music - Fiddle, Accordion, Guitar, Dance

The Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Programs

GUIDING PRINCIPALS

It is only fitting that we think a little about the vital ingredients of Dewey Balfa’s teaching formula as guiding principles for the experience of this camp. While at first this camp may feel to you to be like other education experiences you may have had (such as school or professional training), in fact there are fundamental differences. It is no accident that this knowledge has successfully been passed down over many generations in extremely trying conditions…all without the luxury of written systems, or classrooms, or even audio recordings. So we ask that you put aside your expectations and past experience, and allow us to share this knowledge in a way that is much more true to the culture and thus honors those who have passionately carried it through time to us.

1. EN TOUS ENSEMBLE: "All together"

a. Playing together is more valuable than playing solo

b. A good song is like a warm conversation between instruments

c. Practice mechanics alone ("woodshedding"), but the more important learning happens when playing AND fitting in to the whole sound

2. RYTHME: "The groove"

a. Rhythm is harder to teach than melody, and it is far more important

b. If you don't start with the rhythm, you can end up in the trap of not sounding "wrong" but still not finding the feel of this music

c. There is no recipe for this music, but there are essential ingredients

3. ECOUTER: "To Listen"

a. Masters can't pass along their wisdom if Apprentices can't listen

b. Listen, Watch, Imitate, Emulate

c. This is an oral tradition not a written tradition

4. PAS PENSER: "Stop thinking"

a. Intellectual learning will only get you so far

b. Need time, repetition for things to soak in

c. Hard to learn a song without already "knowing" it in your head

5. LE MEME CHOSE: "The same thing"

a. Music and dance cannot be separated

b. Music is for dancing, dancing is to the music

c. Participation, not performance

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1. EN TOUS ENSEMBLE: "All together"
	a. Playing together is more valuable than playing solo
	b. A good song is like a warm conversation between instruments
	c. Practice mechanics alone ("woodshedding"), but the more important learning happens when playing AND fitting in to the whole sound
2. RYTHME: "The groove"
	a. Rhythm is harder to teach than melody, and it is far more important
	b. If you don't start with the rhythm, you can end up in the trap of not sounding "wrong" but still not finding the feel of this music
	c. There is no recipe for this music, but there are essential ingredients
3. ECOUTER: "To Listen"
	a. Masters can't pass along their wisdom if Apprentices can't listen
	b. Listen, Watch, Imitate, Emulate
	c. This is an oral tradition not a written tradition
4. PAS PENSER: "Stop thinking"
	a. Intellectual learning will only get you so far
	b. Need time, repetition for things to soak in
	c. Hard to learn a song without already "knowing" it in your head
5. LE MEME CHOSE: "The same thing"
	a. Music and dance cannot be separated
	b. Music is for dancing, dancing is to the music
	c. Participation, not performance