I'm off to the Triad, to rehearse and tech from 12-6 (at least I hope we stop at 6); then the show starts at 7. I play 26 numbers and we have to clear out because there's a show coming in at 9
My question is: does Jose get worked like this, from 12-8:30 with just a dinner break at 6? Just wondering. I wouldn't blame anybody if he did.
The answer is: Yes... And No.
For the first two weeks of rehearsal for
What If?, even though we were only rehearsing in the evenings, I was spending a lot of my "off time" with headphones on listening to various songs so that I could transcribe them. And then on the first few days off, I was starting to chart them on my computer.
As BK will attest to - and even I will readily admit - my "ear" is not the best. It's gotten lazy since I graduated from college - which included three years of some pretty intensive music theory and ear training. I just haven't had to use it. I play mainly shows/tours now, so the music is provided for me; and auditions - again, the music is provided for me. I've never been one to sit down at the piano and just start playing for myself or for others. I'm mainly a sight-reader. *I also think part of my "resistance" to playing-by-ear has/had to do with my resistance for playing when company would come over when I was younger - I just hated being put on the spot like that by my mother - but I think that's typical for any 10-11-year old boy being asked by his parents to "show off" for their neighbors and relatives.
*There's probably the basis for some in-depth psychological study in that previous statement... But I digress...
So, there were a few days early on, where I would be listening and transcribing for a couple of hours at a time. And then there were songs that needed to be transposed, rearranged, restructured... Etc. etc., etc...
However, all that work is par for the course for a musical director, so... Comes with the territory.
And I do have to thank BK for
his very good "ear" which has helped me to fine tune and correct some of my transcriptions.
But even for a standard show, there are usually many days where I work 8, 10, 12.... even 14 or 16 hours in one day. (But I do take breaks - either my own, or union "enforced".) Heck, there was one day during
Children of Eden rehearsals where I had orchestra rehearsal from 10-4, then I programmed the keyboard from 5-Midnight. And there was even an all-nighter during tech week to finish up the keyboard programming. The work just had to be done.
