RANT: Pep Band.

[bassist4dalord]

I attend Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI. I was recently asked by a saxophone player to join Pep Band, because they needed a bass player. So I signed right up! I told the instructor that I was unable to read bass clef, and thought that would be a hinderance. Well it was. Turns out I can't do it at all. All week I had been getting pumped for our first meeting. It was tonight, and it was just humiliating. I've been playing bass guitar for four years, and I can handle some really fancy licks, add some flourishes and whatnot, and I have a pretty good ear. I'm a pro at 12-bar (but who isn't) and I can find my way around a 5-string bass much better than I can around campus. Long story short, I can hold my own. But once you put the bass clef in front of me, it's literally like reading a foreign lanuage: I siezed up, started sweating quite a bit, and watched shamedly as the instructor proceeded to fill in on almost half of the songs, while I stood there deeply regretting my decision. I felt empty, like everything I'd ever learned on bass guitar over the years, techniques and such, was useless. I'm going to drop this class because I just can't do it. I know I sound like a quitter, but nothing in my 18 short years of life has left me feeling so drained and helpless. Sorry this is long, and, quite frankly, pointless, but I just had to share my musical frustration with somebody. I fear that if I hadn't poured my heart out in this thread, I would throw my bass out the second-story window of my dorm and cried. Thank you for your tolerance.

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Sincerely, dissatisfied Bassist4dalord.

[Febs]

Originally Posted by bassist4dalord

I'm going to drop this class because I just can't do it.

Of course you can't, if you don't try. How do ever expect to improve if you don't even make an effort to address your weaknesses?

I can guaranty you that there is no bass player who has ever lived who was born knowing how to read bass clef. Every musician who is a strong reader has been where you are now, and worked through it. You can too.

[PBass101]

Pssh. How cool is pep band anyway?

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by PBass101

Pssh. How cool is pep band anyway?

A fair question, which I will skip.

To the OP: What do you expect a poll to tell you here? That not reading bass clef really well is fine? LOL!

Get a bass teacher and learn to read like a real musician. It will change your musical life and restore your self-esteem.

[sirpug]

Or just stay in the pep band and talk to the instructor about it. I'm sure he/she will help you learn. Stay after (or come in a little early) to get some special instructions.

[wittynamehere]

^^
+1

I *just* tought myself (with some help from friends who read treble clef) It's a really daunting task when you first sit down in front of a page of sheet music, but it's easier than it seems to get a basic proficiency. And the more you do it, the easier it gets.

[Melodicgroove]

You're still young man, learning to read music could be a great thing for you. There are plenty of books that can teach you how if you don't want to pay someone. I never learned but the advantages of reading have never been there. We didn't have school bands with bass players, so thinking of going to college for music never really occurred. I'm just curious how you expected to know the songs for the gig, did they just play completely different stuff than they did at the practices?

[higgi]

When I was in College back in 1691. The second Jazz band needed a bass player, I had never played bass before but I had been playing trumpet for years. I couldn't sight read the bass clef so I took the sheet music and marked note names on top of the bar like a chord chart, and I played the music with recordings to practice. I just memorized the songs mostly.

I played in the pep band also, the band trips were like a party on wheels. Band girls can be very fun.

From years of being a band geek at least I can say..."This one time, in band camp...."

[rakirksey]

+1 to everything that's been said.

And of course an inspirational quote found with a bit of googling ...

Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent, but with great inner drive, go much further than people with vastly superior talent.

- Sophia Loren

All things are difficult before they are easy.

- Dr. Thomas Fuller

Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict.

- William Ellery Channing

[Bardley]

I felt exactly the way you did once. When I started college 10 years ago, I went in having played for 4 years as well. I was going to be a music major and thought I could join any group I wanted to. I auditioned for the group of my choice and I did not get in. I was barely accepted as an instrumental major on bass. (there were only 2 including me) I was very upset and spent my freshman year barely involved in anything, which I greatly regret. I eventually changed majors to Telecom which I loved and also joined the group I wanted and loved it. I'm still not a great reader, but I learned so much. Do not be intimidated. Stick with it and practice hard. You will learn a ton and be a better player for it in the long run. Trust me.

