Basically I am an over 60 guy wanting to play in some form of (drama adverse) band again. There was an ad in CL looking for musicians to take a group band lesson for the purpose of forming a Blues band. I spoke with one of the workers and he was dismayed that his phone number was used in the ad. I spoke several times with the owner and it sounded slightly unorganized yet doable.
I arrive 15 minutes early, prepared, sober, etc. just as I would for any audition, practice or lesson. Coming from one of the practice rooms I hear some truly spectacular keyboard playing. The player is a nine or ten your old kid, he will be the keys guy.
With no introduction, discussing of goals, and in a totally disorganized fashion, we start to bang out a twelve bar in A. Not very painful except the keys guy is hitting a wrong chord on the turnaround. In come the guitar guy (a ½ hr late, as the BL told him the wrong start time), and he is not bad, a newbie but doing well enough. Eventually the teacher breaks out his sax and starts jamming. The owner and BL comes in and starts jamming on a guitar and a flute.
All through the thing the owner and teacher praise the keys guy every 3-5 minutes. They constantly are encouraging him to solo. They do encourage the guitar player to solo, but he turns it down. They do not ask me, as it was explained the rhythm section doesn't solo, and that I need to hold everyone together. Believe me I am trying.
This adventure was to cost $10. No problem, but I paid $40 as they collect for a month. Somehow I feel as if the unspoken plan is to get the keys guy ready for another recital, and we will be his backup band.
I believe I will go back one more time just to see what transpires, yet without some concept of the direction this adventure may end for me.
I arrive 15 minutes early, prepared, sober, etc. just as I would for any audition, practice or lesson. Coming from one of the practice rooms I hear some truly spectacular keyboard playing. The player is a nine or ten your old kid, he will be the keys guy.
With no introduction, discussing of goals, and in a totally disorganized fashion, we start to bang out a twelve bar in A. Not very painful except the keys guy is hitting a wrong chord on the turnaround. In come the guitar guy (a ½ hr late, as the BL told him the wrong start time), and he is not bad, a newbie but doing well enough. Eventually the teacher breaks out his sax and starts jamming. The owner and BL comes in and starts jamming on a guitar and a flute.
All through the thing the owner and teacher praise the keys guy every 3-5 minutes. They constantly are encouraging him to solo. They do encourage the guitar player to solo, but he turns it down. They do not ask me, as it was explained the rhythm section doesn't solo, and that I need to hold everyone together. Believe me I am trying.
This adventure was to cost $10. No problem, but I paid $40 as they collect for a month. Somehow I feel as if the unspoken plan is to get the keys guy ready for another recital, and we will be his backup band.
I believe I will go back one more time just to see what transpires, yet without some concept of the direction this adventure may end for me.
