So usually when I am playing at a wedding or in a cover band I have my sheet music or charts in front of me so I can read them. BAD IDEA! I spend the whole time hunched over my stand not even reading it – just staring aimlessly while a mechanically play away with chuff-all groove. This evening at a practice I decided to remember it all as I learned it. Winner! It worked and freed me up to enjoy the music, add my own twist to it, and concentrate more on what the other band members were doing. This obviously can be tricky if you have a set list of 100 songs and don’t play them that often. Here lies my problem. So let’s learn a few at a time.
Here is your challenge: Next time you do a cover gig (or originals if you are new to the band) pick a few songs that you’d normally need carts for and don’t use them. It is scary to start with but then you realise you know the songs already but have not let yourself play from memory.
Done.
johnny