Paul G

There have been a flurry of posts and emails in the past few rounds. As we get closer to awarding a champion in Pow Wow Idol it is hard to judge between the great drums still remaining.

For some of you that are experience singers and have judged drum contests before, can you post some tips for judging these drums?

What do we listen for?

What's good? What's bad?

Thanks!

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suthernwaterbird

Standing Horse, Wind Eagle GOOD!!!!


Huisache Creek BAD!!!

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WhY yOu AsK? bEcUz We CaN!

eniyakeyuza

Standing Horse has been singing most of their lives, most of them all together and some new comers. They have great respect for their drum and know how to conduct themselves around that drum because it is not just an object it is a spirit. Their knowledge of the songs in our part of Indian Country are strong. The way they sing in unison the way there songs are sooo unique the way they carry the melody, the way they keep on time. Throughout every round of powwow idol they have proved themselves to be true idols with coming up with the best songs they can and singing them beautifully. They make their own music but yet it still sticks to our culture without sticking out like a sore thumb. You have to think about a style someone can really dance hard to and that's what Standing Horse does they sing so that people will dance and not for themselves to be noticed. They are a very humble group and will honor being a Powwow Idol with pride and dignity and still be the down to earth people they are. Just think about what the majority of Native people in Indian country would do if they for reals went to powwows, got on the dance floors of champion dancers and how they would feel dancing to a great drum group like this. I hope and pray that these singers make it because they deserve it! Mitakuye Owasin!

jessifae

When I listen to a drum, I look for uniqueness, also if their drumming and singing is altogether. If a drum group can make u tap your foot and bob your head, or even make you get out of your seat and wanna dance.........That is a good beat. If the song they are singing touches your heart and gives you good feelings, their sound is good. If a drum has both a good beat and a good sound, that combined is what makes a drum group good. Also if the singers compose their own songs, and use their language in their songs. That shows pride! It also shows the drum groups experience level, because you can always mimic someone elses sound and beat. It is harder to create your own! One other thing that stands out in a good drum group is the leads. If a drum has strong leads, then the rest will follow. The first lead is very vital to the way a song will turn out.
So anyway here are a few tips on how I would judge a drum. This is what I look for when listening to a new drum group. So hopefully this will help. aho, miig-wetch

LSS

Great understanding and explanation!

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To get a true picture of your purpose in life, you only get the whole picture when you listen with your mind, your ears and your heart. This way The Creator has a direct connection with you and only you...no outside interference.

When you follow the will of IT that created you, understanding that your purpose is not for you...but for IT and all that IT has created, there can be no wrong except failure to be obedient. Only then do we jeopardize the gifts we are given.

Its not the final destination that defines us, rather the journey taken!

chazziff

yes i agree with you .. totally understand that "toe tappin make ya wanna get up and dance" factor. not all drum groups have it ... and some of the good ones .. not all their songs have it either. but it is a good factor to judge by ..

lead singers who know how to control their voices and still sound good and strong ... not come in too high or too slow or too low .. making the rest of the group come in high/slow/low or whatever. this is another factor that will put one group ahead of another ...

and jus their ability to sound ... harmonized. theres some groups out there ... you can only hear one or two of them over the others ... and sometimes that isnt always a good thing LOL. and are they all singing their hardest? something you cant always tell from a recording ... best to leave this one for a live judging.

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~*~METALLICA~*~

2lineCarrandMorgan

any time im at powwow the first wave of the drumms takes my heart and i cant help but to bow.... thay are all great to me.... in the last powwow idol i try to pick a fav and red blanket was a fav as was one other.
best wishes to the drums entering.

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its said by Deganwidah,
I am Deganwidah, and with the Five Nations confederate lords I plant the tree of the Great Peace. . . . Roots have spread out from the Tree . . . and the name of these Roots is the Great White Roots of Peace. If any man or any nation outside the Five Nations shall show a desire to obey the laws of the Great Peace . . . they may trace the Roots to their source . . . and they shall be welcomed to take shelter beneath the Tree. . . .
for my Dad
then again somtimes i see a woman in the trees she only looks at me and i can only look at her i m what she is now....i thank her as i see her... then somedays i see her as she was and that i will never be,and still we look at each other,
hello my Mother my sister today i saw you more than befor ,now i know i have a need more to walk with you here than ever i knew befor. Thank you

.
“Something is at work in all of us,”
Peter Kinew


Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass..It's about learning to dance in
the rain.
for the wolf

LSS

In the preparations for PWIdol 2, what are the thoughts on groups singing old specialty songs like Trot Dances or Double Beats when these songs may have a rich history all to themselves?

I mean, would you much rather hear a young group sing something known by much of the pow wow world even if they don't have, say a Ponca, on their drum? Or would you rather the group sing something of their own?


Just playing Devil's Advocate here!



LSS

__________________
To get a true picture of your purpose in life, you only get the whole picture when you listen with your mind, your ears and your heart. This way The Creator has a direct connection with you and only you...no outside interference.

When you follow the will of IT that created you, understanding that your purpose is not for you...but for IT and all that IT has created, there can be no wrong except failure to be obedient. Only then do we jeopardize the gifts we are given.

Its not the final destination that defines us, rather the journey taken!

Kiiwedinong

Everything chazzif said is soooooo true...good one.

I would add to that the song itself.....especially the melody. I'm not a big guy on music choice of words but there are some pretty good songs out there that have that unique catchy riff or sequence of notes........the melodic tone I guess...the kind that make you say "that was a nice song." Catch me drift? lol

Then there is the drumming. Seen mostly on certain special songs like sidesteps, round dances, crow hops, doublebeats, etc. etc. and even intertribals......there are groups who have singers who are barely hitting the drum; groups can over hit the drum when a song ends; You can clearly hear sometimes when live a lagging drumstick; its a singer who isn't off beat at first notice but over the course of the song he is a bit slow on the timing with the drum....like an extra drag of the beat so to speak.
The pace of the song is another thing too. Depending on the judges standards there are some who like the more uptempo beat during contest and intertribals.......then there are those who prefer the slower, lullaby beat. I prefer either.

but thats all

I haven't watched or heard any of the submissions for this Pow Wow Idol yet PG. I've been gone for awhile.

Jaystins_Dad

Pow Wow Idol what a great idea!

Drum Contests are a piece of cake to do when your watching, Seeing what's going on in the surroundings? Watching the drum live and breath with the song's and the Dancers Doing there good moves in intertribals! *L* Very Easy to see who's good and who's not. And there's the Harmony, Drum Beat, Leads, pick ups, Uniqueness, although that one is always in the eye of the beholders I like to add it. Because Most people judging will know other drums being sang or if it's one of there own!

But Just listening wow that would be a little harder to Judge kinda?
Listening to the songs you can hear the beat, the leads, the pick ups, the Harmony!!!

So look for those 4 thing's listeing to them
The Leads
Pick Ups
Harmony
Drum Beat!!!

Good Luck Drums!