Hey, Pep Band...

Beeeej · February 19, 2007, 08:43:29 AM

[quote krose]As I said to my friends, anything that reduces the amount of silence in the rink IMO is A Good Thing(TM).[/quote]

...such as the bloodcurdling screams of people being disemboweled because they keep screaming "DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!" for so long?

mtmack25 · February 19, 2007, 09:14:53 AM

Anyone else noticed the slight increase in tempo at the East end of Lynah during the cowbell?

Jordan 04 · February 19, 2007, 09:48:01 AM

[quote mtmack25]Anyone else noticed the slight increase in tempo at the East end of Lynah during the cowbell?[/quote]

This happens with any unison cheer with a beat originating from the West end of the rink. Everyone seems to have great difficulty with keeping a beat in their head.

mtmack25 · February 19, 2007, 10:13:30 AM

I suppose slight should be italicized in my original post. I realize there is a problem with people/distance/acoustics in a rink, but the cowbell beat is taken to the absurd, and it is not a problem of synchronization. The beat from D and E accelerates until after the first cycle, when everyone stops from exhaustion.

The same thing happens during "Let's go Red" chants.

I realize that topics like this get beaten to death on the board, but do we have any workable ideas on educating the masses?

georget · February 19, 2007, 10:18:46 AM

Regardless of how anyone feels about "Mary...lamb", "Pinball Wizard" was just the best ever--THANKS!!

Mr. Timekeeper

DeltaOne81 · February 19, 2007, 10:42:02 AM

[quote mtmack25]Anyone else noticed the slight increase in tempo at the East end of Lynah during the cowbell?[/quote]\\

For the umpteenth time (not to you), you... can't... hear... the cowbell... from... the east... end.

You can hear a general clanging, but you can't make out any discernible pattern. And its not Ari, you never could with Age either. It just doesn't travel (over the clapping) much at all.

The more clever among us (back when I inhabited that area 4-6 years ago) would visually follow the clapping pattern of the townies in M/N, who can obviously hear it better (I'd do the same thing for Gary Glitter). But most people don't think of it. And its not possible to keep with a beat that you cannot hear.

Summary: lay off D/E/F... at least about the cowbell.

Jordan 04 · February 19, 2007, 10:45:37 AM

[quote mtmack25]I suppose slight should be italicized in my original post. I realize there is a problem with people/distance/acoustics in a rink, but the cowbell beat is taken to the absurd, and it is not a problem of synchronization. The beat from D and E accelerates until after the first cycle, when everyone stops from exhaustion.

The same thing happens during "Let's go Red" chants.

I realize that topics like this get beaten to death on the board, but do we have any workable ideas on educating the masses?[/quote]

I suppose the Anaphoric Society could place metronomes on all the seats at the East end.

Jordan 04 · February 19, 2007, 10:49:22 AM

[quote DeltaOne81][quote mtmack25]Anyone else noticed the slight increase in tempo at the East end of Lynah during the cowbell?[/quote]\\

For the umpteenth time (not to you), you... can't... hear... the cowbell... from... the east... end.

You can hear a general clanging, but you can't make out any discernible pattern. And its not Ari, you never could with Age either. It just doesn't travel (over the clapping) much at all.

The more clever among us (back when I inhabited that area 4-6 years ago) would visually follow the clapping pattern of the townies in M/N, who can obviously hear it better (I'd do the same thing for Gary Glitter). But most people don't think of it. And its not possible to keep with a beat that you cannot hear.

Summary: lay off D/E/F... at least about the cowbell.[/quote]

Agree with the general premise. Disagree with the details. The first beats of everything -- cowbell, Gary Glitter, etc. -- can always be heard. After that, it's simply a matter of being just a tiny bit musically-inclined and keeping the beat in your head. No looking at other people clapping is necessary, although I guess that's a good back-up.

So why is this being discussed? 4 point weekend!

DeltaOne81 · February 19, 2007, 11:20:49 AM

[quote Jordan 04]Agree with the general premise. Disagree with the details. The first beats of everything -- cowbell, Gary Glitter, etc. -- can always be heard. After that, it's simply a matter of being just a tiny bit musically-inclined and keeping the beat in your head. No looking at other people clapping is necessary, although I guess that's a good back-up.[/quote]

You can't set a tempo with one beat. That's physically impossible. Nevermind impractical. Most band/orchestras, etc have an instrument or a conductor constantly setting/keeping a beat to keep everyone today. I've never seen a conductor set one beat and walk away

Furthermore, to stay on tempo, a repeated audible beat is quite helpful - how many people are 'musically-inclined' anyway? It just ain't gonna happen if you can't hear the beat.

Gary Glitter was more of a mystery to me. You could hear the instruments fine, but not the beat so much. Still you think people could usually keep on tempo, but it was indeed quite challenging except for the visual clues.

Anyway, I agree with your general premise (given at least two beats), but disagree with the practical details.

QuoteSo why is this being discussed? 4 point weekend!

