Our band - Unley Concert Band, is preparing for nationals at Easter. In Adelaide, so no transport cost to us. We are playing in A grade and B grade, a total of 8 pieces, at Elder Hall, which has amazing acoustics. Generally, the higher the ceiling, the more space you get to fill up with your sound, and it feels like you become that space - it's an incredible feeling. My form of expression is the bass guitar.
Bass normally sets the harmonic and rhythmic foundations, and the rest of the band lock into it. To a large extent, the quality of the band derives from the bass player. Accuse me of bias but that's what I think.
Unley Concert Band is full of brilliant musicians, and I am so lucky to be part of that band. We have won maybe up to 20 competitions in the past 10 years.
The number one comment from the judges is about taking the music off the page - giving it life - channeling it, and playing with PASSION.
To me, passion drives your thoughts and dreams to reality - that is the crux of today's posting.
So today I am working on technique, with a bunch of technical exercises centred around speed. Quite a few passages in 'The Year of the Dragon' - the A grade test piece - are set at 8 notes a second, and go up to 10 notes a second. I can do it in my right hand, but my left still has a way to go. The passages have been memorised some time ago, leaving more brain power to concentrate on playing better.
So I'm playing scales and stuff at mahavishnu speed. This is way out of the comfort zone of the bass, yet well within the limits of the violin, on which I've played at speeds of 14 - 16 notes a second. That might be a story for another time. Piano is way up there too.
Playing that fast is about being relaxed and making small movements. It's about feeling underlying pulses.
cheers!
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