Help! Overloaded practice time......!

Fassa Albrecht · #1 08-07-2007, 02:19 PM

I really need some good solid advice for this one.

Basically I am finding it difficult arranging my practice time. I am newly in a worship band, and so I have to know roughly 20 'set' pieces. But then I am trying to learn slap, plus funk and prog techniques.
The result is that I am really overloaded. How should I go about sorting this out, as I only have a month before I start performances with the band, yet I feel really behind..

PS To the mods- if this is in the wrong place, please move this thread!

Any advice appreciated!

Riley R · #2 08-07-2007, 02:21 PM

prioritize!!!

Fassa Albrecht · #3 08-07-2007, 02:31 PM

At the mo the worship stuff is my main problem. My main issue is that once I start regular band, the problem is gonna shoot outta control!

mrokern · #4 08-07-2007, 03:07 PM

I'm playing in two bands, and am working on some technique stuff at the same time. I've managed to work some of the technique work into my song practice...I've found that by using technique in real-world situations I seem to learn it faster.

As it is, others are correct; you just have to prioritize. My obligations to the bands take precedence over my personal projects at this point. I'm lucky enough to make them meet eventually in most cases.

-Mark

dlloyd · #5 08-07-2007, 03:41 PM

The worship band stuff should be your priority. Playing with a band is more valuable than practicing slap.

Audiophage · #6 08-07-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlloyd

The worship band stuff should be your priority. Playing with a band is more valuable than practicing slap.

What if you need to practice slap for a band you play in, eh?

Fassa Albrecht · #7 08-07-2007, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlloyd

The worship band stuff should be your priority. Playing with a band is more valuable than practicing slap.

I'll have to ask whether I will actually need to slap-bass first....I really only had 10 minutes chat with the bandleader upon signing up and he really only gave me some practice times and some pieces I should look at. There was no mention of slap or any technique-related stuff.

Rattman · #8 08-07-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlloyd

The worship band stuff should be your priority. Playing with a band is more valuable than practicing slap.

Worship band first for sure.. But not understanding something: What is there to 'learn'? Don't you guys work off of lead sheets? I've been in 3 praise bands already and all of them used lead sheets for all singers, musicians and Worship Leaders. We memorized nothing, as we worked with about 100+ songs total. Sounds like they are doing things the hard way in your praise team.

MacNilly · #9 08-07-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophage

What if you need to practice slap for a band you play in, eh?

Whatever it takes for the band is more important than side-quests. Not that anyone NEEDS to slap for a band.

dlloyd · #10 08-08-2007, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audiophage

What if you need to practice slap for a band you play in, eh?

It's unlikely for the situation she's in.

dlloyd · #11 08-08-2007, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattman

Worship band first for sure.. But not understanding something: What is there to 'learn'? Don't you guys work off of lead sheets? I've been in 3 praise bands already and all of them used lead sheets for all singers, musicians and Worship Leaders. We memorized nothing, as we worked with about 100+ songs total. Sounds like they are doing things the hard way in your praise team.

Fassa's already indicated that she needs to be able to play 20 set pieces. As I understand it, she's relatively new to the instrument (correct me if I'm wrong), so she'll have to practice the tunes pretty hard, whether or not there are lead sheets available.

Fassa Albrecht · #12 08-09-2007, 01:15 PM

Maybe I should explain.

Yes I'm new to the instrument- I've only been playing a year.

The way the performances with band work is that there is a framework of twenty of the most used worship pieces, which we need to know. Then we have a collection of about 100 or so songs which we choose to play at the meetings also. For all songs we do have leadsheets but we are expected to be able to play them anyway.
The idea is that even though all musicians are on a rota system (so that I might not be working with the same guitarists or drummers week on week) that everyone is in the same footing musically- everyone knows the same stuff so we can play together even if we haven't worked together before and if someone is more musically able.

tZer · #13 08-09-2007, 03:28 PM

Developing your technique will happen as a byproduct of playing a lot - but you can still set aside small, but consistent amounts of time for 'technique' practice.

To maximize your 'learn the set' time - if you can, get as much of the material you are playing with the group recorded. If there are existing recordings, get 'em. You'd be amazed how much you can learn just by listening A LOT. Put the recordings in your car and listen when you are driving.

If you 'know' the songs backwards and forwards in your head, putting fingers to fretboard is just a formality.

So now, with your ears doing most of the practicing for the group stuff, your actual 'sit down and play time' can be used for technique development. Run over your set tunes once or twice to make sure what is in your head translates to reality - then get to work on your other technique exercises.

DocBop · #14 08-09-2007, 04:03 PM

Reading this reminds me of what the late great Jazz guitarist Howard Roberts used to say, "the task increases with the time allotted." What that boils down people take as long as someone gives them. You go to a college who teaches in semesters you will take the 20 weeks to learn the info. If you go to a college on the quarters and take the same class they tell you have 12 weeks and you learn it. With less time it is harder, but if you tell yourself you can do it you will. You might need to stay up later, prioritize or even stop some other thing, but you will get it done.

Like so many others are telling you playing is the best teacher. Moving your fingers in a muscial way. Learning to listen to the band and how you fit in and work with them. Taking hard parts of the music and making a exercise of it to get some more chops. There are players who have to work day jobs and other necessities and only practice is playing a gig every night for a few hours. Their playing advanced as much or more than someone spending hours shredding scale. Playing is the best teacher and should be your highest priority.

dan.ablett · #15 08-18-2007, 01:41 PM

i think on top of learning those 20+ songs, you just just focus on learning your major scale in every key, major and minor pentatonics in every key. basically you are just looking at about 4 or 5 shapes to move up or down the fret board. the reason i think they are worth learning is because so much music is based on either the major scale or maj/min pentatonic. i think the better you learn those scales the easier the songs will be, and the quicker you will pick the patterns up (because you will be able to recognize them)

the rest will come in time. hopefully for me too.