PlayTheSong
Senior Member
I did a lot of college studio work in my youth, played with click tracks, cans, totally miked up.
Now I play with a concert band where nothing is amplified (not even a bass player, just bari sax and tubas).
There has been a lot of discussion about honing our ability to play quietly when needed and use dynamics and I'm realizing that playing with this acoustic group is ideal training. What I hear is all around me IS the final balance. It makes me wonder how much the click tracks and in-ear monitors etc. are warring against our ability to listen and self-balance.
Although the group is strictly amateur, I feel very lucky to be working this way and I can tell that my ears and my touch are improving in this environment.
If you ever get a chance to play with a local concert band that's reasonably close to your playing ability, I highly recommend it!
Now I play with a concert band where nothing is amplified (not even a bass player, just bari sax and tubas).
There has been a lot of discussion about honing our ability to play quietly when needed and use dynamics and I'm realizing that playing with this acoustic group is ideal training. What I hear is all around me IS the final balance. It makes me wonder how much the click tracks and in-ear monitors etc. are warring against our ability to listen and self-balance.
Although the group is strictly amateur, I feel very lucky to be working this way and I can tell that my ears and my touch are improving in this environment.
If you ever get a chance to play with a local concert band that's reasonably close to your playing ability, I highly recommend it!