Rehearsal is an essential part of a musician’s life, and if you’re reading this, you probably know they don’t always go very smoothly. While some groups operate like well-oiled machines both on and offstage, plenty of others… Don’t.
But having solid, effective, inspiring rehearsals is one of the more invigorating parts of being in a band – new tunes take shape, you connect with your musical collaborators, and when things are feeling good, it gets everyone excited about taking rehearsal material to the bandstand, whether it’s your 10th show or your 1000th.
I’ve been going to “band practice” (I’ll say more about why I prefer the term “rehearsal” later) a few times a week or more, across numerous bands, for nearly 20 years, and I like to think I’ve learned some things about the process along the way. In an effort to pass that knowledge along to anyone who needs it, I’ve got some loose rules that will likely make your rehearsals more productive – and maybe more enjoyable too.
Two little disclaimers.
FIRST AND FOREMOST: these rules are squishy. I’m not trying to be a stick in the mud, and you’re free to operate your ensemble however you like. “Rules” is an exaggeration. They’re more like “informed suggestions.”
Second: my perspective is mostly that of a “rock band” – buddies in the garage or whatever, self-organized and doing the thing on our own terms. Some of this applies to hired gun function bands, church gigs, other pro/paid work, and so on, but that’s not really where I’m coming from.
Anyway, let’s get into it.
Partying
I want to get this one out of the way first and fast. Like anything else, this is a broad spectrum of behaviors and varies across bands. Moving past the straight edge types or folks in recovery, we know that musicians can have a (usually well-earned) reputation of consumption.
If you’re going to do it, keep it moderate. Better yet, save it for after.
^ That idea will come up again.
Whatever substance we might be talking about here, it makes people play worse, be more distracted, and mostly just takes away from the task at hand. That’s about all there is to it.
Have a Plan
This might sound obvious, but it took me years to put this into practice (in both senses of the word).
In the chat beforehand, or right as people are arriving, lay out a loose agenda. Write it down if you have to. It’ll keep you on track, of course, but also helps manage the time. If you still have a few items left on the list (run that old cover, work on the new song’s bridge, etc.), it can help you decide to move on to the next thing, especially if you’re spinning your collective wheels or caught in a loop of “I dunno, what do you want to play?”
Your plan doesn’t have to be complex or even terribly detailed. Just having a general idea of what the band wants to accomplish at that particular rehearsal does wonders for everyone’s focus.
Noodling
A cardinal sin, but one we’re all guilty of.
If you’re not playing a tune as the whole band or working something out with a bandmate… Shhh. It’s one thing to try out an idea (even on your own) that applies to whatever you’re working on as a group, or to warm up a little as things get started, but noodling around between songs or while people are talking is a communication killer.
It’s hard to resist, I know. You’ve got your instrument of choice at your fingerips and it wants to played! But still, you must abstain as best you can. If you have a volume knob, use it. Drummers, you already know… It’s a meme for a reason.
Remember what I said about partying?
If you’re going to do it, keep it moderate. Better yet, save it for your own time.
Banter/Jokes/Chats
This one’s tough, and extra squishy. One of my favorite things about bandlife is the friendships. Rehearsals are quality time with people I care about, and hopefully it’s the same for you. Spending moments together as homies is important, and there’s bound to be a degree of socializing when you gather.
Still… Rehearsals are ’bout business.
It’s a loud thing that requires space and setup, something we have to schedule and make time for. If the point is to polish material, prepare for performance, write music, etc., use the time you’ve selected for its intended purpose. You can hang and chat after or on breaks. You can crack jokes and banter all you like, but know that you risk derailing the rehearsal’s momentum.
Really, this goes for all kinds of dilly dally. Showing up late, taking too long to set up, phone scrolling, idle hanging out, and all that kind of stuff does a disservice to the (likely limited) time you have together for musicmaking.
Again, I’m not trying to be a stick in the mud. I love the conversations and laughs I have with my friends around (and frankly, in the middle of) rehearsal… But keeping it moderate to minimal helps keep the group’s eye on the prize.
