Short Story Involving Nerves

zackh411 · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:02 pm Post subject: Short Story Involving Nerves

I play in a "little" big band with a bunch of friends. We were playing at a little local jazz place, and we were doing a soundcheck on a Harry Connick song. My chops were feeling good, and it was about 8 bars til the first high note bit, then...
Jim Manley walks in the front door, and suddenly, my chops don't feel so good, and I go from thinking "I'm gonna take this next lick up an octave" to "Manley's gonna give me a hard time if I eff this up, better go with the written notes." Funny how that works.
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PhxHorn · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:38 am Post subject:

Just flip him off next time!

drewwilkie86 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:38 am Post subject:

If anybody on this planet is going to be friendly and non-egotistical, it's Jim Manley. Whether you play it right or jack it up, he'll still buy you a beer and laugh about it.
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zackh411 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:12 am Post subject:

yeah jim is one of the nicest people I know, and he already knows how i play. no real rational reason to be nervous, but thats how my mind works.
_________________
Stomvi VRII Lightweight in Silver
1946 Martin Committee #2 Bore
Bach Strad 183 Flugel
Stomvi Elite Piccolo
Bobby Shew Jazz Mouthpiece w/ 18 Drill (Legit)
Yamaha Miyashiro 1 w/ 18 Drill (Jazz)
Stomvi JMZVR w/ M4 Backbore Jim Manley Mouthpiece (Lead)

jonalan · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:16 pm Post subject:

You were nervous because you were trying to impress someone. That rationale will never end positively. You can't play what you think others want to hear. Just play for yourself; play from your gut; play what you feel. Some people will like it, some won't; regardless of whether you "effed it up" or not.
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Rubo · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 5:36 pm Post subject:

zackh411 · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 9:23 pm Post subject:

I have no delusions that I'm going to impress Jim lol. In our first lesson, I got the distinct impression that he wasn't fond of people coming to "show Manley how high they can play." He's Jim Manley; I'm not going to impress him with high notes.
That would've been the first time Jim heard me play outside of his basement, so I was more trying not to disappoint him than to impress him.
_________________
Stomvi VRII Lightweight in Silver
1946 Martin Committee #2 Bore
Bach Strad 183 Flugel
Stomvi Elite Piccolo
Bobby Shew Jazz Mouthpiece w/ 18 Drill (Legit)
Yamaha Miyashiro 1 w/ 18 Drill (Jazz)
Stomvi JMZVR w/ M4 Backbore Jim Manley Mouthpiece (Lead)

jonalan · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:11 pm Post subject:

Yes, nerves are one thing, but if we are thinking about what others feel about our playing, then we're not making music. If we focused solely on the music, we wouldn't even know who walked in the room. That is something that Susan Slaughter drove into my head many, many, MANY years ago.
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Stomvi VRII Bb
Kanstul 1525 Flugel
Getzen Eterna 800S Cornet
GR pieces

afp · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:29 pm Post subject:

Yes, but unless we are considering our audience, then we are only playing for ourselves..........and we don't need an audience for that.
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EdMann · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:09 am Post subject:

Totally natural, and the more you do this, the better it gets overall. I had a good crowd to hear our band in Glendale the other day, big room, lots of fine musicians from the old Stan Kenton band, some great local bigs who go to jazz hangs, and I felt a nerve or two pop that I hadn't felt in a while. Plus, I've been having a minor chop issue so I was making an adjustment in my placement. TOO MUCH THINKING!! I just put it all out of my mind and by my second solo, everything went smooth, hi notes and all.

I know, easier said than done: put it out of your mind. But that's exactly what you HAVE to do. I can't tell you how many times it going to take for you to get there, but that's where you have to get. Frankly, I've gotten more worked up by playing for close friends than I do for other musicians, mostly because the musicians get it and the my friends don't even know half of what they're hearing, only if they like it or not, and I want to be sure they're enjoying the music. TOO MUCH THINKING!! Best to just take a deep breath and let it out.

ed

AverageJoe · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:37 am Post subject:

Eh, we've all been there! Just chalk it up to experience and move on. What you did was take yourself out of your element. I think about playing what is in front of me as well and musically as I can in all circumstances, regardless of who is in the room.

About Jim, too... He is one of the most passionate players and teachers I've ever met. I'm mainly a classical player, and I don't think we ever talked about high notes for their own sake in my lessons with him...it was all about being efficient...getting maximum results (sound, flexibility etc.) for minimal effort. He is about as well thought on that topic as anyone I've ever met. Range just happens to be a byproduct...

If you see him in the near future, tell him I said hello! I only went to see him a few times, but he always seems to remember me...he's solid like that

.

Paul Poovey
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