There's another thead for that

fullofgas · February 19, 2007, 01:13:04 PM

I think the guy playing the cowbell has a few too many cups of coffee before and/or during the game. Its like a race to the finish.::coffee::

WillR · February 19, 2007, 09:15:00 PM

[quote Jordan 04][quote mtmack25]I suppose slight should be italicized in my original post. I realize there is a problem with people/distance/acoustics in a rink, but the cowbell beat is taken to the absurd, and it is not a problem of synchronization. The beat from D and E accelerates until after the first cycle, when everyone stops from exhaustion.

The same thing happens during "Let's go Red" chants.

I realize that topics like this get beaten to death on the board, but do we have any workable ideas on educating the masses?[/quote]

I suppose the Anaphoric Society could place metronomes on all the seats at the East end.[/quote]

We could combine the problems to form a solution. Apply subtle cowbell that most people can hear in B and A to keep a tempo for Lets Go Red!. I think people would be inclined to follow a quiet beat of tap-tap-tap-pause-tap-tap-tap. This might be a way to educate the masses about the idea of tempo.

theforgottencowbell · February 19, 2007, 10:02:50 PM

[quote WillR][quote Jordan 04][quote mtmack25]I suppose slight should be italicized in my original post. I realize there is a problem with people/distance/acoustics in a rink, but the cowbell beat is taken to the absurd, and it is not a problem of synchronization. The beat from D and E accelerates until after the first cycle, when everyone stops from exhaustion.

The same thing happens during "Let's go Red" chants.

I realize that topics like this get beaten to death on the board, but do we have any workable ideas on educating the masses?[/quote]

I suppose the Anaphoric Society could place metronomes on all the seats at the East end.[/quote]

We could combine the problems to form a solution. Apply subtle cowbell that most people can hear in B and A to keep a tempo for Lets Go Red!. I think people would be inclined to follow a quiet beat of tap-tap-tap-pause-tap-tap-tap. This might be a way to educate the masses about the idea of tempo.[/quote]

Assuming the cowbell also doesn't speed up...

las224 · February 19, 2007, 10:10:12 PM

[quote WillR][quote Jordan 04][quote mtmack25]I suppose slight should be italicized in my original post. I realize there is a problem with people/distance/acoustics in a rink, but the cowbell beat is taken to the absurd, and it is not a problem of synchronization. The beat from D and E accelerates until after the first cycle, when everyone stops from exhaustion.

The same thing happens during "Let's go Red" chants.

I realize that topics like this get beaten to death on the board, but do we have any workable ideas on educating the masses?[/quote]

I suppose the Anaphoric Society could place metronomes on all the seats at the East end.[/quote]

We could combine the problems to form a solution. Apply subtle cowbell that most people can hear in B and A to keep a tempo for Lets Go Red!. I think people would be inclined to follow a quiet beat of tap-tap-tap-pause-tap-tap-tap. This might be a way to educate the masses about the idea of tempo.[/quote]

For the LGR that comes after an opposing goal, the pep band drummer plays a beat, and no one ever follows that. I don't see why they'd be any more likely to follow the cowbell. If anything, I'd just find it as annoying as that guy who stands near the back of B and does that stupid whistle with the beat of LGR.

WillR · February 19, 2007, 10:37:18 PM

[quote las224][quote WillR][quote Jordan 04][quote mtmack25]I suppose slight should be italicized in my original post. I realize there is a problem with people/distance/acoustics in a rink, but the cowbell beat is taken to the absurd, and it is not a problem of synchronization. The beat from D and E accelerates until after the first cycle, when everyone stops from exhaustion.

The same thing happens during "Let's go Red" chants.

I realize that topics like this get beaten to death on the board, but do we have any workable ideas on educating the masses?[/quote]

I suppose the Anaphoric Society could place metronomes on all the seats at the East end.[/quote]

We could combine the problems to form a solution. Apply subtle cowbell that most people can hear in B and A to keep a tempo for Lets Go Red!. I think people would be inclined to follow a quiet beat of tap-tap-tap-pause-tap-tap-tap. This might be a way to educate the masses about the idea of tempo.[/quote]

For the LGR that comes after an opposing goal, the pep band drummer plays a beat, and no one ever follows that. I don't see why they'd be any more likely to follow the cowbell. If anything, I'd just find it as annoying as that guy who stands near the back of B and does that stupid whistle with the beat of LGR.[/quote]

I can't mount much of a defense here. The lets go red chant after a goal does seem rather troubled even with the drum. Perhaps the disheartened lottery fan base is initially baffled by a forced cadence. They could still be trained though.

As for the whistling, the guy at the back of B would be me. I just hope that the whistling is to the right beat. If it offends tradition I could be persuaded to stop.

jtwcornell91 · February 20, 2007, 07:48:51 AM

[quote WillR]I can't mount much of a defense here. The lets go red chant after a goal does seem rather troubled even with the drum. Perhaps the disheartened lottery fan base is initially baffled by a forced cadence. They could still be trained though.[/quote]

LGR chants naturally speed up somewhat, even with only a dozen people. It's pretty standard to start them really slow so that they settle into a decent cadence.