It’s the first Thursday of April so I guess I’m up. My hook for this month is going to be woodshedding. Long time readers will know that I have visited this topic quite a few times in the past and just to be clear we are not discussing practicing or rehearsing but very succinctly woodshedding. By my own definitive accounting, rehearsing and practicing are done in preparation for a gig or performance and at least from my perspective I won’t be having any gigs for a while. My podcast and internet skills aren’t anywhere close to being able to stream a performance. That leaves me with woodshedding.
So my answer to the question; “Dave what are you going to be doing during this shelter-in- place time?” is woodshed. The PLAN is for my chops to become extraordinary over this time and when the social distancing is over (and it will be over) I’m going to be the baddest bass player around. Well…that’s the plan.
Two things about this plan (there are always two things.) The first thing about this plan is that, at about 3 weeks in to it, I haven’t, if you will, shedded much wood yet. This could be a deal breaker for my plan to be the baddest. Fortunately (or unfortunately) it doesn’t seem to be too late to start. It looks if I get my head into to it and begin playing; I still have a shot at being the baddest bassplayer on the block. (how’s that for slinging some alliteration at you.)
The second thing that could derail the plan is that I’m not the only bass player in the shed for the next couple of months and chances are they haven’t wasted the last 3 weeks trying to buy groceries and washing their hands and have actually spent some time playing.
Using the last paragraph as a baseline (pun intended.) If all amateur or semi- amateur musicians are spending their shut down time in the woodshed working on their chops then one could predict that the level of musicianship across this set of players will improve greatly. The jams after this passes will be pretty amazing, I would imagine.
My math and science knowledge is somewhat sketchy, though. My hypothesis implies that if we keep shedding, all of us will become professional level musicians. Obviously, that can’t be the case because the pros are going to be playing during the shut down too and they are already pretty far ahead of us.
My foolish hypothesis obviously does not account for talent. We all start from different baselines (pun intended again). What is true is that the jams when we get back to it should be great, not because we are all better players but rather that we are jamming together again. I can’t wait.
As of this writing, I have spent a couple of days playing some music. Linda and I made a couple of videos to send to our grandkids and family…but nothing we would share here. I’m trying to get to the shed daily for a few minutes, whether to play scales or to learn some lyrics. I have homework from a couple of my jam groups to add some songs to our repertoire. One advantage my space has is a (very) sufficient supply of tequila but I have begun rationing for the long haul.
I’m planning (seem like I’m always planning) to be back in May. Everyone take care and be safe.
