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How Possible It is to Learn 5 songs a week?

#41
Donald Thompson said:
So, I want to get in the Army band. They gave me a list of genres to play(country,jazz,R&B,Pop/Rock, and Latin). If I had 6 hours after work, would that be enough enough with homework, drums, and singing?
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Make sure you audition for the Marines too. I have a son (bassist) in the Marine fleet band program. Trust me, they are short on singers, keyboardists, and I’m sure they wouldn’t turn up their nose at a good bassist. You should be at least somewhat proficient reading music however.

Keep in mind, if this audition doesn’t work out, you can put more work in and try again. One other piece of advice... Breathe deep and often. Best wishes.
 
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#43
Donald Thompson said:
After work. Jazz is hard though. Any books that can get my foot in the door?
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If you have six hours a day, you're in good shape, assuming you have a decent ear.

Don't forget about making your own lead sheets and charts to use at least at home practice.

If you're doing jazz standards, there should be some charts you can acquire for those. They may not be in TAB though.

Agree with the above suggestion that YouTube is your friend for the harder stuff.
 
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#46
Paging @Pacman ...

He was an Army Bandsman and went over to the Air Force...he’s a retired Chief Master Sergeant and has the fangs to go along with it...it seems a lot has changed if what you’re saying is the case...I know, at least, the Navy doesn’t operate that way, and I’ve seen military band auditions, which is one of the reasons I’m not a bandsman...best of luck!
 
#52
Donald Thompson said:
I'm in the Army. The band players me told they don't do sight reading anymore, so it's more like preparing songs for a gig.
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I've played with guys from various military bands. They were some of the most disciplined and traditionally trained players I've ever worked with. I'd be stunned if they all weren't excellent readers especially because someone has to arrange those scores. Are you sure it's not just because they've played the material for so long that they don't have to read it anymore? After a couple of hundred performances, Broadway musicians can play the music from memory too.

Which reminds me, I learned the entire score for Oh! Calcutta! in about 12 hours, much of it on Amtrak from Boston. When you're desperate for a gig, especially a contracted seat, you can accomplish super-human challenges.
 
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#53
Walk The Dogs said:
I've played with guys from various military bands. They were some of the most disciplined and traditionally trained players I've ever worked with. I'd be stunned if they all weren't excellent readers especially because someone has to arrange those scores. Are you sure it's not just because they've played the material for so long that they don't have to read it anymore? After a couple of hundred performances, Broadway musicians can play the music from memory too.

Which reminds me, I learned the entire score for Oh! Calcutta! in about 12 hours, much of it on Amtrak from Boston. When you're desperate for a gig, especially a contracted seat, you can accomplish super-human challenges.
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I'll send you the pictures of the prerequisites in the morning. I'm on PCS leave and just got to Florida. I'm really tired right now.
 
#56
My record was 30 songs in 2 days for a sub gig. It wasn't perfect and it was mainly getting the root notes and the more distinct bass lines, but the job was done and they called me a couple more times. I think that amount of songs it's quite doable in that period of time if you plan and set a schedule.
 
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#57
Five songs in one week, sure. Ten songs in two weeks, sure.

Five songs per week for a year? No way. First of all you're not going to keep up that pace, and secondly, you're going to forget the songs from week one by week four because with all the new songs to learn, you won't have time to keep practicing the old ones.
 
#59
When I have to learn new songs, first I saturate myself in the music by listening to it in the car (I drive for a living). While I listen, I make mental notes to myself..."there's the hook. There's the coda. I hear a minor II on the turnaround...".

By the time I am sitting down with a bass and the song playing on the computer I'm about 75% there.
The Nashville Numbers system changed my approach to
1) learning music
2) transposing music.
 

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