Question: I'm not even sure how to ask the question, but it's about how to rehearse as a band. If none of the band members have heard the tune before, how do you rehearse them? For example, original music with odd time signatures and time changes played at breakneck speed... how do they ever learn to do that? Is the composer responsible to write all the parts for everyone, teach it to them, and rehearse them one by one and altogether?

Tom Hess's Answer: Generally each band member is always responsible for learning his/her musical parts on their own time. The band practice sessions are NOT the time to babysit someone by teaching them their musical parts and instead that time should be spent on playing (already memorized) songs tighter as a band, working on your stage presence, performance logistics and other elements that can “only” be practiced by the band when they are together. This saves the band a lot of time and money and makes all band rehearsals much more productive.

Regardless of who writes the music in the band, each member should have the ability to practice their parts independently. Everyone should have the notation of their sections of the music to play and a backing track with drums, bass, vocal and keyboard parts (as appropriate) even if some of those parts are programmed in MIDI at first. This will make it possible for everyone to practice and learn the music on their own time and come to the actual rehearsal with other band members a lot more prepared. It goes without saying that your band members should have the skills necessary to play the kind of music your band might create/play (if they do not, then you need to replace them).

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