Mind Your Music Business: Better Band Practice with 6 Easy Tips
The old saying “practice makes perfect '' isn't just for our athletically inclined friends. The same rules can be applied in music. A band that can wow any audience and play every song without missing a beat is more than likely a band with a great band leader who knows how to conduct an effective and powerful band rehearsal. A good band rehearsal is essential for skill development, unity, communication, problem-solving, performance readiness, and artistic growth. It allows the band to refine their sound, deliver captivating performances, and continually progress as musicians. Here we discuss six easy tips to squeeze the most out of your next band practice.
Space
Find a place that is mutually agreed upon and located as close to everyone as possible. There needs to be enough room for everyone, their instruments, and gear - and to move around in. If in a residential area notify any close neighbors about the time you plan on jamming to be sure the police don’t arrive for noise violations. If you're renting a studio or rehearsal space be sure to learn and relay the rules, like if food and drink are allowed, is there a designated smoking area, and other house keeping items.
Schedule
Decide on frequency, best day of the week, and how long you want to dedicate to practicing with your band. This is good to chat about in the beginning of a new band, but can change as time goes on and as you become more comfortable with your material. If schedules are always changing, have a check in with members at the beginning of the month or to make sure a certain day still works.
Purpose
Depending on the reason you are getting together, the practice sessions might look different.
Rehearsing for a recording session, a big concert, writing, or simply jamming together can all have completely different vibes, and keeping everyone on the same page and with the same goal in mind can keep everyone on their A+ game.
Preparation
Give music, setlists, or chord sheets to members ahead of time so everyone has the material to study before rehearsal. If you’re not the band leader and feel like you could benefit from some kind of reference before you all meet, be sure to ask for it. Playing through the songs and even just taking a listen to the tunes prior to meeting up can make time spent more of a fun jam or rehearsal then a practice. This leaves more time for collaborating creatively instead of everyone learning the song.
Everyone should know what gear to bring or not to bring to the rehearsal space, especially if there’s new people coming to sit in or it's a new space. Nothing like lugging a full kit or a bass cab all the way to a rehearsal just to find out there’s already usable equipment there.
Record and Listen
Just like sports teams go back and watch their games, it’s really beneficial to review your own demos and performances to take notes for future reference. A simple phone recording can help out in building a great setlist, song writing, and performance. If you have the ability to record some visuals, the same principle applies. Watching a previous performance and noting what worked, what didn’t, what should you add, what you should never do again can be key in building a great live set.
You’re bound to see places where you can improve and that’s an exceptional way to continue growing your career as an artist and gaining new fans.
Have Fun!
The life of a musician can be tiring with odd hours and long car rides, with the same several people so keeping it fun is vital for longevity. Be sure to listen and be respectful of everyone’s opinion and time. Having clear communication for what everyone wants and expects from each other should be a constant theme. Not every rehearsal or practice is going to be perfect so try not to be too hard on yourself when a song isn’t quite hitting or a player is having a bad day. Keeping a good attitude especially as a leader can really steer the ship into a great direction.
