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Forums :: Ask Instructor David Barrett

Going back over repertoire

1 reply [Last post]
Fri, 12/16/2011 - 00:09
Taylor Ward
Taylor Ward's picture
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Teacher 3Level 7
Joined: 06/03/2011

Hi David,

A few questions about going over songs that have already been "completed". Obviously one should go back and practice the songs after submitting them to correct errors you point out, but after that, I was wondering how often should we be going back over songs to upkeep, as Joe Filisko calls it, our "repertoire"? Before I was going over all the songs at least once everyday, maybe switching around some of the licks when I wasn't being lazy. Now I have a stack of songs that takes almost an hour to go through all of them. A few years down the road I might have hours worth of songs. Just wondering what you recommend for keeping up repertoire.

Also, what types of things should we pay attention to particularly when going back over the song?

Finally, I noticed something strange. When I go back and play songs that I've already completed months later, they still sound similar to when I first did them. Perhaps the tone may be a little better than before, but other than that, not much seems to have changed. For example, I've finished the tongue blocking and bending studies and am halfway through Minor Mambo but when I go back and play, say Temperature and Feeling for The Blues, they don't sound remarkably better than when I first did them. What gives?

-Taylor

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Fri, 12/16/2011 - 09:52
#1
David Barrett
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ExpertHead InstructorTeacher 10Level 10
Joined: 12/20/2009
Answer

Pick one day a week to play all your songs... that's your review day. The main focus is retention, but it's a good idea to really listen to the band as you play... playing WITH them, not on top of them. Focus on making every note sound wonderful... complete relaxation, but complete focus.

If you want to go one step further, play your song the way it was written, then play the jam track again and improvise the entire time. About five years down to road your goal is to only learn the head of a song and improvise the rest.

Another step further is to play each song 15% faster than the original one week... then 15% slower one week.

Your last comment doesn't surprise me. You focused on technique when learning these songs and you play them well... correctly... there really isn't anything to "fix." What will get better each year is your tone (as you stated), tremolo/vibrato and dynamics.

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