Wasting Time
The last thing I’ll say about time management: when you aren’t getting anywhere, know when to move on or throw in the towel.
Wasting time at rehearsal can have a many faces, but these are a few of the most common:
• Didn’t Do the Homework – If you say, agreed to learn a cover and most/all of you didn’t, save it for next time. Unless it’s dire circumstances and you have to group teach someone a song for the gig tomorrow, or there’s no demo/recording to reference (tip: you should make one), avoid just stumbling your way through tunes you don’t know when a little individual prep would go a long way.
• (Good) Same ol’ Same – It’s good to keep the setlist crispy. There’s nothing wrong with running the most familiar material you perform to make sure it’s tight and well polished, but there’s a point of diminishing returns, especially in terms of time management. If you’re collectively feeling good about a song you’ve played a zillion times, and you’re not actively “running the set” as part of your rehearsal plan, the band is probably better off focusing their energies elsewhere.
• Brain Scramblies – Actively engaging in new(ish) material, writing songs, and just playing instruments can be taxing on the mind. Rehearsals are often at strange hours or after people have worked their dayjobs. People get hungry. Sometimes making music is frustrating, or confusing, or plain exhausting. Read the room. If the idea well is running dry or people seem frazzled/checked out, it’s okay to take a break. Whether you move on to the next thing, take ten minutes, or call it a day, don’t waste time in an unproductive state of fatigue.
Lastly – and this relates to the “noodling” bit above – learn (and live) the difference between “rehearsal” and “practice.” Rehearsal is for working on things as an ensemble. Practice is for your own time. Obviously this has some caveats, and sometimes it helps to work things out with another human, but if you treat rehearsal as its own dedicated time for group progress, the band will be better for it.
Break Out the Magnifying Glass
Okay, there have been a lot of “don’ts” so far, but now we’re on to some more positive things.
The musical magnifying glass (along with a host of other tool metaphors – wrenches and rivet guns and the like) is my favorite part about rehearsing, especially when writing/arranging new material. This is the time to drill into the minutae, to tighten up the little things, to get hyper-specific about who’s playing what and when.
If there’s a transition that’s a little wonky or you’re not quite sure if your part fits with someone else’s, speak up! Even if you’re not addressing a “problem” with a piece of music, the magnifying glass is still how you use rehearsal time to maximize tightness. Don’t be afraid to spend time and effort on the nitty gritty. The little things usually end up being the big things.
All Ideas Are Valid
In the creative process – from writing songs to putting a spin on a cover – let the ideas flow!
If something comes to mind, even if it’s odd or unconventional, put it out there for consideration. If possible, encourage (or coax) your bandmates to provide input. Not all ideas are “good” in the long run, but they’re at least worth exploring.
With that in mind, the next part is to make sure you play through ideas passably before dismissing them. For example, adding some stabs to the prechorus or putting an extra bar at end of the verse might not go so smoothly the first time you try it – and the knee jerk reaction is to blame the idea, not the execution. Before deciding (as a group, ideally) that you don’t dig a proposed idea, make sure you do the idea some degree of justice.
Song First
Last and anything but least, it’s always about the song.
Not whose idea it is, not about the cool lick somebody want to squeeze in, not who gets featured, not anything but how the whole band sounds together and how well you’re executing the piece of music at hand.
This can get murky when people have conflicting points of view or there’s some implied hierarchy around a “primary songwriter,” but the point remains that the song – the music itself – is more important than ego or ownership. Be honest with yourself and each other about what’s working and what’s not (in your own opinion). Accept feedback and suggestions with grace, and give the same with kindness and clear communication.
This goes hand in hand with “all ideas are valid” – try out as many as you like, and the music (along with the conglomerate aesthetic/opinion of the band) will point you toward the good ones. If “song first” is at the heart of your rehearsal process, everyone will have a much better idea of what needs work, what’s in good shape, and how you should spend your precious time together.
Rehearsals can and should be an enjoyable, creative, rewarding experience for the whole band – and applying some of these rules (ahem, suggestions) just might help you get more done, stay focused, and be a stronger, tighter ensemble as a result.
Have fun, but put in some serious work too.