Directing a Jazz Band

funkymonkey · Regular Member Joined: 10 Dec 2001 Posts: 65

Hi everyone.. I was juss wondering about something

If a trumpet player had a direct a high school jazz band, how would they go about doing that? For example, I'm the lead trumpet and I direct my high school jazz band. The setup I have now for the band is.. saxes on first row, trombones second row, and trumpets standing at the back.. If I have to direct a piece, I keep going back and forth..

Are there any suggestions to make this more efficient? And also any tips on how to direct as you play?

Thanks

trickg · Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2002 5:14 am Post subject:

Well, I don't know how anyone else would do it, but I think the standard setup for a big band is saxes front row, bones second row, trumpets standing in the back with the rhythm section to the right as you are standing in the band. I've seen it set up where the base bone and barri sax are at the opposite side of where the rhythm section is set up, but I've also played in a band where barri sax and base bone are right next to the rhythm section and that seemed to work better.

As for directing, do you mean actually conducting like a conductor, or just wanting to know where to stand? I think that it works best that unless you actually need to conduct ritards and accelerandos, just start the band and get out of the way. Other than that, you could stand at the front corner, opposite of where the rhythm section is set up.
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Larry Smithee · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 4399

I'm going to assume that by "directing" the jazz band you mean, basically "running the rehearsal". One idea (not new) that often works for rehearsal purposes is to set the band up in a large square, with the rhythm section on one side and the other sections occupying the other three sides of the square, leaving you (the leader) in the middle. Some advantages of this includes the fact that you won't be running back and forth from the front of the band to the trumpet section, and the band members can more clearly hear each other and become comfortable with learning what's happening within each of sections parts. Of course, once the band becomes comfortable with the charts you will want to rehearse and set the sections in the normal manner so that everyone can experience that as well, since ultimately that will be the way the band will perform in public. There are, of course other ways of setting up the band, besides the 3 horn lines and rhythm on the left side. This issue might be partly dictated by necessity and space availability.
Larry Smithee

Strawdoggy · Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2002 7:40 am Post subject:

Funky,

I would go with what Larry said. Playing with the horns facing one another is a great way to rehearse a band. It lets the brass hear what the saxes are playing. However, as you get closer to a performance, use the traditional setup as described in the other posts so that you can have someone get in front of the band and listen for balance. I would just count off the tunes from the back and have the lead alto do the cut offs, fermatas, etc.. If you have ritards or accellerandos, the lead alto can ususally nod the band through that as well.

Steve

The General · Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2002 10:01 pm Post subject:

The group that I direct, and play Lead Trumpet in, rehearses in the "box" that Larry describes. I set the tempo, count it off, and away we go. The drummer does his "thing" around the drums, at the end of every tune, so the cut-off is "audio". That works well for us, and that's how we rehearse.

I agree that the three rows - Saxes in front, Bones behind them, and Trumpets standing in the back row, Rhythm section to the right, is best for performing.

Playing Lead, and standing on the end of the section doesn't tend to work that well for the ensemble, for performances. Placing the Lead Alto in the center of the Saxes, with the Lead Trombone, and Lead Trumpet behind each other, usually the second in from the left, facing front, helps the blend better, in my opinion. The Bari Sax, Bass Bone, and 4th Trumpet players are nearer the Rhythm section.

Just my two-cents. Hope it helps!

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[ This Message was edited by: The General on 2002-07-18 01:05 ]