Brekelefuw

We have performed once. It was for a mini recital in my solo performance class. It was thirty minutes of music.
While playing, it felt fine, but upon reviewing the dvd and cd, it seemed a bit flat to me as well. The band wasn't moving or interacting. They were just playing the music.

The thing is, before I get work for hte band, I want to make sure we are all into the music and that we sound good at it.

FreshBrewed

I'm just curious. What are the personalities of the people in the group? Are they outgoing when they aren't playing their instrument? It's something to consider.

__________________
Mike
Eclipse MHY Bell
1949 Olds Ambassador

Listening has nothing to do with moving your mouth!

Brekelefuw

They are all outgoing people. I think my less outgoing personality probably has something to do with the group demeanor. When I run a rehearsal, or play in someone else's, I am serious. Especially when I have spent so many hours arranging and printing the charts out for everyone. Maybe I should lighten up a bit as well. I just don't want to seem like a pushover, which I think I do already.

FreshBrewed

Don't take this wrong, but I think you may have answered your own question. They know you are doing all that hard work and I'm sure it is stressful, but remember that it's about the music. You have shown that by the time you have invested. Now try showing it when you are in front of them and the red light is on. I would suggest sitting down with the group and telling them what you are telling us. Let them know that it's alright to have a good time but that the music comes first.

__________________
Mike
Eclipse MHY Bell
1949 Olds Ambassador

Listening has nothing to do with moving your mouth!

krossum

In regards to my first response, I was going to point out that I always hire musicians based upon how they perform – not how they rehearse; but you seemed to have done that as well.

Not to sound too cynical, but what are they getting out of this? Is it a collegiate/University setting? If so, the rules are different and everybody should make as much high quality music as possible before their sentencing is complete.

When you are leading a band out in the ‘real world’ always consider the golden triangle. What is the golden triangle you ask? Good question.

The Golden Triangle is comprised of three primary factors:
1) Music
2) People
3) Money

When I’m leading a group, I always sincerely try my best to have all three of these factors in place. Good music (high level of creativity on the stand and well prepared and organized to the extent required), Good people (friendly and personable), Good Money (you know – good money).

Many organizations only survive on Two out of three. For example, a recital – good music, good people, but no money; or a wedding reception – good people, good money, lousy music.

Problems arise when there is only one factor present. Good money with a bunch of jerks playing bad music can only last so long.

As a leader, it’s your responsibility to ensure all three factors.

Best.
-Kelly

__________________
“This art is acquired only by laborious studies, for the rebellious nature of the instrument demands a great aptitude coupled with a persevering willingness to become a master of it.” – F.G.A. Dauverné (1857)

krossum

Rowuk-

I engoy your posts tremendously, so please don't take this the wrong way, but I completely disagree with you.

(I'm typing fast - there's a student at my door, I'll be breif)

Most likely, the players ARE doing him a favor; and although the idea of group ownership is (in theory) a high aspiration, the reality of the music business is far from that ideal. Musicians play the best when they are being taken care of - one way or the other. Plus, the pecking order of any professional group is firmly established; when a side (person) thinks that they have ownership of the band, or when a leader thinks everybody owns the band... man, bad things can happen. The leader is the leader for a reason.

A guest musician or coach is an interesting idea - for a collegiate setting.

thanks - much respect.
-Kelly

__________________
“This art is acquired only by laborious studies, for the rebellious nature of the instrument demands a great aptitude coupled with a persevering willingness to become a master of it.” – F.G.A. Dauverné (1857)

Brekelefuw

It is a college setting. This is all leading up to a recording session in March and my final recital in April.
They are all excellent players who I have worked with in other formats many times.
They are doing me a favor because right now, while we still are in our infancy as a band, there is no money, but once we get better, I have told them that I would like to find work since there is plenty of clubs that I could play a set or two at in Toronto.

Thanks for in input everyone. This is making me look at leading a band in a different way then before.

I was thinking of showing them a section of Horace Silvers book about playing jazz, or at least discussing it. It talks about what a player must commit to when he or she plays in a group or leads a group.

Joe DiMonte

[quote=Brekelefuw;289746]I have assembled an octet that plays my arrangements of mostly standard, some originals. It is trumpet, trombone, alto, tenor, bari, piano, bass, drums.

For some reason, when we rehearse, there is no energy. They play all the right notes, but there is no intensity or emotion to the bands playing which makes all of the charts flatline.



The hardest thing for a musician to learn is how to play WITH people. That's what made the Basie rhythm section.
~ Jo Jones

__________________
"Clark Terry - C.T.,as his friends call him,is not only a master of the trumpet and flugelhorn,but a master musician and a leader to the manor born." - Dan Morgenstern.

Joe DiMonte

I remember Harvey Phillips one time saying that rehearsing should be the same as performing just without the audience being there. But you play the same.


Perhaps it is a peculiarity of mine that despite the fact that I am a professional performer, it is true that I have always preferred playing without an audience. ~ Bill Evans

__________________
"Clark Terry - C.T.,as his friends call him,is not only a master of the trumpet and flugelhorn,but a master musician and a leader to the manor born." - Dan Morgenstern.