#creating structure

[dustedmagazine]

Rich Halley 4 – Creating Structure (Pine Eagle)

Outposts in improvised music are common, locales where a few or maybe slightly more musicians bitten by the bug of freer forms of expression ply skill sets that aren’t often conducive to a steady gig stream. Portland-based saxophonist Rich Halley is one such player. He’s been quietly financing and facilitating albums by his quartet for over a decade, building a body of work that sits comfortably with better known peers.

The primary difference between Creating Structure and past efforts by the ensemble is telegraphed in its title. Rather than relying on compositions, the ensemble engaged in a session devoted to free improvisation. Halley notes that free improv is a regular part of the band’s repertoire, but the disc marks the first compendium wholly devoted to their spontaneous conversations. Sixteen pieces occupy just over an hour of temporal space and the majority of them hew to a refreshing economy of expression.

Trombonist Michael Vlatkovich makes for a fine horn partner, but bassist Clyde Reed and Halley’s son Carson on drums are just as attuned to the strategies in play. “Riding the Trade Winds” finds the leader playing rhythmically and soulfully over a staggered bass and drum commentary that morphs in out of a calypso-like beat. Vlatkovich adds textured interjections on whistles and small percussion. The ensuing feel echoes the sort of thing Sonny Rollins was known for at the cusp of the Sixties, certainly not a sour well to dip from. “Echoes of the South Side” finds Halley blowing along an analogously emotion-rich track as Reed strides his strings with purpose.

Other pieces echo their titles in sound. “Angular Momentum” launches at a frenzied clip with the horns honking and strafing over a drums and bass tumult. “Metal Buzz” explores a loose fanfare form with tenor and trombone twining and combining as the other players sit out. As if to even the ledger, “Street Rumors” shifts focus, at least initially, to bass and drums with the leader and Vlatkovich tasked with building crenellated textures around Reed’s bulbous anchoring lines. The younger Halley demonstrates aptitude at sustaining a propulsive and flexible center even when parameters are less than obvious.

Players like Halley and his compatriots are easy to pass over in an idiom of music that is already niche-sized in its more known commodities. Listeners do so at their own disservice though, as what these players are producing is well worth time invested in procurement and consumption. The likely appearance in the not-so-distant future of another entry documenting their comparatively isolated endeavors is comforting thing.

Derek Taylor

[iheartyouth-blog]

Developing a STRUCTURE

When working with youth and people in general, having structure will definitely set and keep the tone through out the day and program. Structure is defined as:

n.

1. Something made up of a number of parts that are held or put together in a particular way: hierarchical social structure.

2. The way in which parts are arranged or put together to form a whole; makeup: triangular in structure.

3. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a complex entity: political structure; plot structure.

4. Something constructed, such as a building.

5. Biology

a. The arrangement or formation of the tissues, organs, or other parts of an organism.

b. An organ or other part of an organism.

tr.v. struc·tured, struc·tur·ing, struc·tures

To give form or arrangement to: structure a curriculum; structure one's day.

People fear the unknown, and when something is unknown people act defensively and that is not what you want when teaching and working with youth.

Children do not know but they do desire structure.

Some key things I always put in my agenda or how I run my workshops or lessons:

Have an opening activity- hopefully this can jump start or weave through the theme or topic of the day. This does not have to be long, no more than 5-10 minutes long. This opening activity sets the tone for the day. It brings everyone on one accord which will cut out most horseplay. If your lesson for the day is talking about friendship, your opening activity could be for everyone to write as many characteristics of their bestfriend as they can on two minutes. The next two minutes you can tell them to write as many characteristics they bring to the table as a friend. Then you all can discuss those and it would lead into your main activity

Give a welcome or agenda- Give an outline of the days activities so the kids know what is planned for them. They can develop ideas and be prepared to be engaged. Knowing what is next can keep them on track. Letting them know what is going on helps creates checkpoints through out the session which is beneficial to completing the goal at hand.

Check-ins- One of my favorite parts. This helps kids express what is going on in their world. They may not have the chance to tell people what they did, how they feel, their worries, their joys etc and this creates a safe place for them to release what is inside. There are so many different types of check-ins: Five years from now, you would like to have done… What do you want to be when you grow up? Who is in your family and where do they live? If you could name yourself what name would you pick and why? Who in your life do you respect most? Why? If you were to play a TV or movie star, who would it be and why? If you were a beverage, what name would you give yourself? It can be a beverage that already exists or one that you make up. What are the ingredients? Would you rather be forced to sit in a thunderstorm outside or sit through a 90 degree day in an un-air conditioned room? Why?  http://www.healthiersf.org/excelafterschool/Resources/Technical-Assistance/guide/Meeting%20Facilitation%20Tips%20for%20Youth%20PDF.pdf

Main Activity- This is your bread and butter. This is the meat of the day so this should be well planned out. 

Closing activity- Which would be review or reflection piece. It could be where you all end in a circle and do a fist of five where on the count of three you hold up fingers that match how they feel. 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. Then you can ask a few volunteers to share what they had and why. You could also go around the circle and have them state the best part or what they learned about the day.

Say Peace- Tell them see ya later. Make sure you greet people as the leave, leave a lasting impression. Not one where you make it clear your time is up and you are ready to disappear.

I tend to use this model to structure my day. They create a road map and checkpoints for the progression and the succession of the day. It feels good when you accomplish things, big or small meeting those definitely will keep you motivated to completing the overall lesson. OF COURSE this may not always go according as planned however you have the map and an outline of what you want to accomplish.

Look back for more posts on working with youth. Please comment and ask questions. Thanks

Cicely