Re: I joined my local community band!
Posted: Mon Jul 24, 2023 12:20 pm
For what it’s worth here’s a few observations on playing Bass in a community type / level Band.
I played on Saturday, the weather was awful but we played in a Marquee with next to nobody listening to us - so what, the band still got paid and we had a good rehearsal. Point: audiences are mixed and you’re never going to win them all.
It’s school holiday time here in the UK so some folk were away (on their hols) and hence band numbers were down. Three basses were there (should be four) and sometimes my team mates trip up so I have to keep playing until they find their place in the music again. Point: stuff happens, keep playing when it does.
Several years back three basses were playing out, the two best players slipped up and lost their place but the least able guy got lucky and continued playing. After quite a few bars the two better players got back on the train and all was well again. Point: sometimes the weak player saves the day.
With player numbers low we omitted some familiar pieces and (doubling up on parts) put some five part pieces in in their place, the conductor hadn’t rehearsed these well and the result was sometimes a little shaky - an audience wouldn’t know but I did. Point: sight reading skills are important, read the piece through again before you start and focus hard.
These days my playing is mostly better than needed but I’ve made mistakes whilst playing out and kicked myself for it. That upset can quickly disturb confidence and concentration. Point: when you play something wrong then forget about it straight away and go back to concentrating on getting the next notes right.
The bass section in ‘my band’ is very social and inter-supportive, I’ve worked at making and keeping it that way. Bass playing is physically hard and whilst the music isn’t hard when a bass player gets something wrong everyone notices. We look out for, actively help and encourage each other. Point: cultivate a section spirit and the playing becomes easier for everyone.
I hope that the above helps the OP and anyone else who might benefit from it.
I played on Saturday, the weather was awful but we played in a Marquee with next to nobody listening to us - so what, the band still got paid and we had a good rehearsal. Point: audiences are mixed and you’re never going to win them all.
It’s school holiday time here in the UK so some folk were away (on their hols) and hence band numbers were down. Three basses were there (should be four) and sometimes my team mates trip up so I have to keep playing until they find their place in the music again. Point: stuff happens, keep playing when it does.
Several years back three basses were playing out, the two best players slipped up and lost their place but the least able guy got lucky and continued playing. After quite a few bars the two better players got back on the train and all was well again. Point: sometimes the weak player saves the day.
With player numbers low we omitted some familiar pieces and (doubling up on parts) put some five part pieces in in their place, the conductor hadn’t rehearsed these well and the result was sometimes a little shaky - an audience wouldn’t know but I did. Point: sight reading skills are important, read the piece through again before you start and focus hard.
These days my playing is mostly better than needed but I’ve made mistakes whilst playing out and kicked myself for it. That upset can quickly disturb confidence and concentration. Point: when you play something wrong then forget about it straight away and go back to concentrating on getting the next notes right.
The bass section in ‘my band’ is very social and inter-supportive, I’ve worked at making and keeping it that way. Bass playing is physically hard and whilst the music isn’t hard when a bass player gets something wrong everyone notices. We look out for, actively help and encourage each other. Point: cultivate a section spirit and the playing becomes easier for everyone.
I hope that the above helps the OP and anyone else who might benefit from it.
. I’ve certainly got hopelessly lost before today and either arrived late or not at all. The occasional late arrival hasn’t been an issue to anyone, mostly folks have just been glad to see me and you wait for a suitable point to join / be invited to join the playing group. These days I just try to build more contingency time into the journey and read a book or something (do something sort of useful) when I arrive early. In general I’m a poor time keeper who gets distracted and leaves home a little later than he should; at my age I should know better and I’d tell my kids off for similar. Double standards or what 
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