Jazz Band 2011-2012

Throughout this year (12^th grade) I have been the bass player for the high school jazz band. Practices were every Wednesday morning and Friday morning before school, from 7am – 8am. However, as I’ve been doing Varsity Volleyball and Basketball all year I’ve only been able to attend one of two practices all year. Throughout the year I’ve improved in my own personal Bass ability. As a player I haven’t grown as much as I did the first few months I was in Jazz Band. However, as it becomes harder to improve the better you get, it is understandable. Nevertheless, I did improve.

            One important way in which the Jazz band has influenced me is that I’ve improved on my bass playing as a whole, as well as improving in being a part of an ensemble. Being a part of a musical group, whether a four-person band, or a 20 person band, certainly has relatable aspects to every kind of teamwork. One needs to know when to play what, and needs to be alert so as not to enter the song at the wrong time. Also, it shows that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, or in this circumstance, a band is only as good as it’s worst player. That’s why it’s also important to try your hardest, just as I would in a team sport. This includes practicing at home, particularly for working on important parts. This is the primary area where I believe I should improve. I need to practice more. I generally don’t have the time to do it at home, however, I feel like I didn’t try my hardest to make time. I believe that in order to improve my usefulness to the Jazz Band I need to practice more, and that’s what I intend to do. I’m going to set aside 20 minutes, three times per week, outside of Jazz band practice, to practice my parts at home. I think that with this structure it should be easier to find the time to do so.

            Our performances haven’t had a grand effect on the world as we know it. However, music in general can be a great way to relieve stress. Whether listening to it, or being in a band. So hopefully we can some people a few minutes of enjoying music in our performances.

            Overall, I think this experience was influential to me as a bass player, as well as an all around musician. I think that with a structure set for practicing I’ll be able to improve more than just practicing randomly when I find I have some unfilled time. I’m also going to use this method for other musical groups that I’m a part of in order to better our group performance. Being in the High School Jazz Band has been a great experience, and I’ll certainly miss it in the following years. The energy that I could feel from the band, both in performances and practice was a great feeling to experience.