[Tango-L] syncopation

[Chris, UK]

S.Arce wrote:

> 1,2,1,2,1,2
> 
> If you add one rhythmical accentuation of that 'empty tempo' represented 
> by "," you get sincopations

Yes musicians, you heard that right. Double time. Very different from the 
meaning in music.

Ask three more dance instructors... get probably three more meanings.

How come?

Grove's (the definitive dictionary of music) gives the specific meaning in 
music, and then adds:

 "Syncopation" has become a general term for all that class of Twentieth
 Century dance music that has spring from the American adoption of rag-time.

So, in dance technique, syncopation is a /general/ term for a very wide range 
of rhythmic embellishments.

Tango instructors however, in their pursuit of precise and specific terms 
with which to teach through words to a class, have grabbed upon specific but 
arbitrary meanings within this general meaning. Being arbitrary, these 
specific meanings inevitably differ from instructor to instructor.

No surprise then that the result is confusion in students that have a basic 
music education and/or experience of different dance instructors.

Here's a solution ;) Instructors, use such precise terms only when  
absolutely sure your students know less about the subject than you... ;)

Chris