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Prof - Posted - 11/03/2009: 10:22:48
quote:
The bluegrass versions to IFA and others like I Saw the Light, etc have the bluegrass bounce that we as bluegrass musicians are used to
Exactly -- I think that was a BIG part of my problem, and is what I thought we had worked out prior to the service, but she (pianist) admitted it was out of control once the folks started singing. Plus, when it was time for me to come in and join the piano, I just couldn't get my fingers going into the standard 16th-note rolls. I was always behind the melody, and while it felt like I was going too fast, it was really the opposite problem (if that makes any sense!). I thought it was a good idea for the piano to kick it off (since I was a little nervous), but in hindsight, it would have been better if I started it, so I could hear/feel exactly what I wanted to right out of the gate. Dan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've got it made in the shade if the tree don't fall...  
Kenneth Logsdon - Posted - 11/03/2009: 10:58:26
Thats exactly what I mean when I said the singers weren't gonna be there, Even if you pointed it out (and I think you did) Their gonna do it their way and did..??
One of the most difficult things for beginners in their first flush of enthusiasm over playing, is to realize that there are some things, songs and situations that the banjo just doesn't fit and walk away.. It doesn't hurt to say no..
KL
Prof - Posted - 11/03/2009: 12:04:02
quote:
It doesn't hurt to say no..
Ok, have you been talking to my wife???   Dan ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've got it made in the shade if the tree don't fall...
rstieg - Posted - 11/03/2009: 14:36:52
The good news is that you learned a lot and got some experience, so next time you'll no doubt do a lot better. I think you'll find that many of us have had similar experiences. I know I have, though mostly as part of a larger group. After I'd been playing for about 3 years I eventually decided not to ever try to play a song in public unless I'd been working on it for at least 4 weeks. That was a good rule at that point, though as you gain experience it takes less time and gets a lot easier.
Coincidentally, probably my worst "crash and burn" scenario was playing that same song, I'll Fly Away, during a church service. Our small band had played 3 songs in the first service, then we played outdoors to entertain the coffee and Danish crowd between services. We got into the church just in time to sit down and wait 30 minutes until it was time to play again. I kicked off I'll Fly Away and it sounded so bad I couldn't even tell what I was playing. The change in temperature (it was early March) from outside to inside completely through my banjo out of tune and I hadn't re-tuned! I tried to re-tune during the vocals because I also had the last break. It was a bit better, but still pretty bad. I was so embarrassed afterwards I could hardly face anyone. But one thing's for sure - I'll never do that again!
RICH
Pleasanton, CA
The truth is a moving target... perception is more important than reality... everything is relative...
Edited by - rstieg on 11/03/2009 14:38:43
Lonestar Newb - Posted - 11/03/2009: 15:06:36
Don't worry about it. If the congregation was all singing, they couldn't really hear all of your playing anyway, probably only a few notes over their voices. And everybody loves the sound of a banjo, don't they?
Russ
Edthebanjo - Posted - 11/04/2009: 15:23:20
If you're having trouble with nerves, try playing the first few bars or even the first time round of the tune with your eyes closed. It makes me feel so much less nervous if I cant see my audience, however once you have got going and are feeling the tune a bit more, it is fine to just open your eyes and sit back and play.
What has 10 legs, 3 teeth, and no hair?
A bluegrass band!
minstrelmike - Posted - 11/04/2009: 15:29:13
Actually, one of the things I hated most about playing with the Dixieland Band was the church services. When we played fundraisers, we'd go for an hour or so. For the church service, we tune up ahead of time, then would play two or three tunes, there would be a couple brief, 5 minute or so pauses between two more tunes.
Then we waited and got cold and then would play another song.
Then we could wait through the sermon getting cold without even holding our instruments and then get all set up again in a hurry to play a final hymn.
The bandleader warned us that we couldn't practice cold as a band but that individually through the week, we probably each ought to start our practice off cold with these songs.
Put the banjo down for at least 20 minutes, the pick it up and the next thing you play is however the song starts. No warm-up whatsoever.
Mike Moxcey
http://moxcey.net/mike/minstrel/index.html
CosmicMaskedAvenger - Posted - 11/06/2009: 17:26:06
quote:
Originally posted by Prof
Well, thankfully it's all over. Unfortunately, three words sum up the performance:
Crash and Burn 
I met with the piano player/choir director at 10:00 this morning, and I thought I had it well enough to go ahead with it in the service. There was definitely a timing issue as she was playing pretty much straight 4/4 time, which threw me at first. She adapted a little bit, and we were able to get it sounding fairly decent. Then, fast forward to the service...
Here's how it was supposed to go down: She does an intro, we both play the melody to start, I would back up the first part of the refrain, then finish together. The second verse was supposed to be all mine, then we do the third and final verse. Well, I just never could get into the flow in the first verse at all, and felt like I played the banjo for all of about 2 weeks! The second verse was just slightly better, but she played the melody since she knew I was in trouble. By the time the 3rd verse came around, I finally caught on, and was able to eek out a vague resemblance to the tune. As soon as it ended, I was trying to figure out the quickest avenue out of the church....but I'm in the choir, so I had to go sit back down in front of everyone.
In the end, it turned out even worse than I could have imagined. (not to be discouraging to anyone else getting ready to do a similar thing In talking (and apologizing) to the pianist afterward, here's what we think happened. As I said, she had modified the timing a bit to fit my arrangement when we practiced, but as soon as the choir and congregation started singing from the hymnal, they kind of took over the timing back to that straight 4/4 time. I'm sure my nervousness made things worse, but the combination of things was (from my perspective) a disaster.
Lessons learned:
1. Don't agree to play a song 3 days before an event if you never played the song before!
2. Don't agree to play if you haven't had ample practice time with the folks you're going to play with.
3. If you choose to ignore the first 2 lessons, at least play at more of an informal gathering instead of a formal church service.
4. Make sure you play last thing so you can slip your way out of the building in a hurry! 
I still appreciate all the advice and encouragement of everyone here! Now -- where's that big pile of sand I can bury my head in....
Dan
Eh...forgetaboutit One time many moons ago I was asked to play a trumpet special at a church revival at my grandmother's church...the director kind of made a big deal about it in introducing me. I had played it several times at several different churches, so wasn't too nervous about it. I was playing "How Great Thou Art" along with the piano...and it was HORRIBLE. I couldn't hit the right notes for anything....it wouldn't match with the piano at all. I have never been so embarrassed in my life. Afterwards, I was apologizing, and the director apologized to me....their piano was tuned a step low and he had forgotten to tell me about that. I hadn't had time to practice with that piano beforehand...so had no idea. But yeah, get as much practice as you can with as close to the same situation as there will be at "game time". Deering Sierra Deering Goodtime Page: 1 2
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