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Flueskum Regular Member
Joined: 18 Jun 2016 Posts: 55 Location: Finland
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:21 am Post subject: Ensemble-playing-practice |
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Hello everyone, im home for the summer just working a day time job.
I want to work on my ensemble playing but there are not many musicians here in my town to play with, We are doing a lot of pieces in school next school year and i was wondering if there is any way for me to improve my ensemble playing without playing with someone, perhaps there is some ways to work on it. I know it might be a long shot but i want to see what you all have to say
thanks in advance
Flueskum |
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zaferis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 Nov 2011 Posts: 2331 Location: Beavercreek, OH
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 4:44 am Post subject: |
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Being in control of your instrument will obviously help so, while you might not have the opportunity to rehearse, work on your skills/techiques. Use a metronome and a tuner. Look for play-a-long things; SmartMusic comes to mind. Read new things and always keep focus on time and rhythms-put things in the right place.
Then don't shy away from playing/reading duets, trios, etc - and you don't have to have an entire "ensemble" to have an effective session. _________________ Freelance Performer/Educator
Adjunct Professor
Bach Trumpet Endorsing Artist
Retired Air Force Bandsman |
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trickg Heavyweight Member
Joined: 02 Jan 2002 Posts: 5680 Location: Glen Burnie, Maryland
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:20 am Post subject: |
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Flueskum, I work with recordings A LOT. With the wedding band that I'm in, everything is almost always arranged according to the original that was played on the radio, so I can play the original recording of the tune and play along to that. Also, we use backing tracks and there are two versions of the tracks - one with bass, and one without - it depends on what the bandleader is doing for that particular tune - sometimes he's playing bass, sometimes keys, sometimes sax, and sometimes he singing. In any case, those backing tracks are recorded to a click track which is featured on one side of the stereo mix, so that's a built in metronome.
You can find a recording for almost anything that isn't obscure on YouTube as well. My practice room is set up as a multi-purpose room, so in that room I have my recording setup, which incorporates a set of KRK Rokit 6 studio reference monitor reference speakers, so when I'm working tunes for the party band, I turn up the volume, pull up the tune in iTunes, and practice that way.
I've found that working with recordings, it helps your time, inflection, phrasing, timing, articulation, dynamics, intonation, - it's not as good as playing in a real ensemble, but it's a close second IMO.
When I prep to play my Christmas and Easter gigs, we almost always play the Hallelujah Chorus - I pull up the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's recording on Youtube and play that. Over the last couple of years, I have found recordings of almost everything we do on those gigs, and I think that they are a great resource to use to help prepare. _________________ Patrick Gleason
- Jupiter 1600i, ACB 3C, Warburton 4SVW/Titmus RT2
- Brasspire Unicorn C
- ACB Doubler
"95% of the average 'weekend warrior's' problems will be solved by an additional 30 minutes of insightful practice." - PLP |
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dstdenis Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 May 2013 Posts: 2123 Location: Atlanta GA
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Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:13 am Post subject: |
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Play along with recordings you like. Practice with an electronic drone to improve pitch awareness and a metronome to improve rhythm. Have fun! _________________ Bb Yamaha Xeno 8335IIS
Cornet Getzen Custom 3850S
Flugelhorn Courtois 155R
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