Jazz band 1 or Jazz band 2

[UncleBalsamic]

I'd go for band B. Band A doesn't sound very good to me.

 

[VincentPuleo]

You guys have helped a lot.

T.B Player why wouldn't you play with the Temptations!?!?!?!

As for your advice... I don't think music schools are going to care which band I was in as long as I am involved in the music program.

Some one in the thread said music shouldn't be like a sport and that is exactly what band A is like.

I think I've made my decision...

 

[Visirale]

I don't know. As "not fun" as competition bands were, they always made me better. But we were always learning new music. I also benefited a lot from being in a band rehearsal every day of the week. I think by my senior year, I was playing bass for a good 2 hours a day in school outside of my normal practice time. It did a lot for my chops (both playing and reading).

I'd go with the one where you are going to learn the most. If the music programming doesn't change, go with B. But if you think they might throw some new music in the mix, stay with A. I like playing with the best musicians I can. Even if you do play the same music, you'll benefit more from working through stuff with better musicians, and you can work with them more in the off time on other things if you want.

Also if you guys can't play the stuff good fast, that's not all the director's problem. We had a lot of out of school sectionals where we would rehearse things VERY slowly. Playing music fast without doing the necessary wood-shedding doesn't yield much. But if the band is more talented, I don't see why they wouldn't want to learn to play the faster things right.

 

[funkometer]

I doubt youll get any connections either way that will really matter, scince your still in highschool. Id say whichever one challenges you most.........

 

[VincentPuleo]

I don't know. As "not fun" as competition bands were, they always made me better. But we were always learning new music. I also benefited a lot from being in a band rehearsal every day of the week. I think by my senior year, I was playing bass for a good 2 hours a day in school outside of my normal practice time. It did a lot for my chops (both playing and reading).

I'd go with the one where you are going to learn the most. If the music programming doesn't change, go with B. But if you think they might throw some new music in the mix, stay with A. I like playing with the best musicians I can. Even if you do play the same music, you'll benefit more from working through stuff with better musicians, and you can work with them more in the off time on other things if you want.

Also if you guys can't play the stuff good fast, that's not all the director's problem. We had a lot of out of school sectionals where we would rehearse things VERY slowly. Playing music fast without doing the necessary wood-shedding doesn't yield much. But if the band is more talented, I don't see why they wouldn't want to learn to play the faster things right.

The band does play stuff fast... thats what I'm saying it only sounds good fast since we practice over 10 hours a week every week for almost a year. It is like a circus band, it turns music into a sport... not having anything to do with the practice time just everyones mentality.

Band B still competes in all the competitions... its a just a more creative, open process of learning the music. There might be better horn players in band A, but I know the drummer of B is better and I think a good drummer would benefit me more then horn players.

 

[Visirale]

The band does play stuff fast... thats what I'm saying it only sounds good fast since we practice over 10 hours a week every week for almost a year. It is like a circus band, it turns music into a sport... not having anything to do with the practice time just everyones mentality.

Band B still competes in all the competitions... its a just a more creative, open process of learning the music. There might be better horn players in band A, but I know the drummer of B is better and I think a good drummer would benefit me more then horn players.

In that case go with B. I met my best friend and best drummer I play with in jazz band. Our school only had one jazz band but it was competitive as all get out. We did things really fast, but we worked them up from really slow and we were tight even at lightning speeds. Give the situation you've described I guess I'd go with B. I'll always take a great drummer over a great horn section.

 

[Junkyard Slug]

What state? What high school? and the the directors name is? PM me...

I live in Sacramento. The vocal jazz director of Folsom High is in our area and they are ranked #1, and have been for 15 years, by Down Beat magazine. He is also the instrumental jazz director. We have Rio Americano and a couple of others that are heavy hitters in the state of California and the western region of the US.

They are competitive. But they are also educational.

I know of one director that has four books for the regular part of the jazz band (latin, swing 1, swing 2, fusion/etc.) and charts that they use for competition/festivals. Not all festivals are competitive.

Maybe a change of things for that director might be nice. Like using Maria Schneider (cutting edge composer/arranger) or Kerry Marsh (also a cutting dge composer/arranger)

Just some thoughts...

PM me and we can chat about this off line.

Creepy

 

[OtterOnBass]

Band B = fun

Band A = hard work

Right? Which one will make the biggest impact on your playing and personality?

Music is like a sport when you look at training and performance. It's not like a sport when you value the results of two different people. You can definitely judge musical skill and performance, just not assign value. In other words, the slow easy song is just as meaningful as the furious-impossible-to-play one. I don't want to derail this thread into comparing music to sports, I just want to point out that hard work is invaluable for both.

