Things to Know when Playing in a Band

Respect for your Band Members and Band Tips

by Vasilis Isaakidis

Joining a band creates social situations where scheduled rehearsal times and upcoming gigs are likely to happen.  In such events, the band members need to not only practice on their musical skills but their interpersonal skills need to be strong and refined. The basic rule is to treat everyone with respect and forget all about the ego!

Here is a quick list of things to be done or avoided:

1) Show up on time. Nothing can be more annoying than showing up late as this could be viewed as a disrespect to the fellow musicians. Many times this is the start of a poisoning working environment. No one minds the odd one one-off but consistent lateness is unforgiving for the most.

2)Designate a leader! Any group needs an organizer or a director. Without him, practise time can become way too unfocused. Too many times, jamming  means playing whatever is in one’s head wasting everyone’s time and energy. In other words, a director will take the role of keeping everyone focused and working on specific musical themes according to the needs of the band. Band practise is not the time to show off either!

3) Record your rehearsals. Listening what you sounded like can be extremely useful in learning and mastering those weak areas. Recording helps work on the specific part of the piece, remember it, master it and bring new ideas.

4)Come prepared.  Bring your instrument, extra strings,  extra cables, tuner, necessary music scores and spares of anything you might need. This shows that you care about your band and you will not be wasting anyone’s time trying to find a guitar string when goes broken.

5) Learn your musical part before the rehearsal. Band practise only means putting the musical parts together. It does not mean learning such parts for the first time.  In other words, band members need to know and study the music well before the rehearsal.

Playing in a band could be a fun and a truly positive experience. But remember to keep in mind all of the above and never forget the golden rule which is: treat everyone with respect…

Elite Music Academy runs music band lessons for guitar, piano, drum, wind and voice students. The Toronto Music Camp also offers youth the opportunity to join a band, record, network and learn under Toronto’s best music instructors. For more information leave us a message or call us at 416 406 5355 ext 1