[Ziltoid]

If I can read it, anybody can

[WJGreer]

Every now and then a thread comes up where someone asks "why is it important to be able to read music", or "should I learn to read music or is tab enough" or something like that. In this thread, we have the answer.

For different members of the musical community to function together, some common language is necessary. That language is written music. To be a functioning member of that community, the ability to read music is necessary.

If you are unable to read music, it is probably not a good idea to present yourself in situations where it is an expectation that you can.

[HogieWan]

Get the music and work through it slowly. I can't sight-read, but if I have some time to figure it out first, I can use the music for cues.

I started college in the School of Music going after a Music Media degree (recording/production). I had to take a theory test at orientation and they placed me in the remedial theory class. I also had to be in an ensemble, so I was in a jazz combo. I learned more theory the first week of jazz combo than I did the whole semester of the theory class.

Moral of that story: jump in, it's easier to learn on your feet.

[higgi]

Yes, go for it. It's just band, if you mess up a few times the world will still turn.

[electracoyote]

Reading standard notation is a language. And the best way to learn any language is immersion. Immerse yourself in it, bro! Do it every day, every chance you get. Bang your head against that door until it opens! This is a golden opportunity, and your instructor may just be a big help, if he really wants a bass in his pep band. Get a good basic primer or method book. Start reading in key of C, then go around the circle of fifths. You can do this!

[kraigo]

I don't read. For most of what I do it doesn't make any difference. You can learn a lot of theory, etc. while not being able to read. You can be a very functional player. Most of the gigs that will come your way will not have written bass parts - lead sheets with chord symbols or lyrics with chords written over the top.

I still advocate reading. There are occasions where I get handed a piano score and I can't do a thing with it. It opens up a lot of doors to self improvement because there's a large body of work out there in standard notation. Lastly, the really big bread and butter gigs (theater pit gigs for example) that require reading.

Stick with it. It will open doors for you.

KO

[bassist4dalord]

Thanks guys. This is exacly what I needed to hear. I'll work on reading. I know that by learning how to read will open doors, it's just a huge task to undertake. Thanks again.

[Thor]

+1 to Jim Carr, solid advice as always.

Also, I agree, take on the challenge, what do you have to lose? You came to college to learn, right?

+1 on the Band Chicks comment as well.

Finally, an inspirational message from one of the most
successful business people on the planet, Thomas Watson jr.,
former CEO of IBM.

'When you are going uphill, step on the gas!'

[CrashClint]

I messed around with bass when I was 13, listening to songs and trying to pick out the bass parts. When I entered 9th grade I could play pretty good. Well, the Jazz band at high school needed a bass player and a friend of mine who plays trombone gave my name to the Music Director. The Director called me in and asked if I would be interested in playing. I told him that I couldn't read music. His response was "Are you willing to learn?". I said yes and he agreed to meet with me for 1/2 hour a day to teach after school. Along with his help and my trombonist friend I became a decent reader.

If I were you and wanted to play, I would ask the Music Director if he would help you learn to read so you could play in the Pep Band. Worse he can say is no.

Oh to answer the question, "How fun is Pep Band?", I had a blast playing in pep, jazz and concert band.

[TimoMetzemakers]

Originally Posted by electracoyote

Reading standard notation is a language. And the best way to learn any language is immersion. Immerse yourself in it, bro! Do it every day, every chance you get. Bang your head against that door until it opens! This is a golden opportunity, and your instructor may just be a big help, if he really wants a bass in his pep band. Get a good basic primer or method book. Start reading in key of C, then go around the circle of fifths. You can do this!

This.

If you need suggestions for a method book, I like Jim Stinnett's Reading in Bass Clef and All Cows Eat Grass.