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Have audition thursday some advice

Discussion in 'General Instruction [BG]' started by Davygravy3, Oct 9, 2001.

  1. Oct 9, 2001 #1
    Davygravy3

    Davygravy3

    Sep 21, 2000
    im playing in a audition for a jazz band on thursday after school. When i first saw the piece i was like oh this is ez. then i looked at the key signatire and their are five flats b, e, a, d, and g well without those flats this piece would be a breeze. but now their are so when i see a gflat i think g and hit open g. any ideas of what to do? like how can I prevent that from happening, and its fairly simple rhythm i mean lots o 4 quartert notes per measure and sometimes and 8th note rest or 3 quarter notes and then 2 eigth notes.

    I have a lesson tomorrow so i can hear it the right way then it will be easy. I hope until then i practice!
     
  2. Oct 9, 2001 #2
    Chris Fitzgerald

    Chris Fitzgerald Student of Life Staff Member Administrator Gold Supporting Member

    Oct 19, 2000
    Louisville, KY
    Sorry, there's no shortcut for this scenario...just practice as much as you can and play at whatever level you can play RIGHT NOW on Thursday. If you win the audition, great. If not, you will have a good idea of how to prepare for the next one.

    Good luck.
     
  3. Oct 9, 2001 #3
    cassanova

    cassanova

    Sep 4, 2000
    Florida
    practice your scales make sure you know the intervals especially in those keys that are giving you a hard time.

    Good luck!!
     
  4. Oct 10, 2001 #4
    Craig Garfinkel

    Craig Garfinkel

    Aug 25, 2000
    Hartford, CT
    Endorsing Artist: Sadowsky Guitars
    Davy...there's a place us old-timers call the "woodshed", and that's where you need to be, and don't come out until you've got the part down. Assuming you are in a major key (which I shouldn't assume since it's a jazz band chart, but let's not get too confusing here), your piece is in the key of D flat.

    I always tell students and beginners that it is imperative that they eventually learn the fingerboard so well that they now every note at every position on every string. It's probably a little late to get that down by tomorrow, no matter how long you stay in the "shed".

    I also recommend you avoid the use of open strings (except obviously low E) when you're beginning. You should be playing that G on the 5th fret of the D string, so that when you see a Gb you'll be able to quickly adjust down 1 fret (a half step) to Gb.

    A few more tips for your audition:
    1) Be on time! Early is even better.
    2) Don't make excuses, i.e. "I really didn't have time to prepare."
    3) Don't stop if you make a mistake...play through it.
    4) Even if you feel like you blew it, maintain a cheerful and positive attitude. Thank the band director for the opportunity to audition.
    5) Remember, the band director is an educator and will realize it's an education you are seeking.

    Good luck! :D
     
  5. Oct 11, 2001 #5
    Davygravy3

    Davygravy3

    Sep 21, 2000
    Well I did it today I was their way early. I had the note part down pat and was all cool when I went to play it cept for 1 rhythm section at end of repeat. I played it and just kept going though he stopped me and told me what it was. I knew I was going to play the wrong rhythm but the notes were right! Then the rest of the music gives the root then the 4 slashes so you walk. Well, I told him I've never really done that w/out the notes and I just play the root over until next chord change. He said as the yr. progresses will be learning all of that and you will understand it and now I have something to really work on at my music lessons!

    Anyway there are 3 jazz bands jazz 1 being the best and 2/3 being the same but there are 2 cuz of amount of kids. Anyway theres already a bass player in jazz 1 but if not many kids come to him wanting to play bass I am the one and only bass player for one of the bands. But if like 4 I get to play 2 songs on bass and the other on trombone. so i am in lets just hope no one else goes and plays.
     
  6. Oct 12, 2001 #6
    Craig Garfinkel

    Craig Garfinkel

    Aug 25, 2000
    Hartford, CT
    Endorsing Artist: Sadowsky Guitars
    Congratulations man! Your first step on your way to becoming "one of the cats". For workin' on your walkin', ask your bass teacher about the Jamey Aebersold series of recordings, now on CD thank God! Man, I hate to admit it but when I used them they were on record (that's that vinyl stuff) and it was really a pain in the ass to go over a part repetitively. If you're not hip, what they're about is recordings of jazz standards with the ability for you to "drop out" the prerecorded bass parts so that you can create your own walking lines over the changes. Please don't neglect this part of your musical education, even if it doesn't thrill you at first. You'll eventually discover that it's you, the bassist, that drives the band both rhythmically and harmonically.:cool: