School Daze All Over Again

[olieoliver]

I had a gig last Friday night for a wedding rehearsal dinner. We were to play some light jazz during dinner and then we could ?open? up a little after that.
 
I had played with the drummer and guitarist before but never the keyboardist or sax player. The cat on keys was directing the music and he ask me if I prefer notation, chord charts or number charts. I responded with, ?I?m like a duck; I can walk when it rains?. Well he gives me some of all three.  
 
Well I might have been ?walking while it rained?, but these cats were soaring. I got so lost during the first half of the first set I almost hung it up right there. I thought to myself, ?Well, I guess I?m just getting too old and out of practice for this?. I thought that for about 2 seconds then buckled down and finished the night. By the end of the first set I had redeemed myself. (somewhat)
 
How does this tie into the thread title I have above? I enrolled in some online courses at Berklee Online. Yep 45 year?s old and going back to school. My wife thinks I?m nuts my daughters both think I?ll be bored with the classes. My technique is fine it's my reading that sucks. So I think what better way to brush-up/improve my knowledge and skillz.
 
 
 
(Wonder if they have any ?online? frat parties)
 
Olie

[hieronymous]

I say go for it! My buddy who is a drummer went to Berklee after he graduated from high school, but dropped out to join a band. This was over 20 years ago. Recently he went back and finished his degree! He was already a great musician but now his appreciation and ability is that much deeper.

[811952]

Remember, when all else fails, 6 2 5 1 (and tri-tone substitutions) will at least get you to the bottom of the chart!  (note that I did not put the word gracefully in that sentence)  
 
John

[olieoliver]

LOL John.  
I managed to get through the first few charts but it sounded like I was soloing the whole time. Waddling all the way.
 
I did hit a few duck notes though.(The ones that hurt your quack.)
 
Olie

[glocke]

(Wonder if they have any ?online? frat parties)  
 
ha...Im 40, and hooked up with a bunch of college kids (ages 20-25) who have an original band, we have played a few frat parties...man can college kids drink alot of cheap beer.

[dadabass2001]

Olie,
Yeah there's online frat parties. Just be very careful of the Electric Koolaid.
 
Mike

[edwin]

Olie, the best way to get good at reading is to do a little bit every day. Get a Real Book and read chord changes and the melodies (it's a good thing to read treble clef) and then get some random books for bass, cello, trombone, violin, sousaphone, whatever and just put some notes in front of you. I think the class is a good idea, but it won't substitute for just doing  a little bit every day. Get together with friends and read tunes a group. It's a lot of fun!
 
Another thing to practice is the Simandl method for upright bass. It starts out nice and basic and gets crazy pretty quick. Then, get a drum book to read rhythms. It really helps to read stuff not written for the bass.
 
Anyway, that's my 02c.
 
Edwin

[terryc]

Olieoliver..my answer to the problem was to down load midi files (jazz/rock/pop etc) from the internet, use Cakewalk, Cubase or any midi software, bring up the stave option and hit the play button, the great thing is that you can slow the tempo down to assist reading the notes.

[olieoliver]

Thanks Terry and Edwin, good advice from both.  
 
I do gave Cubase 4 on my Mac and it never even occured to me to down load the midi samples great idea.  
 
I have tons of books Edwin and I've started pulling them out and spending at least 30 minutes to an hour with one every day.
 
I must not have done as bad as I thought because the cats have called me and have 3 other gigs they want me for. Of course I've always been my own worse critic.
 
 
Olie

[olieoliver]

Electric Koolaid?! A good way to get get a dark room Lit.  
 
lie

[terryc]

Well you couldn't have been that bad..we are always our own worst critics at times
 
Get some classical cello midi files..BACh, Beethoven etc..they are really good to play and you can transpose them and use parts of them for solos..plagiarism..I love it

[gare]

Olie..you're never to old to learn something.
My reading skills could use a bit of help too, like Edwin mentioned, have to do a little bit everyday until it becomes second nature. I've taken to pulling out old piano books and learning both bass and treble clefs. I especially like running thru Bach 2 part inventions etc.    
I've also been thinking for awhile of goin back to schoo..have to checkout the Berkley on-line things.
Good luck, let us know your progress.
 
Gary

[olieoliver]

Thanks Gary, The class doesn't start until April 7th but when it does I'll let you know how it goes.
 
lie

[inthelows]

Practice, practice, practice. You know what's crazy? I still use FACE more than anything else to find out a note. Sounds simple I know, but it works for me. Works on both treble and bass clef. As far as charts, I practice scales. Unfortunately all too often some get lost in simple reproduction of the notes. I prefer to leave a little room for emotion and trust my feelings to find the notes.  
Good luck and as always, have fun!  LoL  NLP

[glocke]

Thanks Gary, The class doesn't start until April 7th but when it does I'll let you know how it goes.
 
Im curious to know how they go also.  Ive thought about taking one of the ear training or harmony courses from time to time....