Taking the lead
Here we go! It’s December and that brings, well, you know. We have a lot going on (why yes, even more than usual!). All that can get in the way of your practicing which might make you fell less than sturdy when it’s time to share all your holiday tunes.
After all, everything you play (typically) is a tune everyone who’s listening already knows. And, since it’s material we only get to play if for about a month (well, this year it was more like more than two months starting before Halloween), it’s easy to get less learning and practice in. That might leave you feeling not quite prepared. Feeling comfortable could end up being a luxury.
Of course, that wobbliness can leave you feeling vulnerable – if you make a mistake – everyone will know – because they are so familiar with the tunes. That can feel like a lot of pressure on you. But what if we turn that on its head?
Because when everyone knows the music, you are sort of free. Stop looking at me (metaphorically) like I’m crazy! When everyone knows the music – it makes everything you play even more of a connection to those you’re playing for – how cool is that?!
You might feel like you must play perfectly, but…yawn. That everyone knows the music is exactly what makes this repertoire so much fun! So what if you add some “flourishes” or “jazz improvisations”? Here’s a great opportunity – you may find you have a knack for generating your own arrangements (on the fly). If you’re afraid (or just still telling yourself that you can’t do it) maybe start a gentle transition. Find the tunes you already play in a lead sheet form. Then you have the backup of knowing what should get played there – but you get to decide how it should sound. And if you’re not struggling to get a prewritten arrangement read through, you might also have time to insert some ornaments or variations (on purpose!).
I’m not suggesting you do this on the fly – but there’s still time to make the shift to a lead sheet so you can get used to reading that form and practice making it up as you go along (so it will be easier). Keep notes on what you’re doing, what you like and what you don’t, as well as keeping all the kind comments you get – that way, next year, you’ll have a leg up!
Where are you playing for the holidays? Do you have a favorite tune that you might move to a lead sheet on? What is it? Let me know in the comments!
I’ll play at my church on Christmas morning. I’m working on Tiffany Schaeffer’s version of “See Amid the Winter Snow”, but there’s no way I’m getting the fairly complex left hand down this year. Fortunately, there are chords indicated, I’m choosing a subset, and figuring out if there’s a particular chord variant I prefer. The other two pieces are well under control: “In the Bleak Midwinter” and Anne Crosby Gaudet’s ”Christmas Angels”.
Happy Holidays!
Kate – those are lovely tunes and you’ll certainly make headway this way! Please let us know how it goes and what you end up doing with the chords after Christmas!
One of my faves is Sunita Staneslow’s ‘’Silent Night’’. I have totally re-arranged and simplified it and finally like my version better. Sunita and Kim Robertson told us in a workshop that they want people to do their own take on their arrangements- just use them as a starting point. That was sure good news for me….I’ve been doing it all along.
Happy Holidays Jen!
Robin
They are amazing, enviable musicians and they are so right! It’s nice to have a starting point but do you really want to sound like a copy of Sunita or Kim. When I try that I always feel like I sound like one of those old wax recordings – the idea is there but the lush richness is missing!. Can’t wait to hear your Silent Night!