Re: Hava Nashira '98 Feedback

[Joshua Miller <jcsc...>]

Hey Gang,

I took my Hava Nashira Evaluation form home with me and did it just
yesterday, so while my thoughts were fresh I thought I would contribute
some of the things I was thinking about to our discussion about how it all
went.

1) OVERALL -- First off before I mention specifics criticisms and
   suggestions, I have to say I too a wonderful time this year, as always,
   and am hoping to return next year if all goes well...

So having said that, a few thoughts on general and specific stuff I was
thinking about that could make it even better...

2) NEW SONGS -- I was hoping we would sing more *new* songs. Did anyone
   else feel like we did more reviewing and fewer never-sung-at-hava-
   nashira-before songs?  

3) SONG SWAPS -- I like the idea of small-group song-swaps, where we have
   an hour or two to gather in different rooms and trade holiday music, or
   children's stuff, or liturgical songs or what-have-you...

4) READING MUSIC / HEBREW -- As a non-music reader, I find the chorale
   sessions kind of difficult, and I remember sitting next to non-Hebrew
   readers during Trope sessions and other singing sessions and hearing
   similar comments. I don't know if there is a solution here or not, but
   it seems sad to exclude people who don't have the same training...

5) CAMP T'FILAH SESSION / INTRO TO PRAYER SESSION -- At both of these
   sessions I felt like really important issues were raised, but I was
   wishing more emphasis could be put on the sharing of ideas from all of
   the experts in the room, not just from the staff. And in the case of
   learning about Jewish tradition (like when we are studying the prayer
   liturgy), I missed not having some Jewish source text to look at so we
   could have a shared sense of where these traditions come from.

6) FRIDAY NIGHT SONG SESSION -- Great songs, but for me it was a bumpy
   ride because we kept stopping between songs. At camp, we like to use
   Shabbat song session to do a giant 30 minute continuous flow of
   music, and I think it makes a difference in the energy of the song
   session.

7) SATURDAY MORNING SERVICES -- Great service, but where was the D'var
   Torah? In fact, during the course of the weekend I don't think anyone
   even mentioned the content of the weekly parsha. I missed that.

8) HAVDALLAH -- I think we made it beautiful (we have a way of doing that)
   but the space was awkward with the piano and all of those chairs) and I
   had a hard time hearing words (like to Miriam HaNevia). I liked it the
   year before when Havdallah was delegated to participants to plan and
   lead.

9) SIZE -- I don't mind that Hava Nashira is getting larger. In fact, I
   say, let's make it a goal to get every songleader in the country there!
   Can you imagine like 500 people singing in 500 part harmony? Why not?

10) CLOSING -- I was thinking...we should take a group picture of everyone
    at Hava Nashira with their instruments: people guitars, drums,
    accordians, banjos, mandolins...all of 'em! 

I guess some of these suggestions are pretty minor, but I'd be curious to
hear if others shared any of my sentiments. I'm particularly interested in
how people feel about the size issue, the amount of new music, and the
focus on sessions that are idea exchanges as opposed to lectures by the
staff.

Looking forward to continuing to follow this discussion...

- Josh "Tree Song Guy" Miller
  Berkeley, California