Dealing with frustration in music

[richbass939]

I have a quick comment about playing with less able musicians.  For just jamming I can appreciate the challenge.  They may not be as able to adapt to changes that happen in the music.  They may not be as flexible.  They don't have the experience in different styles of music to hear where the song is going.  That inexperience puts more on the shoulders of the rest of you.  Granted I don't want that situation all of the time but the challenge is rewarding sometimes.  It helps me develop my improv skill.
That said, if you're working on a gigging band you don't want less able people.  The more musical variety you have the more interested you can keep the audience.
Rich

[David Houck]

And I guess it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway , that to one degree or another, we are all less able and lesser caliber musicians.

[bigbadbill]

Dave, I'm not worthy (although I suppose it could be considered by some that that admission suggests maybe I am? )Seriously, great thread and some fabulous posts. I wish I regularly came into contact with such an open minded, positive, compassionate group of people in everyday life!
 
For me, one of the secrets has been to work as far as possible with friends. My current band (of which I'm the bandleader)are all people who are amongst my best friends, and we've played together a lot over the years; we have technical deficiences which sometimes get me down, and obviously there are times when one or more of us feels less committed. There are also other problems which can arise from this situation. But ultimately we support each other, we are there for each other, if we can help it we will not let each other down; we also have a common goal, to make music we enjoy and to enjoy making music. Occasionally we drift off to experience other things and play with other people, but ultimately it's being friends that makes the experience all the more special (not unlike any other relationsip in fact).  
 
And one last point, as Dave suggests, stay humble, and stay open. Music is all good, you've just got to luck harder for the good bits sometimes.

[bigbadbill]

Of course that should've been LOOK harder; maybe that was some kind of wierd Freudian slip