Tonight is the last semester session for the Cats Jazz Band of Los Gatos, California. We will have a break for a couple of weeks, and resume in August. I am not sure I am coming back, however. I'm a bit bored and not terribly inspired. Maybe it's time to give my rival a chance to play bass with the band. I've been at it for three years now, and maybe it's time to move on.
I think my major goals right now are these:
- Learn as many jazz tunes as I can, with a goal of 100 tunes. This should prepare me for any jazz jam or gig.
- Improve my knowledge of acoustic bass. I need instruction on technique and how to avoid fatigue. I have found a potential teacher.
- Play in as many jazz jams as I can. I will look for ones nearby this summer.
My Handy Zoom Recorder has been an excellent asset for practices: it records the music very well and gives great feedback on how you actually sound.
Update: I've decided to stay with the Cats Jazz Band for the time being. I need the practice at reading notes. Reading notes well takes time, and the Cats has improved my note reading considerably. However, I'm not good enough yet, so I will stay.
