Need Some Help with New Bass Player

[Mysteryman]

If dude cant play he just needs to come to rehearsals and not play on Sunday mornings until he is ready. IMHO

[jrs81]

First I want to thank all of you for your comments.  They have really helped me.

Last night he was at the church before I got there for musicians rehearsal.  He was setting up and I was waiting on the drummer.  When he got set up I asked him could I talk with him for a few minutes.

I first asked him to come to me if he had a problem with what I was doing or if he needed to convey a message to me.  He said that when he went to the pastor that was just between him and pastor.  I said apparently not because the pastor called me in the office too.  He said that he really wanted to talk with the pastor about it.  I told him that I was an easy person to talk to and he could tell me about whatever problems I was causing him.

Then he walked out and came back in.  I asked him again could I talk with him about a few things.  The first thing that I said was if you don't know the song then don't play it.  I reminded him about Sunday morning and playing What A Friend. He said that he didn't know it.  I said it was a familar hymn that is sung by just about every church.  He still said that he didn't know it.

He said well if I would just give him the key then he could play it.  I gave him the key.  I tried to get him to understand that just be giving him the key was not the way to learn the song.  He needed to know the basic song first.  You can know the key but if you don't even know how the song goes how can you play it.  I know I can't.

I used the example of one of the ladies sang a solo a couple of Sundays ago, but I had never heard the song before in my life so I didn't play it.  Maybe I am different from other musicians, if I don't know the song at all I am not going to play it.

He then said that he knew of a church that would work with him and be patient with him until he learns the songs.  I told him that I would do that too but not at 11:00 service on Sunday morning. That is not the place to learn.  That is what rehearsal is for.

He then said that maybe it would be better if he just leave and go play someplace else.  I said that is not what I'm saying to you.  All I want you to do is learn the song before you attempt to play it.  So he packed up his things and left.

Was I wrong in my approach to him?  What could I have done differently?

[bassthumpa]

You were absolutely correct with everything that you said, and it seems you said it with the right attitude.  If you haven't already, call your pastor and notify him of this conversation, before ol' boy calls and gives his twisted version of things.  As much as he complains about wanting someone to be patient and work with him, dude doesn't want to learn.  If he did, he wouldn't have walked out.

If he wants to walk, let him kick rocks.  In the meantime, keep praying for him.

[gambit23435]

First I want to thank all of you for your comments.  They have really helped me.

Last night he was at the church before I got there for musicians rehearsal.  He was setting up and I was waiting on the drummer.  When he got set up I asked him could I talk with him for a few minutes.

I first asked him to come to me if he had a problem with what I was doing or if he needed to convey a message to me.  He said that when he went to the pastor that was just between him and pastor.  I said apparently not because the pastor called me in the office too.  He said that he really wanted to talk with the pastor about it.  I told him that I was an easy person to talk to and he could tell me about whatever problems I was causing him.

Then he walked out and came back in.  I asked him again could I talk with him about a few things.  The first thing that I said was if you don't know the song then don't play it.  I reminded him about Sunday morning and playing What A Friend. He said that he didn't know it.  I said it was a familar hymn that is sung by just about every church.  He still said that he didn't know it.

He said well if I would just give him the key then he could play it.  I gave him the key.  I tried to get him to understand that just be giving him the key was not the way to learn the song.  He needed to know the basic song first.  You can know the key but if you don't even know how the song goes how can you play it.  I know I can't.

I used the example of one of the ladies sang a solo a couple of Sundays ago, but I had never heard the song before in my life so I didn't play it.  Maybe I am different from other musicians, if I don't know the song at all I am not going to play it.

He then said that he knew of a church that would work with him and be patient with him until he learns the songs.  I told him that I would do that too but not at 11:00 service on Sunday morning. That is not the place to learn.  That is what rehearsal is for.

He then said that maybe it would be better if he just leave and go play someplace else.  I said that is not what I'm saying to you.  All I want you to do is learn the song before you attempt to play it.  So he packed up his things and left.

Was I wrong in my approach to him?  What could I have done differently?

Everything that you said is absolutely correct. When I first started learning to play the first word out of my instructors mouth was, "If you don't know the song don't play, listen.". I still follow that rule to this day. I know that God has not blessed me with the ability to just learn a song right as soon as I hear it. I just can't do that. I have to practice what ever I play before I play. If I could practice with the rest of the musicians that makes it that much easier for me and the other musicians in the group. This also will make Sunday morning service a truly blessed experienced for the church members attending the service. That bass players attitude was about "self" and not about GOD.

Be Blessed

[dhagler]

First I want to thank all of you for your comments.  They have really helped me.

Last night he was at the church before I got there for musicians rehearsal.  He was setting up and I was waiting on the drummer.  When he got set up I asked him could I talk with him for a few minutes.

I first asked him to come to me if he had a problem with what I was doing or if he needed to convey a message to me.  He said that when he went to the pastor that was just between him and pastor.  I said apparently not because the pastor called me in the office too.  He said that he really wanted to talk with the pastor about it.  I told him that I was an easy person to talk to and he could tell me about whatever problems I was causing him.

Then he walked out and came back in.  I asked him again could I talk with him about a few things.  The first thing that I said was if you don't know the song then don't play it.  I reminded him about Sunday morning and playing What A Friend. He said that he didn't know it.  I said it was a familar hymn that is sung by just about every church.  He still said that he didn't know it.

He said well if I would just give him the key then he could play it.  I gave him the key.  I tried to get him to understand that just be giving him the key was not the way to learn the song.  He needed to know the basic song first.  You can know the key but if you don't even know how the song goes how can you play it.  I know I can't.

I used the example of one of the ladies sang a solo a couple of Sundays ago, but I had never heard the song before in my life so I didn't play it.  Maybe I am different from other musicians, if I don't know the song at all I am not going to play it.

He then said that he knew of a church that would work with him and be patient with him until he learns the songs.  I told him that I would do that too but not at 11:00 service on Sunday morning. That is not the place to learn.  That is what rehearsal is for.

He then said that maybe it would be better if he just leave and go play someplace else.  I said that is not what I'm saying to you.  All I want you to do is learn the song before you attempt to play it.  So he packed up his things and left.

Was I wrong in my approach to him?  What could I have done differently?

You were not wrong in your approach.  Again, let me compliment you on your professionalism, but when only party in the conversation practices or responds to it....

I would only offer the suggestion that the next conversation you have with him be in the presence of your pastor.  I hope that he will realize what a learning opportunity this will be for him if he will simply humble himself and accept that he can't learn if he's not receptive to being taught, and that suggestions for improvement are not necessarily criticisms.  Is thare anything he is doing that you can compliment him on?  If there is you might be able to build on that.

[bassthumpa]

Better yet, if he can, ask the Pastor to show up at the next musician's rehearsal unannounced.  This dude has all kind of talk, but let the Pastor see first hand how much this guy just doesn't want to work with people.