Playing in a band

[Nick Cook]

I'm finally taking the plunge and going along to try a couple of bands this week.

Thursday I'm going along to the Windsor Community Orchestra for a look see. They say they're for musicians under grade 5 standard, and I had a very nice e-mail from the lady who runs it.

Friday it's the Bagshot Band. They do an hour's session for beginners followed by a couple of hours with the main band. They've suggested I go along to the beginners section ansd stay for a listen to the main band.

I'm really looking forward to these!!!

 

[Phil Edwards]

Great news, you'll have a load of fun. This is what we spend all those hours practicing for. Get stuck in and enjoy it,

Phil

 

[thehunt]

Hi Nick, great, i too look forward every week to playing in my band, 12-14 piece sax band but a few weeks back i went along to the NRWO, New Redbridge wind orchestra, it was great but feel i need to be a tad better before joing full time. Slob was the instigator of this so thanks.
Anyway Nick, will you be playing alto or tenor? How's the tenor going? Phil

 

[Nick Cook]

Hi Phil,

I'll be taking the Tenor. The Bagshot one wanted me to take that anyway - said they had loads of Altos.

I'm really enjoying playing the Sakkuso. It sounds great, and the grade 3 tunes include John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis and Cannonball Adderley, so I'm going out buying all their CDs!!!!

 

[jadoube]

Nick,

In that case I'll be seeing you Friday evening

We have 2 tenors, multiple altos and little of anything else in the beginners band. (The grey-haired incompetent with a walstein tenor is me.)

Parking can be a bit of a sod so I suggest aiming to be about 10 minutes early. PM me if you'd like suggestions of where parking is possible, or any other background info.


John

 

[thehunt]

Good luck Nick, i'm doing my grade three in June, shame i'm not down your way, i prefer it there to here, as you now i have my family in Camberley, so know Bagshot well. Enjoy the experience, let us know how you get on, Phil

 

[Nick Cook]

Hi Phil, will do.

I've just started on my grade 3 tunes and scales - hoping to do it in November.

 

[thehunt]

bloody scales, the Lydian in D is weird!! After this one i will wait until next year to do grade 4. ( that is if i pass ?)

 

[Nick Cook]

bloody scales, the Lydian in D is weird!! After this one i will wait until next year to do grade 4. ( that is if i pass ?)

It's the Chromatic on G I'm have trouble with - getting all those flats in the right order - particularly on the way down!!!

By the way - what tunes are you doing? I'm enjoying Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and have just started on Blue Train. I've been been out buying Cds with the tunes on!!

 

[thehunt]

Hi Nick, i'm doing Playing in the Yard, Sonny Rollins. Mercy Mercy Mercy, Joe Zawinul. ( it's great to solo on that one ) and All is well by Tim Whitehead. The chromatic will come, i do have a sticky point though when i'm coming back down i miss out C natural for some reason, still, i'll have it nailed before the exam. I hope!!

 

[Nick Cook]

I've just downloaded Sonny Rollins Next Album with Playing in the Yard on it. I've left my mp3 player at home though, so I'm hoping it'll play on my phone.

I also bought the CD Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Cannonball Adderley. It's a live recording and the title track is brilliant on it!!

 

[Nick Cook]

I had a little practise at playing sitting down last night as I always play standing up. I didn't like it!!! I suppose I will be playing sitting down in bands. Hope I get on ok!!

 

[jadoube]

You become more used to it, although I still find it less comfortable, and rather restricted.

Experiment to find a crook angle (and mouthpice rotation) that feels right, it may be rather different from standing up.

 

[thehunt]

I found that too Nick, but you do get used to it. We are really crammed in where i play and as jadoube says,( scary avatar jadoube by the way ) you need to find the best position. I find i have to twist my crook and mouthpiece right round and end playing with head tilted to the right. we have 5 tenors and 1 baritone in the back row with space for just 4 people!! work that one out. Phil

 

[Pee Dee]

Great move Nick, joining a band.
I started with a 'learning band' a few months ago. Mostly saxes, with a trombone, two or three trumpets, two guitars and a drummer. As a novice, I was a bit worried, but as 2nd Tenor, along with two others, I can get away with losing my place, just playing the easy bits, and a few, no lots, of bum notes! But as its mainly for beginners, no problem! They play mostly 'swing', and some of it is pretty fast. Lately I have been skiving by just practising the easy ballads, and as I am finding the fast passages hard to play in the band I am now concentrating on the faster stuff, i.e. John O'Neill's, and Guest Spot Jazz, Fly me to the Moon is a particularly fast version. Hard work, but worth it when you finally master it. Also, while practising at home, I like to 'take the tune for a walk' as they say, Lester Young style, just using the music as a guide, but in a band you have to play note perfect, or you'll be out of synch with the rest of the band. Something else I find difficult.
Any of this ring a bell with you. Good luck with it, it's well worth the experience, as when it all comes together it's great!!
Pete