How does your MD start a piece of music?
One school of thought is to count a single bar e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 etc, the other is "Straight in" with no regard to tempo other than that remembered in rehearsal.
The 1,2,3,4 approach is fine, except where the first conducted bar is shorter for some instruments than others when the MD counts 1,2,3, and thus counting a few bars rest becomes difficult - usually for the bass trombone!
The "Straight in" approach at least starts the band together, but when the MD conducts a 3/4 piece in 4/4, it leaves the band to sort the mess out - and this happens occasionally when the MD has a "senior moment"...
I guess the well rehearsed bands will not worry, but like sight reading (on another thread) for more difficult parts, I find it essential to know where and when to start playing! Perhaps I am still a novice after all....
AlanL58
Bude, Cornwall
One school of thought is to count a single bar e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4 etc, the other is "Straight in" with no regard to tempo other than that remembered in rehearsal.
The 1,2,3,4 approach is fine, except where the first conducted bar is shorter for some instruments than others when the MD counts 1,2,3, and thus counting a few bars rest becomes difficult - usually for the bass trombone!
The "Straight in" approach at least starts the band together, but when the MD conducts a 3/4 piece in 4/4, it leaves the band to sort the mess out - and this happens occasionally when the MD has a "senior moment"...
I guess the well rehearsed bands will not worry, but like sight reading (on another thread) for more difficult parts, I find it essential to know where and when to start playing! Perhaps I am still a novice after all....
AlanL58
Bude, Cornwall