Choir Day and "extra" musicians (who haven't even practiced with ya)

[sistagurl]

We had our choir day Sunday. We had three musicians that helped us out that we've been practicing with. A keyboard, bass, and drummer. Well, come sunday as we were marching up to the choir loft we notice a guitar and another bass(I'm sure they came with another choir). On the other side sat somebody at our organ...Well, I thought surely they want be playing.

I don't think the other bass and guitar played but the guy on the organ did. It threw everything off. You couldn't hear the changes in the music because the guy on the organ thought the program was his concert... It's not that the guy didn't know how to play, he's played for our group I'm in and is very good. But he hadn't practice with us.

I can't vow for anybody elses song (but I heard them talking and they didn't like it either,lol)but I almost didn't make it thru, lol. I sang "He can fix what is broke". I already struggle with the timing on that song but luckly the guy on keyboard is very good at following me even though I couldn't hardly hear him.

We made it thru but my question is what makes other musicians think it's alright to just jump in and play??It's ok on songs that are song everyday like hymns or simple traditional song. When your singing songs with intricate parts in them and difficult changes you don't need all that "extra" when a musician doesn't know the song.

And to top it all off my cousin who has had several strokes was on the piano, lol. But we couldn't hear a bit of him.. believe me that was a good thang.


We also sang Wash Me Lord, Colorada Mass (I think), Hide Behind The Mountain (a version I've never heard before), and I Still Have Joy, MS Mass(?)

[sjonathan02]

Couldn't have occurred at my church. My First Lady (or myself for that matter) would've told dude to stop, seriously. 

[sistagurl]

Couldn't have occurred at my church. My First Lady (or myself for that matter) would've told dude to stop, seriously. 

Our pastor was in and out of the santuary the whole program. If we had a chance to tell him.."get them away", lol, I know he would have. Next time it will be brought up before any programs...

[kodacolor]

*sigh*

I really don't like it when things like this happens.

[CHI-MD]

I don?t like when other musicians do that. I think it's completely out of order. I've had it happen before too. If you're the head musician you have to set that in order. You have to be bold... tell him "we have a specific arrangement" (they wont want to do fake it a look stupid) plus you don?t want to be shouting out chords.

If they're already on the instrument and you don?t want to make it seem like you're dissing them... tell them what to play (colors, fill in etc) don?t be afraid to tell them to fall back on the volume, or my personal favorite "WATCH ME". Most musicians will sit out and not want to embarrass themselves...It's really a respect thing....most cats want to be seen or heard, so they'll play every chance they get....sometimes even jumping on an instrument they don?t play LOL (I've seen it)......

Even when my church has a visiting choir I fall back....even if they're singing accapella, because I can be certain that I know their arrangement...I will play if asked.

[sistagurl]

I don?t like when other musicians do that. I think it's completely out of order. I've had it happen before too. If you're the head musician you have to set that in order. You have to be bold... tell him "we have a specific arrangement" (they wont want to do fake it a look stupid) plus you don?t want to be shouting out chords.

If they're already on the instrument and you don?t want to make it seem like you're dissing them... tell them what to play (colors, fill in etc) don?t be afraid to tell them to fall back on the volume, or my personal favorite "WATCH ME". Most musicians will sit out and not want to embarrass themselves...It's really a respect thing....most cats want to be seen or heard, so they'll play every chance they get....sometimes even jumping on an instrument they don?t play LOL (I've seen it)......

Even when my church has a visiting choir I fall back....even if they're singing accapella, because I can be certain that I know their arrangement...I will play if asked.

That's what I think it was people were too afraid to say something without sounding rude. That's a hard position I guess when someone hasn't asked and is already sitting at the instrument... For some people anyway..... But I really think no matter how nicely it could have been done, he probably would have gotten offended anyway...

[sjonathan02]

That's what I think it was people were too afraid to say something without sounding rude. That's a hard position I guess when someone hasn't asked and is already sitting at the instrument... For some people anyway..... But I really think no matter how nicely it could have been done, he probably would have gotten offended anyway...

And that's why, to a degree, I believe 'rudeness' is subjective.

[sistagurl]

And that's why, to a degree, I believe 'rudeness' is subjective.

True

[robin of drummin]

was the program taped?

[sistagurl]

was the program taped?

Afraid not. I would have loved to see it.

[JoanHall]

...Well, I thought surely they want be playing.

I would have assumed the same thing you did.  Is your choir on the small side?  Sometimes people automatically assume that smaller choirs are struggling and will want "help".  Approaching them saying something like, "We're doing these songs with just the keyboard, bass, and drums" demonstrates to them that you know what you're doing and know what you want.

[sistagurl]

I would have assumed the same thing you did.  Is your choir on the small side?  Sometimes people automatically assume that smaller choirs are struggling and will want "help".  Approaching them saying something like, "We're doing these songs with just the keyboard, bass, and drums" demonstrates to them that you know what you're doing and know what you want.

We have about 30 to 40 people. Everybody was there that day....so I'm not sure how many that was.