Define "Practice" v.s. "Rehearsal"...

[Danny O Danny]

My band also makes the clear distinction between "practice" -- working on the songs alone at home, and "rehearsal" -- running through the setlists and working on the songs together as a band to tighten them up (including transitions between songs). Our drummer also uses a third phrase: "woodshedding" -- which describes the hours he spends alone working on his technique.

We use IEMs, so anyone showing up at one of our rehearsals isn't going to hear much of anything except the dull clicking and tapping of unamplified instruments and electronic drums, and so will get bored very quickly.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

I'd say your definition is relatively accurate.

I would say, lighten up a bit.
It sounds like you guys have created a scene, built some very good bonds and relationships to have others want to come and hear, see, you all play. Not all bands have such reverence from family and friends.
That's such a hard thing to achieve, yet I've been a part of such scenes before, only to see them destroyed, or relationships dismantled due to an individuals inflexible will. Such a tragic end to something that brings so many people together.

So relax, let it be what it is, know your role in the band and do it to the best of your abilities and when
you're finished, go have a beer, have a chat and pat a dog or two.

 

[lermgalieu]

I always get attacked for saying this, but I'm with Mike Watt: IN MY OPINION actors rehearse, musicians practice. Well, rock/jazz musicians at least. For classical music, I suppose it's more on the rehearsal end of the spectrum. I also don't think it matters all that much what you call it, but I have always called it band practice, and I think it fits. Here's why: to me, the point of a band performance isn't to present songs note for note perfectly (although it's a good goal). It's to present a set of group dynamics where you can see, hear, and feel the interplay of the musicians in a manner that creates a feeling in, and connection with, the audience. By thinking of it as "practice," that means (to me) that what I am doing with that time is practicing my craft. My craft is playing well with others, fine-tuning dynamics, listening, etc. You don't rehearse listening, you PRACTICE it. Anyway, whatever. Don't attack me, just feel confident in your own opinion and move on. For those who make a big deal that, hey, if you call it band practice it means you aren't ready, I say NO. I'm always ready. If someone in your band isn't, it's for a much bigger reason than what you call the gathering.

 

[jdjk7]

For myself its always been... "Practice: what i do on my own time to make sure i know my bass parts within the songs. Or working with the band on newer material to make sure everyone knows their parts correctly. "Rehearsal": Everyone at the band pad on time, loading-in, soundchecking, running through the set-list in the correct amount of time, and loading-out just as if it was a live gig. I just get annoyed when i think its a "rehearsal" for an upcoming gig and along comes girlfriends, kids, dogs, and 12 packs. Or am i just an a**? Comments please!

When we're talking about "musicians in a popular music band getting together to perform material for the sake of practice", I have heard "practice" and "rehearsal" used interchangeably with no difference in meaning. "Rehearsal" has a more professional connotation, but using it doesn't necessarily mean you're a more professional player. I've certainly played with some un-professional people who used the term.

I would say that any difference in meaning doesn't emerge until you go to other contexts. For example, it's far more unusual to rehearse by oneself than to practice by oneself, but for solo players or tightly organized events such as formal performance, you definitely can. And "rehearsal" is certainly more appropriate in contexts of large productions that involve lots of tasks and lots of moving parts, such as theater. But those also have the distinction of being formally defined by centuries of experience, whereas the modern popular music band is a rather young brother to that of formal music and folk music.

If what you want is a less distracted and more on-task rehearsal, you should just say that.

 

[dalkowski]

Don't practice during rehearsals.

 

[darwin-bass]

What do the terms mean for theater folks in a play?

For most of the church musicians I play with they mean the same. Gather as a band to learn your part before you play it live.

 

[matthewbrown]

I feel your pain. Many times I've attended rehearsals that were no more than run-throughs of new material with little attention to improvment. If it's familiar material, running through it is good practice -- it helps band members recall of the tune when it's time to perform. But when the band never bothers to tune up before starting? When members aren't sober? When members aren't prepared? It can be frustrating.

 

[mambo4]

But I think it's about semantics as well.

Does it really matter?

...semantics.

I think defining "practice vs rehearsal" it not just about defining words
It's also about defining expectations, together, with your band, and getting on the same page..

If I show up for a band rehearsal, what can I expect?
will the drummer remember his parts, or is this the drummers only chance to play at all?
will there partners, pets and beer?
will we all have a previously agreed upon set list and know our parts?

Getting on the same page with these expectations is as important as with other band expectations.

 

[JazznFunk]

Practice: Working on things on your own, in your home studio/space, to prepare for group rehearsal. OR - 'group practice' can be applicable when everyone is working on learning intricate parts/melodies/harmonies together at the same time. Not the same as rehearsal.

Rehearsal: Running down a set of tunes, stopping only to address minor issues. Not intended to be a noodle session or a time for people to work on what they should have *practiced* at home.

