[Dixielandjazz] Practice?????????

[LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing]

Richard said: snip:
  I was 
amazed to find what a difference it made in my playing AND MY CONFIDENCE.   I 
rapidly found myself feeling I could play in anybody's band on any tune, and the 
fear went away.  (It transfers to sax ,for reed players, easily also).  I was 
the guy who formed my own band, because no one else would ever hire me.  What a 
neat experience.  My fellow musician here in Palm Springs, Richard Broadie, 
tells me the same think happened to him.  What a concept,  PRACTICE MAKES 
PERFECT.  And I am the former teacher and school band director who used to preach   
practicing with his students

I think I'll get out my horn.....
What a neat endorsement of regular practice.....

he also said:
I was the guy who formed my own band, because no one else would ever hire me.


For some of us who are truly addicted to music and playing being aggressive is the answer.  How good you are isn't the only criteria.  Around here the last guy to be hired is the clarinet player in a Dixie band.  If there is a 5 pc gig then they hire a bone player if it goes to 6 then a clarinet player and there just isn't that much 6 piece work around.  The in demand instruments usually don't produce leaders.  They just set back and soak up the jobs but the clarinet player will do a lot of waiting by the phone if he isn't aggressive.

Try this example.  Let's say you are a really good Sax player that loves C&W.  If you aren't the leader of the band you will never ever work unless your name is Boots.

Have you ever noticed that the leaders are most often the players that play instruments that are the last to be hired?  I work for a trombone player that while being a fair player isn't the guy that everyone flocks to.  He also started his band because of the same reason.  I'm glad he did because he keeps me working and pays better than most.

I have a friend who is frankly not a very good musician if put into a strange group or if it is anything that requires versatility.  Having said that his trio is really pretty good.  Why, how can that be?  He has a book that he put together of tunes that he can play well in keys that are easy for him to play and sing to.  He has hired a couple of really good players that make him look good.  He doesn't get out of his box when he performs and as a result does a good job.

Confidence comes from within.  I turned the corner when I realized that I didn't have to out do the other guy, that I had something to offer that people would enjoy, that my attitude was causing me to choke and be less the second someone started playing that was "better???" than me and that I liked the way I played.  I knew I had it licked when I performed at an event ( the AF jazz band was the headliner for a HS jazz event) where Jamey Ambersold (jazz instruction recording) was the clinician.  I had several improv solos.  Here I had a talented second tenor player in the band, I played lead, an audience of High school musicians and their directors and there was Jamey setting not 10 ft from me.  Now that's pressure.  I didn't miss a lick and when it was all over he had some nice things to say about my playing.  I've never looked back.

It is not possible to be better than everyone else so that means that there is always someone better.  

What you have done is, I think, healthy.  Put together a group that makes you look good.  You don't have to be the best to enjoy or make money.  I certainly am not the best sax player in St. Louis.  There is always someone faster or does something better but on the other hand I have played for over 50 years since I was about 15 for money and put myself through college and retired from an AF band so I must be doing something right and you are too.  It's show biz.

If you are confident and the extra practice makes you feel that way then you have a working plan.