We have all been in situations where a particular song is agreed upon and when the practice session arrives, some are prepared and others are well, less prepared.
I am interested in your practice techniques. I have learned a couple of things over the years when it comes to working up a new song. First, have lyrics and chord sheets at the ready for those that are, less prepared. The groups is only as good as the weakest link. Second, practice does not make perfect, rather perfect practice makes perfect. Finally, "overlearning" is essential and as such much of the material has to be done before the group practice session.
I am interested what others think.
What Constitutes Effective Practice?
What Constitutes Effective Practice?
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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When I was a professional musician I insisted that the other band members knew their parts when they came to rehearsal.
Practise should be confined to your own space. Rehearsal if not conducted properly, will be the slippery slope towards the band disintegrating over the long haul and the immediate result is your time together is wasted as the session degenerates into general chaos.
Just my humble opinion.
Practise should be confined to your own space. Rehearsal if not conducted properly, will be the slippery slope towards the band disintegrating over the long haul and the immediate result is your time together is wasted as the session degenerates into general chaos.
Just my humble opinion.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Well, hopefully Howard will come prepared then Brian.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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Playing in a church setting is different than any other form of band I've been in. Many times, we are called to sight read a song at the last minute. "Here is the music to a song I just heard, it would fit in great with the message today!" And then, we're playing it in 5 minutes. I HATE that!
Normally, the band leader, if you will, records the keyboard & vocal parts on a CD. Every week, we get the sheet music (usually just the keyboard or chord format) along with the recording.
We than have all week to play along with the recorded music, making our own parts when we have time. Some weeks, I don't get around to it until just a few hours before we meet, and you can tell the difference when I do!
When we get together for the official "practice", we fine tune what we did individually at home, add some, drop some noodling, and there you have it. Sunday music.
Normally, the band leader, if you will, records the keyboard & vocal parts on a CD. Every week, we get the sheet music (usually just the keyboard or chord format) along with the recording.
We than have all week to play along with the recorded music, making our own parts when we have time. Some weeks, I don't get around to it until just a few hours before we meet, and you can tell the difference when I do!
When we get together for the official "practice", we fine tune what we did individually at home, add some, drop some noodling, and there you have it. Sunday music.
"Freedom of expression is important, but I have learned that people want to know how much you care before they care how much you know."
The only time a bass player gets noticed is when he stops playing.
The only time a bass player gets noticed is when he stops playing.
Hahahaha. He has his work cut out for him Peter. He knows that I am a bit of a task master when it comes to music.
Seriously though he was given his part a while back and I will walk him through the arrangement that I have worked out.
Because our work together is actually a collaboration we will likely make changes and come up with a final arrangement that we both like. But of course that is a whole different subject than band rehearsal.
Seriously though he was given his part a while back and I will walk him through the arrangement that I have worked out.
Because our work together is actually a collaboration we will likely make changes and come up with a final arrangement that we both like. But of course that is a whole different subject than band rehearsal.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
I play in a band that came together in 4 rehearsals. We now have 70 songs in our repertoire and play all of them well. In the year we've been together, the band has rehearsed a total of about 8 times yet, the tunes come off flawlessly at the gigs with all fills, trills and shades of excitement included!
We can do this because we all learn the material thoroughly at home before we even begin to rehearse. If you can play it with the recording, you'll have no trouble playing it live as long as everyone has learned their part and some of the subtle nuances/cues that take the band from one part to the next.
It's just my opinion but, to me there is no substitute for learning your part and knowing it cold for rehearsal. Once the band got used to doing this, we now play many songs live for the first time together and they always work. There's nothing like a good work ethic. I am so blessed to be working with such great guys in my band!
We can do this because we all learn the material thoroughly at home before we even begin to rehearse. If you can play it with the recording, you'll have no trouble playing it live as long as everyone has learned their part and some of the subtle nuances/cues that take the band from one part to the next.
It's just my opinion but, to me there is no substitute for learning your part and knowing it cold for rehearsal. Once the band got used to doing this, we now play many songs live for the first time together and they always work. There's nothing like a good work ethic. I am so blessed to be working with such great guys in my band!
Happiness is a choice
Bob,
That's exactly how it should be done IMO. Great stuff. It's very enjoyable too once the ground rules have been established isn't it?
That's exactly how it should be done IMO. Great stuff. It's very enjoyable too once the ground rules have been established isn't it?
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Good information Bob.
Yes Brian, some rules for the professional players for gigs. I'll start and you finish. Let's see, no climbing in coconut trees ...
Yes Brian, some rules for the professional players for gigs. I'll start and you finish. Let's see, no climbing in coconut trees ...
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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How do I top that rule? That's the best advice I've heard in a long time. Hey Keef! Oops too late.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
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jeff_ulmer
- Intermediate Member
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I'm only a hobbyist musician, and I jam with with some others of similar ilk, but I do get frustrated when it appears that, after a year, I'm the only one who has memorized any of the approximately 60 songs we practice.
With regard to lyrics/chord sheets, here is how I try to map out an accurate tab:
With regard to lyrics/chord sheets, here is how I try to map out an accurate tab:
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
Nice sheet there Gary. I have a big book, (called The Big 'ol Song Book, lol) where I have done well over 300 of that type of sheet. They're all in WORD documents and the book is immensely helpful for refreshing my memory, sharing with others, or getting through that last minute pickup gig.
On another subject, one of the things that suffers from all this "being prepared" stuff is close, band friendship. In years gone by, we all used to hang out, play music and learn stuff. The band spent a lot of time together and it was fun. There was a stronger feeling of community. Much of that is gone. Still, it is fun to just show up at a gig and blow the roof off the place a few times a month, but when things were simpler, it was a real blast to hang out with the guys and just play music. Things change.
On another subject, one of the things that suffers from all this "being prepared" stuff is close, band friendship. In years gone by, we all used to hang out, play music and learn stuff. The band spent a lot of time together and it was fun. There was a stronger feeling of community. Much of that is gone. Still, it is fun to just show up at a gig and blow the roof off the place a few times a month, but when things were simpler, it was a real blast to hang out with the guys and just play music. Things change.
Happiness is a choice
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beatlefreak
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What constitutes an effective practice? When everybody shows up...
I, too, will echo the importance of being prepared when you come to rehearsal. Much time is wasted listening to the songs and figuring out parts. That is much easier to do when you're alone, and don't have several other instruments in the background.
An just like Bob said, none of us 'hang out' with the band members like we used to (there just isn't enough time). As we get older, we get other interests (wife, kids, job) and take on more responsibility in our lives. So it's important that the time we do set aside for bands is used effectively.
I, too, will echo the importance of being prepared when you come to rehearsal. Much time is wasted listening to the songs and figuring out parts. That is much easier to do when you're alone, and don't have several other instruments in the background.
An just like Bob said, none of us 'hang out' with the band members like we used to (there just isn't enough time). As we get older, we get other interests (wife, kids, job) and take on more responsibility in our lives. So it's important that the time we do set aside for bands is used effectively.
Ka is a wheel.
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captsandwich
- Intermediate Member
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I don't have the song book, but our keyboard player has one. It's just a little notebook with song titles & chords (ie Love Song -Em C D Em, Em A D Em) as gentle reminders. The other night, our horn section had to leave early so the rest of us leafed through the book and went "Anyone remember Walking? It's in B" and did a bunch of songs we haven't played in years. Not necessarily effective, but fun.
Musical memory is a powerful thing.
Musical memory is a powerful thing.
Lemme graze into your veldt/ lemme stomple your albino/lemme nibble on your buds/ I'm your Love Rhino