How to Run a Band Rehearsal That Isn’t a waste of time
Be a leader and make it happen. Give your players the materials and charts they need long before the rehearsal so that they can be prepared when they get there. Nothing is a bigger drag on everyone else than one player trying to learn their part during rehearsal rather than knowing their part before they get there. It’s a big bummer for the rest of the cat’s that already know their part and are there ready to play.
Similarly, if the tune is not completely formulated, at least let your players have a clue so that they can come with ideas to try.
Who’s Running This Rehearsal?
Is your band a collaboration……..
where no one is really in charge? A band can absolutely function like that, but it runs the risk of not having the clarity that it could have when it comes to getting things done. Same as the Too Many Chefs In The Kitchen cliche. Or worse, nobody takes charge. The responsibility of making things happen is left to chance.Wow! Good luck with that. It is fun to jam, but if every session is just a jam session……
…….it is what it is.
Most of the time, if your band is a collaboration without a clearly defined leader, 2-3 core members will organically function in that leadership role. Likewise, they will share ideas and vision of where the band is headed and what they would like see accomplished out of the rehearsal. Together as a team, they need to provide the other players with what they need. Rather, the charts, the time, the place, and the expectations. I was with a group like this for 7 years and it worked well.
In contrast, I have been to many rehearsals where there is no plan. The so called leader was not leading. Are we trying to tighten something up? Are we trying to learn something new? What’s up? Why am I even here? Therefore, those rehearsals end up being more of a social event. That’s OK if I wanted to go to a social event rather than a rehearsal. In the professional world, there is a time and place for each… yes, sometimes it can be both……but not all of the time.
Band Leaders Know This
Band leaders know that people like to be told what to do if the direction is clear. If you can explain what you want to hear and why you want to hear it, your band will be receptive. Rehearsal are incredibly more productive if someone is running the show rather than “What do you want to do?” approach.
I need the snare to crack on 2 and 4. Let’s put an accent on the “and of 4” in measure 16. Keys drop out during the bridge. This is the kind of information that a leader can facilitate and above all,
help the rehearsal happen.
However, this doesn’t mean that your word is the last word. Let your players create, but create within a guided frame of reference. Give them a starting pointed then let the collective creative minds start to build from there.
Come Prepared
You are running the rehearsal, so most of the work is on you.
Therefore, make sure that the rehearsal space fits the needs and is ready before the other players show up. Get the PA set up and the microphones in general position. Make sure that there are plenty of power strips or places to plug in. Likewise, get a recorder set up if you are recording the session.
If you are learning new material, music stands are nice to have. Position those where they will be used.
More importantly, you should know what music you want to look at during this rehearsal. Consequently, you should have already let the band know what the plan is for this session, and have given the the charts and recordings beforehand so that they will come prepared. Even though you have already given them charts or lyric sheets, you should have on hand duplicate copies unless one forgets to bring theirs.
Of course, you should know your parts.
Give Your Players What They Need
The more information and practice aids that you can give to the other band members ahead of time, the smoother the rehearsal will go.
Also, give kudos to your players as well. When they are doing something right, let them know about it. Similarly, when a player nails a part, let them know you could feel the groove or whatever. First of all, it means a lot to them since they essentially invested their hearts into it. Second of all, musicians thrive on positive reinforcement in general.
What If One Of Your Players Is Not Cutting It.
So, everybody knows their part except this one guy. Maybe that one guy has a more lax attitude about the gig, They might be on drugs or they need their ego stroked in order to put in any effort. Another possibility, they just don’t have the skills to keep up in the first place.
Here’s The Question. How much energy are you putting in to try to cover for them? Are you having to give them special attention above everybody else? Likewise, are you constantly having to stoke their ego and tell them how good they are, or constantly telling them to practice more, or constantly trying to pump them up on the excitement of the band? A red flag is if they are too stoned to practice or play well.
It could be time to find another player. Everyone is replaceable…..even you.
Listen, if you believe in your band, and you are pumped up about it, then surround yourself with other players that are pumped up about it as well.
What’s The Band All About? Fun? Profit? Learning?
Clarity is always nice. It’s good to know what the end goal is.
Are we a bunch or friends getting together and having fun? What’s that mean? Bar-B-Q, Beer, and Boogie? Sounds good………….sometimes.
Even in this scenario, the jam works better if someone can put a little guided direction to it. Maybe a short song list of songs that you can play from beginning to end. That way, at least you know you won’t just be jamming on two chords all night. It’s going to be fun whatever you do since it is not a serious rehearsal.
However, if you are putting a working band together, the band should know what style they are shooting for. Similarly, in a brainstorm session where players are bouncing ideas of each other, you can help keep everybody on track. In other words, what kind of band are we, what’s our sound, and is this groove going to gel with that? Maybe it’s a good musical groove, but the wrong style. Can we tweak it to be more like us? Great question.
Keep the rehearsal moving forward until it’s run it’s course. Then socialize.
How Do You Build On the Chemistry of The Band.
Socialize with each other seems like the obvious answer, but the real answer is to rehearse and gig together as much as possible. You already have a common goal of wanting to develop and explore the music you are creating. Hence, if everybody is practicing and contributing, the band chemistry will get stronger.
Longevity will build band chemistry as well. Here’s where you need to go back and remember and decide if this is a short term “project” or a long time “commitment”. As stated before, either is good and should not have an effect on how well a band gels musically. What will have an effect, is if not everybody is on the same page. Different visions kind of thing.
Who Is The Band Leader and Why
Whether a Band is a social group or a professional group, it’s one of the few organizations (for lack of a better word) that frequently has no clear leader. As a matter of fact, I am sitting here right now trying to think of another single collection of people, where they have assembled for a specific purpose, that have not assigned someone as their Captain or leader.
A family has a parent, a school has a principal, a team has a captain, a store has a manager, a company has a CEO, a church has a pastor, a dance group has a choreographer, a post office has a postmaster, an orchestra has a conductor, an army has a general, a nation has a president, a ship has a captain, and on and on. Even so, not so much with many bands.
The benefits of having a leader far out way the alternative. I’ll just say …….“a ship without a rudder.”
Leaders make it easier for everybody else to do what they do.
If you choose to lead…..leaders do more of the work and everybody expects them to do more of the work.
Record The Rehearsal
A recorder is a great tool. Listening back to a piece can sound and feel quite different to you than when you were playing it. Listening to the recording can help you identify strong hooks and tweak transitions.
Listening to a recording can give the band a chance to discuss the tune from a different perspective. This also helps the players connect.