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A Music 'Primer' for Young Bands By Randy Chandler Artwork by Randy Chandler The more time spent in the tri-cities the more I am amazed by its rich musical heritage. And it seems to keep evolving, with new bands popping up everywhere. Playing music, by yourself or with other people, can be a most rewarding part of life. Yet it requires certain skills - skills that sometimes can only be taught through experience. Last time I checked none of the High schools and colleges offer courses on playing gigs. So, in the interest of furthering the knowledge of young musicians, as well as sparing seasoned sound engineers the tortures of mixing ill-trained wannabe-rock stars-in-waiting, I put forth to you a primer. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? WORD TO YOUR MOTHER (AND FATHER) Parents are responsible for nurturing the musical urge in children. They are the ones who put up with all the noise in the hopes that their offspring might one day afford them an early retirement in some tropical climate. You should never, however, push your children toward any given instrument - there is no quicker way to curtail their interest. Wait until your child has bugged you so much about it that the mere mention drives you mad before you go shopping. Otherwise, you could be wasting your time and money. Shop around for the best deals, and make sure you go somewhere where they care about your musical future and not just their imminent profits. Make sure that you purchase from somewhere that offers after-sale service -there's a lot of things that can go wrong with a child's first instrument. You also want to make sure you buy from someone knowledgeable - and for GOD'S SAKE, don't buy any instruments from a department/ discount store! These "instruments" are rarely more than novelty items and usually are next to impossible to adjust - and on top of that, they're usually more expensive than if you bought it at an actual music store! And another thing - Let's say you are a successful businessperson and your child wants to take up an instrument. This is no place to show off your opulence. If you insist on buying everything the kid needs instead of making the kid earn it (so he/she appreciates it more and maybe takes better care of it), don't go overboard. Nothing irks other bands like rich kids with pro-level equipment that the kid doesn't even know how to use. Get the kid something solid that plays well and will serve him well in a gigging situation. If he wants the DW drums and/or Mesa Triple Rectifier stack, tell him/her to get a JOB. Half the problem with this country today is children of rich people being handed everything in life. If your child wants to play guitar, start him/her on electric. I know the wisdom of the age's dictates that kids should start on acoustic guitar. But this is wrong. If you want to throw your money away, buy the kid some cheapo acoustic with the strings way off the fretboard -they won't stick with it, and you won't get squat for it at resale. Electric guitar is easier to learn on. It sounds better and let's face it - its just COOLER! Plus, many very playable, entry-level electrics are more affordable than ever. If you love your kid, start 'em off on an electric guitar - they will thank you for it eventually. GATHERING OF THE SPIRITS So, you've mastered the proverbial "three chords and the truth", and now it's time to form your first band. But how? Thankfully, all self-respecting music stores have bulletin boards crammed full of musician want ads. Playing in a band is also a great way of making new friends - don't be afraid of calling someone from an ad that you don't know. I mean, it's not like you're gonna date them or something, so if they turn out to be a total creep, its not like they'll stalk you afterward! The quickest bonding element for a young band is common ground. Obviously you all love music, or you wouldn't be there in the first place, but what about other interests? Is your bass-player a devout bible-thumper while your guitarist is a drug-dealer heavily into porn? You don't have to agree on everything, but some common ground makes things go much smoother, and can even help you through those times in the near future when you are playing to chairs in a far-off locale that neglected to mention to the band member who booked the gig that there was no money involved, and you're looking at a 350-mile drive home on a quarter-tank of gas. That's another important thing to remember -t here will be crappy gigs, and we have ALL had them. Ok, so it's time to book some gigs. You can rehearse a million times in the garage or basement, but you'll NEVER know how tight your band is until you gig in front of people. However, it is not always easy to get gigs, especially ones that pay. For a young (and/or unproven) band, this can be incredibly frustrating - you will end up following bar-booking types around seemingly endlessly, and you might even develop a bad attitude toward them. While you're following them, bear in mind one thing - the bars and clubs that pay their bands have an investment to protect. The economy isn't in the greatest shape, and for some stupid reason, going to see live music has lost some of its luster. The booking types have to book acts they know will pack their establishments, and you will most likely get lost in the shuffle. How do you get around this? First, the most often overlooked factor in a successful band - originality. And you don't have to be a band that does only original music for this to apply. If you are in a cover band, play stuff that nobody else does, but make sure there's a market for it. Out in the sticks, you can play the same classic rock crap that people have been playing for centuries, but in the Tri-cities don't be afraid to be too hip for the room. I've seen it happen - look at Delilah or Rev. Right Time. So, if you're original or different and tight as a drum and you still can't get a gig in Old Town or Midland Street, GO ELSEWHERE. Play everywhere you can, do an awesome show every time, play to as many people as you can and connect with them, and soon you might not even have to chase these people around -they may end up coming to you! Well, that's about all I have time for this issue. Be sure to catch part 2 in the next edition. And before you do ANY more gigs, write any more songs, or even think about your next musical step -rush out and buy the Special Edition DVD of "This is Spinal Tap. Learn it. Live it. But don't BE IT
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