It’s important when you start to use loops to take your time. You have to realize that using loops is a process. Just like learning to ride a bike, you won’t be able to pull it off perfectly right off the bat. You’ll fall down a few times, and you’ll make mistakes before you’ve really got it. Remember, at some point something WILL go wrong with your loop setup, and thats okay. Learn from it (We’ve discussed this concept before here). So if you haven’t started using loops yet, realize that it will take time to really get the process down. Here are a few things to keep in mind as your Transitioning your Band to Using Loops.
1) Set your Expectations
Is part of your Vision for your band, for them to be able to play with a click and loop? If so then make that an Expectation and STICK to it! Its important to remember when working with amateur musicians that you shouldn’t lower your expectations of them. You just need to Elongate the time period in which you want to see those Expectations met.
When working with a group of Amateur Musicians don’t Lower your Expectations. Elongate the time period in which you want to see those Expectations met.
You may have a band full of 80′s metal heads that swear that REAL musicians don’t have to use a click. Don’t give up on these guys though. As long as they are WILLING to do it they CAN do it. It may just take them longer to accomplish the task of playing with a click then it would Pro Musicians. Note that I said they must be WILLING to do it in order for them to be able to do it. The truth is you may need to lose a few band members before you can fully integrate the idea of using loops.
If using loops is part of your ultimate Vision for your band and you feel strongly that this is something God has called you to do, to help progress your band musically to the next step, then stick with it. If you have band members that aren’t willing or ready to align with your vision and heart then they may need to leave the band or sit out for a few weeks or months. So.. if you really want to use loops then make it an Expectation(in order to play in the band) and then set a date in the future to accomplish your goal.
2) Set your Goals/Deadlines
Pick a date sometime in the future that will be GO time for using loops. Lets say that we want to be fully “Using loops” in 2 months from today. Now set smaller and earlier goals to work up to that one. Work up to this Goal slowly. Lets say that in 2 weeks we will do one song in practice with click. Pick a song that your band knows inside and out, and use that song as your trial “Click song”. Then in 3 weeks from now say that you’ll do a song with click and loop and one song with just click. Again make sure you pick songs that your band knows really well. Then say in 4 weeks we’ll start integrating loops and Click on Sunday morning. Develop a schedule that works for your team and helps you work up to your deadline.
It’s important to let your band know that “This is our Deadline, and I’ll provide you with everything you need to succeed and make it happen”. Prepare your band well. Don’t just expect them to be able to play with a click. Provide them with every resource and training tool that you possibly can. Set them up for success. If you want them to succeed with the idea of playing with loops then help them as much as you possibly can. Here are a few ways you can help them prepare:
1) Provide them with Song Samples of Great songs that use loops and how the band plays with them
2) Provide them with Click Samples to play with on their own
3) Provide them with loops ahead of time to play with
4) Be Patient with them and be willing to help them out as much as you can
3) Know your Priorities
You may have the desire to use loops, and it may be part of your vision for your band, but right now may not be the RIGHT time to try and use loops with your band. What do you have on your list of to-do’s for your band? It may look something like this:
- Learn to play to Slash Charts
- Learn to play with a click
- Learn to play with loops
- Learn basic Music theory
- Learn the Nashville Number System
- Play on Sunday without a music stand
- Get another Acoustic Player
- Have your Piano player learn to play a Keyboard
Which of these Priorities is most important and most urgent for you? Don’t try to teach your piano player to play with a click if you also have them learning to play a keyboard for the first time. Don’t throw Multiple things at your band at the same time if you want them to be successful at any of them.
Don’t throw multiple things at your band at the same time, if you want them to be successful at any of them.
If you deem any of those things on that list more important or urgent then using loops, then hold off on trying to start using loops. Its okay if you don’t use loops and it’s okay if you can’t start using them for another few months. In the church world we too often see “Church X” do “Thing X” and we say next Sunday we will be doing “Thing X”. God has called us to be carbon copies of “Church X” so don’t worry if you don’t start using loops right away or ever for that matter! Make sure to stayed tuned to the blog for the next few weeks as we’ll continue to explore where to start when you want to use loops.
Looking for a good click for Live or Garageband? Then check out our new Foundations!
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