You're a singer-songwriter with a new CD and a CD release party to plan, and the musicians on the CD aren't available. Or you're a jazz or pop singer with a polished repertoire, ready to play some gigs, have some fun and make a little money. You need a band, so you hook up with some part-time musicians probably friends or friends of friends]. Rehearsal space is expensive and, with amateur musicians, the rehearsal process is too inefficient and frustratingly long. But it's feasible to form a band with limited rehearsal time and space. First, you need to hire an experienced music arranger to assemble a "book" of written charts (sheet music) of your songs. Then you need to find competent, professional musicians who can sight-read your charts.
Putting The Book Together
The music arranger will listen to recordings of each song in your repertoire [MP3s, YouTube links or CDs and transcribe the form of the song, including the chords, rhythm section shots or punches, important bass or melody lines, intros and endings, metronome markings, visual cues and any other information necessary to the performance of the song.The music should be transcribed to notation software (Sibelius and Finale are the most popular) and can be exported to PDF files and mailed to you electronically. Once saved to software the charts can be easily modified by the arranger (changing key, for example). For a rhythm section-only band (guitar, bass drums, keys) a single rhythm section chart is often sufficient and far less expensive than scoring separately for those instruments. The arranger will send you one copy, and you print one for each instrument in the band.
Although many musicians can scratch out a chord chart, it's important to find an experienced music arranger to write your book. An arranger needs a good working knowledge of the instruments he's writing for, so as not to write something the instrument can't play. It's also important that the chart is easily playable for most professionals... too much info can make the chart hard to play.
A poorly written chart can be a disaster. Take care to find the right arranger. Ask for references, listen to audio samples of his/her work. Most music arrangers charge by the hour for custom music arrangements. An average rhythm chart should cost between $40-$50 Canadian.
Finding Qualified Musicians
First decide on the instrumentation of your band. I recommend you keep it small, i.e. a duo, trio or quartet. Start by finding a qualified pianist or guitarist as music director/ contractor (to hire the remainder of the band). Consult with him/her regarding the style of music you wish to play and the budget for the musicians. A jazz singer will often play as a duo with only the piano or guitar as accompaniment. This person will direct rehearsal (if there is one), and, on stage, count in the tunes, direct endings and lead the band through the performance (so you can just sing). He/she may also be helpful in finding a suitable sound system to rent, if need be. Your music director should be paid a leader's fee, Your local musicians' union can help you determine fees for the leader and sidemen.
Where to Find Your Musicians
Ask the union. The Canadian Federation of Musicians [or American Federation of Musicians] has a local office with jurisdiction in your region. Contact them for a list or referral of qualified players. Tell them what style(s) you're playing and what instruments you're looking for. They can also tell you what the pay scale is for rehearsal and the type of gig you've booked. Sometimes you can get away with an unpaid rehearsal, it doesn't hurt to ask your music director. In my region (Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec), side men pay is $100-ish for a 3 hour call in a bar or restaurant, $160 or more for a private function.
Hiring Musicians
Once you've found your music director/contractor, it's time to book the band. You can let your contractor make the calls to the side men or do it yourself. You can have them pencil it in until the date is confirmed (signed contract and 50% deposit with the client). Until it's official, the players are not committed to your gig, and you're not committed to pay them. But when it's signed and sealed and you've confirmed with the band, you're on the hook for their pay.
Ready to Go
Once you have your book together and have established a relationship with the musicians, you'll be ready to gig at the drop of a hat. As you play more shows the band will become more comfortable with the repertoire, and new songs can be added easily as your arranger charts new tunes for you. Of course, the musicians you've used in the past may not always be available, but they should be able to book qualified substitutes if they can't make a gig, and you'll get to know many of your area's best musicians.
Peter Foret is a music arranger, composer, guitarist and singer based in Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec. He has written charts for dozens of jazz and pop vocalists, horn section arrangements for rock bands and orchestral arrangements for theater shows. Peter creates beautiful custom written music arrangements for clients from around the world.
For more information about the writing process, and to see and hear examples visit http://peterforet.com/wp/index.php/music-arrangements-for-vocalists/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Foret
Putting The Book Together
The music arranger will listen to recordings of each song in your repertoire [MP3s, YouTube links or CDs and transcribe the form of the song, including the chords, rhythm section shots or punches, important bass or melody lines, intros and endings, metronome markings, visual cues and any other information necessary to the performance of the song.The music should be transcribed to notation software (Sibelius and Finale are the most popular) and can be exported to PDF files and mailed to you electronically. Once saved to software the charts can be easily modified by the arranger (changing key, for example). For a rhythm section-only band (guitar, bass drums, keys) a single rhythm section chart is often sufficient and far less expensive than scoring separately for those instruments. The arranger will send you one copy, and you print one for each instrument in the band.
Although many musicians can scratch out a chord chart, it's important to find an experienced music arranger to write your book. An arranger needs a good working knowledge of the instruments he's writing for, so as not to write something the instrument can't play. It's also important that the chart is easily playable for most professionals... too much info can make the chart hard to play.
A poorly written chart can be a disaster. Take care to find the right arranger. Ask for references, listen to audio samples of his/her work. Most music arrangers charge by the hour for custom music arrangements. An average rhythm chart should cost between $40-$50 Canadian.
Finding Qualified Musicians
First decide on the instrumentation of your band. I recommend you keep it small, i.e. a duo, trio or quartet. Start by finding a qualified pianist or guitarist as music director/ contractor (to hire the remainder of the band). Consult with him/her regarding the style of music you wish to play and the budget for the musicians. A jazz singer will often play as a duo with only the piano or guitar as accompaniment. This person will direct rehearsal (if there is one), and, on stage, count in the tunes, direct endings and lead the band through the performance (so you can just sing). He/she may also be helpful in finding a suitable sound system to rent, if need be. Your music director should be paid a leader's fee, Your local musicians' union can help you determine fees for the leader and sidemen.
Where to Find Your Musicians
Ask the union. The Canadian Federation of Musicians [or American Federation of Musicians] has a local office with jurisdiction in your region. Contact them for a list or referral of qualified players. Tell them what style(s) you're playing and what instruments you're looking for. They can also tell you what the pay scale is for rehearsal and the type of gig you've booked. Sometimes you can get away with an unpaid rehearsal, it doesn't hurt to ask your music director. In my region (Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec), side men pay is $100-ish for a 3 hour call in a bar or restaurant, $160 or more for a private function.
Hiring Musicians
Once you've found your music director/contractor, it's time to book the band. You can let your contractor make the calls to the side men or do it yourself. You can have them pencil it in until the date is confirmed (signed contract and 50% deposit with the client). Until it's official, the players are not committed to your gig, and you're not committed to pay them. But when it's signed and sealed and you've confirmed with the band, you're on the hook for their pay.
Ready to Go
Once you have your book together and have established a relationship with the musicians, you'll be ready to gig at the drop of a hat. As you play more shows the band will become more comfortable with the repertoire, and new songs can be added easily as your arranger charts new tunes for you. Of course, the musicians you've used in the past may not always be available, but they should be able to book qualified substitutes if they can't make a gig, and you'll get to know many of your area's best musicians.
Peter Foret is a music arranger, composer, guitarist and singer based in Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec. He has written charts for dozens of jazz and pop vocalists, horn section arrangements for rock bands and orchestral arrangements for theater shows. Peter creates beautiful custom written music arrangements for clients from around the world.
For more information about the writing process, and to see and hear examples visit http://peterforet.com/wp/index.php/music-arrangements-for-vocalists/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pete_Foret
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