Starting a Band
Perfecting your own skills can be challenging enough in itself, but finding capable musicians who share your same musical interests can also be quite an undertaking.
Finding Band Members
As a musician, you most likely have a few buddies who also play. They are a great place to start due to the fact that they are your most accessible connections, probably share the same musical interests, and may even have contacts of their own. However, if this technique proves unsuccessful, do not be afraid to approach fellow musicians in your family, at work or individuals you associate with in other circles. In addition, internet forums such as bandmix.com and the classified sections of your local music publications also prove effective and are another great source to utilize.
Know Who You Want
When deciding on who you want to have in your band, make sure to consider competency, the musical vision of the band, and most importantly, the capacity of each member to get along. As a band, if you are unable to tolerate each other, regardless of how much talent and commonality you share, you are allowing for a rough road ahead and possibly failure.
Also, bear in mind the size of your prospective band and know that people have lives outside of music. The larger the group, the more difficult it will be to organize practices and this can prove cumbersome when trying to accomplish band objectives.
What Will You Play?
Once you have chosen a group of musicians, it is a good idea to decide on a genre of music that will help determine a direction for the band. When picking a type of music, choose a style that everyone can agree on, but will also compliments the strengths of the members. For instance, if you have a talented guitar player, rock or blues maybe a style to consider. Showcasing these talents will make for a more cohesive sound and eventually, as the different skill levels improve, you will be able to expand the repertoire of the band.
Your Own Music
Developing your own music can be very challenging and deciding who will write can be even more difficult. The responsibility of writing a song may rest collectively on the band or be appointed to one or two individuals. Similar to choosing a genre, make sure the music is written within the scope of the group. Playing a song outside the vocalist's range or surpassing the experience of the drummer can be detrimental and may discourage the band as a whole.
Initially, you may want to pick a couple of songs to cover that will give you a feel for each other as a group and assist in learning everyone's playing abilities.
Regardless of whether you are covering previously written music or creating your own, it is essential that everyone have equal say in the final outcome.
Conclusion
Starting a band is a process, but if you know what you want, keep in mind the capabilities and opinions of the band, and allow time for improvement, you will be a member of a group that you can be proud of.
- R. Wilkins