General Music Chat

I have been searching old posts...really am tired of reading every little thing for days now....Appropriate to use a music stand or not? I have seen bands with both. In a way, I really like the idea of my security blanket (ya know the times when the mind goes blank ) I have gotten much better when that happens. God, the first time that happened (still feel the hot face and sick stomache thinking about that) But I did get over it and finished the song. Thank GOD for Anthony Gallucio....has to be the most patient TALENTED person. He just kept playing till I pulled myself together. So back to the original question.....

Thoughts?

I prefer not to use it ,but im pretty quick at inventing my own words if I forget ,and most of the time nobody notices.sort of like when you buy a dozen night crawlers does anybody really check to see if theres 12

Hey Girl,

Over the yrs playin in raod bands ,playin 5-6 nites a week, where 6-10 tunes were learned each week ,the occasional cheat sheet on the floor, on back/top of the gtr, etc. Ive seen used.. BUT, NEVER a music stand...On a local level, maybe ? but even then ,I rarely see them used..If I have drum info about songs I need, like for a fill in job, I plant 2-3 mental notes about each tune,then let muscle memory do the rest.The ocassional jazz club, where players are sitting down, Ive seen them, but not for someone out front vocally...You need to tough those times out with out a security blanket (music stand)..(more home woodshedding).You'll learn to FEEL whats supposed to happen next..THEN words will flow like butter..You emotions will help you internize words and musical phrasing MUCH better than you'll ever be able to visually...Take it from a singing drummer/bassplayer who covers about 300 tunes.

John

John said it, Robin.

I just did a quick-learned set a cpl weeks ago, & I needed cues to the beginning of each line in a song. I used a Sharpie, & just put the 1st 3 words or so of each line on a page. I taped the sheet to the monitor, & looked like I knew what I was doing.

Of course, you won't need the cheat sheet if you learn your part, but if it's a rush job I'd suggest going this route. You shouldn't need it for more than one or two songs, if you've done your homework.

I use this for the set lists, too. Works great, & keeps the set seamless between songs instead of everyone looking at each other & saying "what's next?" like unprepared teenyboppers in a garage band.

I would never ever let ppl see me with a music stand. I'm supposed to be the pro who knows what the heck he's doing. Ppl that use them look like students to me rather than pro's who know their stuff. Keep 'em in your home studio & OFF the stage!

Orchestras use them, but if you get used to using them you may cripple yourself.
Those who rely on sheet music can become so reliant on it that they become completely lost when their 'crutch' is gone.
What I mean is that there are many musicians who can not play without music in front of them. I suggest you don't 'train' yourself to be one of them . . .
But - search your own memory. Have you seen a band playing in front of a 'hot' crowd, playing from the written page?

You may need a reminder now and again, but it'd be better to practice more often, instead.
When I see a musician or singer reading while playing, I know that they don't know the song, and I start looking around at other things instead . . .

For contemporary music: informal settings, yes; otherwise, no.

r

A couple songs I do I just cant remember the words they are so long,american pie,and wreck of the edmund fitzgerald,half way through it i JUST SAY IT SUNK.. all kidding aside ,while it might not be profesional.people come to hear the music ,if they are coming to critique my apperance or me having a stand.they came for the wrong reason.if I play like crap or sound like crap then kick me off the stage

If you set kicks butt no one will care about a music stand. Don't grow to rely on it and get away from it if you can, but if you have brand new material or are sitting in with a band you don't normally play with don't sweat it. If the music is good, the stand is just another piece of gear on the stage.

Wow, Ghost, couldn't you find anything LONGER to play?

I'm dead set against music stands. Cheat sheets I can handle, but nothing looks more unprofessional to me than a singer squinting to try to make out the next line-trust me, I've done it, and found it to be more of a handicap than anything. As the vocalist in the band, it's your job to convey the lyrical message. As with any other member in the band, you should know your part-whether it is new material or otherwise. I personally get much more satisfaction from the performance if I am capable of delivering the vocals confidently (which translates into "knowing my part.").

I can remember several years ago when Axl Rose threw a big fit because the teleprompter wasn't correct. Not long afterwards, I viewed an interview with Neil Young, who just laughed and smirked at the whole deal, stating "I don't need teleprompters...I wrote the songs, and I know them! Why do you need the lyrics when you wrote the song?"...Or something like that.

The point is that if you make the song your own, you should never need that crutch. Sure, we all make mistakes, and it WILL happen, but ya deal with it and go on. To anyone who feels they must have that music stand, I would suggest forcing themselves to work without it (in practice at least)...I predict that your confidence level will go up, and you'll eventually realize that you don't need it.

I know I may seem like a hard-ass, but I've heard it WAY too many times: "I'm can't do this! I don't have my lyric book!"

Waaaaaah! It's time to take a more professional approach. Just my opinion, and I'll probably get burned for it, but oh well.

Thanks for all the imput and discussion. Yes it is a security blanket issue. Confidence built over time and breathing to get the nerves worked out helps. I will work on remembering what verse comes first. I know this stuff cold.....I guess everyone has had the old mental block at some point Thanks again guys!

Jeez, you guys would kill our singers (we use two right now), one uses a stand w/ a beer holder, the other doesn't, but both drummer and bass who sing a couple songs each use them as well.

Glad I don't sing!

I have been searching old posts...really am tired of reading every little thing for days now....Appropriate to use a music stand or not? I have seen bands with both. In a way, I really like the idea of my security blanket (ya know the times when the mind goes blank ) I have gotten much better when that happens. God, the first time that happened (still feel the hot face and sick stomache thinking about that) But I did get over it and finished the song. Thank GOD for Anthony Gallucio....has to be the most patient TALENTED person. He just kept playing till I pulled myself together. So back to the original question.....

Thoughts?

um..no.

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um..no.[/quote]


Umm short and to the point... thanks

I do try. I'm nothing if not cordial.

We use music stands, All of us except the drummer. We are working away from it, but due to logistics we only practice together once a week.
They may be a visual distraction, but to me it's the music that counts.
You could argue if I were a stronger musician I would not need one.
I cant see me not having my music handy, If not in front then, off to one side. Just another tool like my axe and amp.