Example: In my jazz trio we make sure everyone has charts and/or recordings weeks in advance of rehearsal. We work independently to get things down. When we rehearse, we run down the tunes and arrangements, and work on things that aren't clicking the first full time through. Unless there are major issues with a tune, we get through the song list in an efficient manner.

 

[groovepump]

In a non-pro situation (but with a careful mindset to play the best we can and always improve our muscial proposal):
Pratcice = home
Rehearsal = band

Sometimes rehearsal are focus on particular parts to work on collectively, or if one of us struggle with a his particular part, sometimes to go through set list, sometimes to set up a new song proposal from one of the band (when he provides sheets), and sometimes more relax with jam and fun; or a mix of all of that. The mandatory thing is a moment for hang/one beer at the end of the session.

And if you only can have one beer, make it a big one.

 

[steveinohio]

Never used the term “rehearsal”. Always just practice. Different words for the same thing.

 

[JMarkD]

I don't think the OP is as concerned with what to call it as much as what is occurring. Call it practice or rehearsal, neither should be a party. No friends or family would WANT to come to our band rehearsals. A necessary evil that is tedious and boring for the most part.

 

[Rib 13]

I think defining "practice vs rehearsal" it not just about defining words
It's also about defining expectations, together, with your band, and getting on the same page..

If I show up for a band rehearsal, what can I expect?
will the drummer remember his parts, or is this the drummers only chance to play at all?
will there partners, pets and beer?
will we all have a previously agreed upon set list and know our parts?

Getting on the same page with these expectations is as important as with other band expectations.

I think you're reading too much into it. As long as the intent is being communicated and understood, it doesn't matter. If I say to my wife " Hey , hun, I have band practice tonight", she knows I'm going to play bass with the band and not practice scales by myself......personally, I think the term "rehearsal " sounds a little pretentious sometimes in certain contexts so I often say "practice " for referencing everything but that's just my opinion and your mileage may vary

 

[mambo4]

I think you're reading too much into it.

I'll clarify:
Defining "Practice vs rehearsal" to your spouse = semantics
Defining "Practice vs rehearsal" to your band = important setting of expectations

 

[Bag of Lazers]

Woodshed: me practicing at home
Practice: working on material together as a band, usually at a regular schedule
Rehearsal: practicing the set as closely as possible to what you want to do at the gig

 

[climber]

yup, I practice by myself (daily) and rehearse (very rarely) with a band.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

I agree with the general distinction made by the OP, pretty much, but I also agree with the view that what you call these things matters much less than what you're actually doing. Whether it's "practice" or "rehearsal" when the band gets together, everybody should be on the same page about how to prepare for it and what you're going to be doing while there.

In the bands I currently am in, nobody comes to a rehearsal/practice with the aim of just jamming or messing around with SOs or pounding the brewskis; we don't have the time or the inclination. We're there to work, specifically to get tunes ready for playing in public, so we expect a degree of preparation from each other. If I send you a chart and a link to a recording of a tune 2+ weeks before we get together, I sure as h8ll expect you to have taken a look at the chart and listened to the tune and thought about any issues/questions you might have about it (form, key, arrangement, whatever). Of course we may not do it perfectly the first time when we do get together, but we'll have had a valuable head start, and we'll get more done.

That said, different bands work differently, and if jamming or learning tunes from zero at rehearsal is your thing, you're not wrong if everybody in the band is down with that. (I wouldn't be, though....)

 

[Mastermold]

For myself its always been... "Practice: what i do on my own time to make sure i know my bass parts within the songs. Or working with the band on newer material to make sure everyone knows their parts correctly. "Rehearsal": Everyone at the band pad on time, loading-in, soundchecking, running through the set-list in the correct amount of time, and loading-out just as if it was a live gig. I just get annoyed when i think it’s a "rehearsal" for an upcoming gig and along comes girlfriends, kids, dogs, and 12 packs. Or am i just an a**? Comments please!

Is the band good? Or do you guys suck? Seems like you are maybe more concerned with the band’s performance than the definition of what you are doing when you’re together?

 

[Wood and Wire]

Practice = me learning, and refining my parts, and learning everybody else's parts, so I can better understand and refine my parts.

Rehearsal = everyone else trying to remember their parts, whilst I bang my head against the wall for 4 - 6 hours.

 

[groovepump]

I don't think the OP is as concerned with what to call it as much as what is occurring. Call it practice or rehearsal, neither should be a party. No friends or family would WANT to come to our band rehearsals. A necessary evil that is tedious and boring for the most part.

And what is occurring is important.
Regardless of what term is used, when I travel through traffic to meet with the band to work on music, I expect to hear music, not excuses. We all have lives that get in the way of scheduled practice sessions, but a "band" practice is not the place to start learning a tune. And during the "band" practice, we can work on other things
as well, like transitions, and maybe some staged entertainment bits. But I get tired of hearing the same culprits calling out:
"Alexa, play <songname>" so that one or two of us can begin to attempt playing the song.