[Dixielandjazz] What's a "danceable" tempo?

[Russ Guarino]

I recently bought a tuner with a metronome function for about 35 bucks and carry
it in my clarinet case.  But I find after much experience that I can count off
the tempos by "feel" and watching the audience.

Russ Guarino

Brian Towers wrote:

> We have played a few "swing" dances  for younger folk and the instructors
> have sometimes said that 180 bpm (beats per minute) is about the maximum
> desirable speed , when they are trying to teach the Charleston, Lindy Hop
> etc.   If you have "Band In A box" on your computer, it is easy to know how
> this feels.
> While on stage, count how many beats per 10 seconds and mutiply by six -
> that will tell you your speed.   180 is not really very fast.  Quiite a bit
> slower than the average up-tempo number played by dixieland bands.
>
> On the other hand, if you want to fill the dance floor and get the oldsters
> shuffling around, stay around 110 bpm for a lot of the numbers.
>
> Brian Towers
> Leader, Hot Five Jazzmakers
> Toronto
> http://hotfivejazz.tripod.com
> http://jazz_cruise0.tripod.com/19March05
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dick Miller" <Dick_Miller at pmug.org>
> To: <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 10:56 AM
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] What's a "danceable" tempo?
>
> > Listmates:
> >
> > A number of posters have referred to the term "danceable tempo" in our
> > discussions about what draws and keeps an audience for OKOM. I'd like to
> > hear opinions (especially from the prolific and thought-provoking Steve
> > Borbone) about where that comes out on a metronome. I realize there are
> > slow, medium, and fast dances, but what would you say is the range that
> > fills the dance floor? I  realize, too, that a series of hot tempos all in
> > a row will clear the floor but, given an intelligent variety, what's your
> > idea of slow, medium, and fast?
> >
> > --Dick Miller
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Dixielandjazz mailing list
> > Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> > Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.8.10/43 - Release Date: 06/07/2005
> >
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz