2nd Rehearsal Thoughts from the Director

 Thoughts from the Director 🤔

First and foremost, thank you! We are two rehearsals in. I feel  welcomed AND the band is making some terrific sounds.

Here are a couple suggestions for our further success.

Doors open at 5:30p. Come early and warm up.(I know this is a challenge for some and if that's you, no worries) When you get there early you have an opportunity to: A) Warm up all the tools you will need for our rehearsal. B) Touch up those few trouble spots.

As we now look to our third rehearsal you should expect to have the notes under your fingers. This will allow us to further delve into the artistic end of our selections. 

If you are continuing to be stuck on notes/rhythms. Here are a couple suggestions to smooth out the rough spots.

Notes: Figure out what key the trouble spot (TS) is in and become fluent in that key. Slow to fast in the TS is a must.

If it's a technical TS play one count of it and work for fluency. After three successful reps, speed it up. Add one note to what your fingers already know. After three successful reps add another note... This creates an amazing amount of repetition. Repetition builds muscle memory and hard wires a neural pathway between your brain and your fingers. Doing this often enough creates a situation where you won't know how to do it wrong.

Rhythms Challenges: Use a metronome. I know, it's a love hate relationship with the met. Set it to subdivide whatever type rhythm there is. - 8ths, triplets, or 16ths. Instead of trying to play all the notes just worry about the rhytmn. Play a chunk of the TS on one note. Correct, do not change notes. Work only on the rhythm. Once you have the rhythm down then start adding in the pitches.

I'm feeling very good about where we are at. I encourage you to feel the same way. 

Remember, there is substitution for preparation!

JW