 

[Pacman]

This year we played Alexander's Big Time Band, Georgia On My Mind, and The Little Clam (almost 2 and 1/2 times higher then the recommended tempo it was not fun)

Is that the Gordon Goodwin tune? I played on the very first recording of that tune! (if it's original title is the spanish for the little clam) We commissioned it from him.

 

[VincentPuleo]

Band B = fun

Band A = hard work

Right? Which one will make the biggest impact on your playing and personality?

Well, like I said... Band A practices more... only so 3 songs can be perfect for competitions and only 3 songs.

in Band B we practice 3 songs to but I will have much more time to practice on my own and practice other stuff not related to jazz band.

So...

Band A = More in school practice, however for the same 3 songs

Band B = not as much in school practice for the same 3 songs but more practice for everything else


And yes that is Gordon Goodwin... god I hate that song, only because I had to play it everyday.

here is a video of us playing it at a competition... the sound quality is horrible and the bass looses all definition due to being filmed on a cell phone but you can get a general idea... practicing everyday for months to do that and 2 other songs. Its fast and exciting but I'm not really into it...

 

[tZer]

Just curious - have you talked to your band director(s) about your concerns? He/She/They may be happy to learn that you are so interested and may be able to help you with your decision.

 

[Pacman]

And yes that is Gordon Goodwin... god I hate that song, only because I had to play it everyday.

here is a video of us playing it at a competition... the sound quality is horrible and the bass looses all definition due to being filmed on a cell phone but you can get a general idea... practicing everyday for months to do that and 2 other songs. Its fast and exciting but I'm not really into it...

It's not supposed to be a fast tune, it's just supposed to groove. Definitely not that fast....

Has he heard Gordon's (or our) version of it?

 

[VincentPuleo]

It's not supposed to be a fast tune, it's just supposed to groove. Definitely not that fast....

Has he heard Gordon's (or our) version of it?

Yeah he has, and tell me about it... I want it to groove! it sucks waking up every morning at 6 to have to play such a good song that fast, and talking to him is out of the question he has a plan and does the same thing every year... take songs and make them extremely fast to hide mistakes and make them exciting for competitions.

 

[tZer]

...and talking to him is out of the question he has a plan and does the same thing every year... take songs and make them extremely fast to hide mistakes and make them exciting for competitions.

Wow - that's a drag that you can't talk to your band director. Things have really changed since I was in high school.

Hey - either way it sounds like you're in for some jazz, whether it be up tempo, barn burners or cool, laid-back grooves. In one you get to feel the thrill of competition and hopefully come away with some awards - best soloist, rhythm section, ensemble - the other you get to play a wider variety of material. Win-win.

Also - high school is over really quickly and you can start to be a lot more selective about your band choices when it's done. Go for the one that's gonna give you the best memories!

Good luck!

 

[VincentPuleo]

Wow - that's a drag that you can't talk to your band director. Things have really changed since I was in high school.

Hey - either way it sounds like you're in for some jazz, whether it be up tempo, barn burners or cool, laid-back grooves. In one you get to feel the thrill of competition and hopefully come away with some awards - best soloist, rhythm section, ensemble - the other you get to play a wider variety of material. Win-win.

Also - high school is over really quickly and you can start to be a lot more selective about your band choices when it's done. Go for the one that's gonna give you the best memories!

Good luck!

I can talk to him its just I can't talk to him about what we are playing because in this case his opinion is the only one that matters unfortunately. And yeah I get the experience in both bands when I was in band B we won a best rhythm section award and this year in band A we won best rhythm section too so your right it is a win win

thanks for the advice.

 

[tZer]

You're welcome. But honestly, my question isn't whether you can or can't talk to him - it's have you talked to him about it? If you can but haven't, then it seems you are going on your assumption that he's immovable without the benefit of really knowing for sure where he stands on the subject.

But more than that, what I learned from my high school band director was that sometimes they have a perspective that includes aspects that you may not fully grasp or be privy to, and by taking up this conversation with him you may be given some insight as to why things are the way they are. It may change the way you feel about the whole thing - or not. But you'll have the full story and be able to make your decision having the benefit of all the info.

And of course he could just be 'in it to win it', as you describe. He, having 'played the circuit' and learned that 'fast and furious' gets higher scores than slow and tasty, may be opting for what he knows generates wins. What I remember from my years in a competing jazz band was that you couldn't snow-job judges with speed. As a matter of fact you'd probably be pegged as 'sub-par' if you didn't offer up a slow tempo, laid-back groove that demonstrated your band's versatility and musicality. So it'd surprise me that he's opting for all that speed because it actually wins contests.

 

[Stumpy]

The most exciting song I hear at festivals is Lil' Darlin' done right. Slow, aggressive, groovin. Don't get me wrong I like the fusion/blues/power chart type of things but when a band can get the ballads right that is really cool.