Back in the day if you wanted to work on your II-V-I technique or some Jazz standards you would pick up an Aebersold* CD or tape. But times have changed! With a couple of computer programs you can get access to an entire fakebook worth of musical accompaniment, change the key at will, speed it up, slow it down, add or remove instruments, and loop any section for as long as you like.

Sorry Windows users, this article focuses on the Mac, but most of the information should carry over to similar windows programs. The process is pretty simple. Here is the short summary:

• Get good instruments for Garageband (optional, but recommended.)
• Download “Band in a Box” standards off the internet.
• Convert the files to Midi format.
• Play them in GarageBand using good instruments.

Here is a demonstration:

• One of literally dozens of websites with Band in a Box Jazz standards is Les Gorven’s Midistudio.
• Ben Boldt offers a bunch of high quality instruments for Garageband if you don’t want to pay for one of the instrument packs, he requests a donation, but doesn’t require it.

Be sure to search on Google for more places that have Band in a Box files, because many of them are different, and some are much better in terms of accompaniment and melody. Have fun!

* Jamey Aebersold’s work is still great, and highly recommended.

Sometimes I am really good about being disciplined enough to practice, sometimes not. Lately I have been taking a bit of a break before the next orchestral season starts up. I have been playing in a couple of ensembles–really just classes I have been taking, and have hit a bit of a bump in the road. I am not a great bassist by any means, so I can’t really afford to not practice! How do you deal with it? Give me some ideas or suggestions!

I think it isn’t necessarily that I am having problems with motivation, but de-motivation. I have been playing in a class with other beginner level students focused on Jazz, and sometimes it is really great, but not always, actually, now that I think about it–not most of the time. The problem is we have too many rhythm instruments–sometimes two pianists, or two guitarist. The drummer has transitioned over from rock (nothing wrong there–he just tends to play really loud.) And it seems that the muddier and less defined the music becomes, that I have a harder time hearing changes (or more importantly feeling them.) I realize that I am too hard on myself, but despite that, it is all a little demoralizing. I recently made the decision that I am done with this group–at first I was learning a lot (and I probably still am,) but if I am going to pay to be a part of an ensemble, the experience should be enjoyable. I don’t want to disparage any of the folks in the class, everyone is putting their whole heart into what they are doing and that is great (in fact most of the musicians are more talented and competent than I am,) the instructor is top notch and the idea is right. I just think that having an ensemble with two pianists, or guitarists, and no horns requires experienced musicians to make it sound right. Anyways all this has been adding to my anxiety and resulted in a bit of disillusionment. Just a few more weeks and I will be playing in the symphony again, that will be a nice change, hopefully I will find more motivation to get my chops back in shape.