[JazzItUp]

I want to form a band. I like Jazz, Funk, R&B and a little bit of Classical music. In this band I'd play Alto, Tenor, & Soprano and a little keyboards. I have a friend who plays the Trumpet and Trombone.
Now here's where the problem lies... where am I going to find a good bass player, a good guitarist, a piano player, and a drummer who are all in my age range (16-18) who share the same muscial tastes as I do? As if finding these people are hard enough, they'd have to be able to play Jazz, Funk & R&B.
This may seem easy to you but not where I live. Here in Bridgeport, Connecticut, most of the population is into Rap & Hip Hop, and I know there are some schools where they do have Jazz bands but those people have no time for my band. Not that many people play these instruments, maybe I could find some in churches??

I remember a kid from my old high school who is 17 and he could play Gospel piano like it was just a walk in the park. This other person I knew could play guitar real nice too. Maybe I need to search for those people.

If you have a band, how did you come together?

 

[Jolle]

I was walking around with my sax all day. Had to play as a clown with a circus I was hanging around with, and there was a marching band too. They asked me if I liked to jam with them a bit. So I did. Then the trumpet player told me he was starting a ska-band, and if I would like to join. So I did.

In april, I saw another band on stage, and went to chat with the band leader afterwards. When he asked about his music, I answered honestly I liked it, but that I thought a horn section of just an alt sax and a trumpet is not really powerful enough. He agreed, so I joined them on tenor and bariton.

Basically all my performances now come from mingling with musicians and getting opportunities. Soon I'll start something with an accordeon player and a violin.

For the record : the one thing I don't play is jazz.

 

[JazzItUp]

Jolle, you don't play Jazz?!

What are you playing then sir?

D I am trying to picture a clown with a Saxophone. Not that you are a clown, it's because you said you were a clown and you had to play. Well you know what I meant!)

 

[Jolle]

mainly mestizo-ska, klezmer and poppy tunes. I do play some standards when alone, but I'm too slow to produce a decent solo (I can't follow the chord progressions).

But I'm working on that. Next year another year of classes.

 

[saxjuss]

In my hometown and homecountry there is same problem,everyone into rap&hip hop ,hardstyle,trance,heavy metal and stuff.So there is hard to find people to play in a jazz band or any other band.If your hometown has a musicshool you can search there if not,make a announcement that you are making band and need players
Good luck with it

 

[saxjuss]

Mostly nowadays kids dont know or dont like music what is made with instrumentsThats a sad fact

 

[Jolle]

Nice to live in Belgium then. Live bands are really appreciated here. We play more often at parties and we have tons of festivals in the country.

I'm told our jazz scene is quite famous internationally too, but it ain't that big.

 

[saxjuss]

Cool,we have some big bands left in whole country
There was alot of bands and orchesters but when the times changed bands died out because there was nomore trad. dancing partys.

 

[roberthelpus]

Is there a local music forum? If so post there. An ad in a local entertainment or alternative weekly rag.

Are there jams around town. These are usually in bars so you might have to talk the staff into letting you in.

Most music stores have a bulletin board for putting musicians available wanted notices up.

Don't limit yourself to just musicians your own age or even the type of music either. the more you get out there the more likely you will meet others with your interests. An old bandmate of mine who is a little over 50 is playing rock guitar with some avid young cats around 20. I love it. They give him a good workout and he adds spice and tone that you just can't get from most 20 somethings.

Have fun. I know you will.

 

[NickW]

you think its hard for you to form a band? im13 and from london and most of the people in my area are into hip hop, grime & garage. some people like soul n rnb but dnt even play instruments. only people i kno who play have no feel for it. its bullsh*t

 

[madgrocer]

We found everyone in our band through the internet, or through friends of people we found on the internet..
Craigslist, mainly Bandmix, and some local website ads.. other bands that I've played with have found me on bandmix.. thats been the most productive site for us/me. http://www.bandmix.com
I found a guitar player who was looking to do what I wanted to do on BandMix, he already had found a bass player that way.. and so on and so on... lot of personnel changes later, it all came together.
Now once you you have the band together... Booking it is a whole different story.. still working on that one!!

 

[RootyTootoot]

you think its hard for you to form a band? im13 and from london and most of the people in my area are into hip hop, grime & garage. some people like soul n rnb but dnt even play instruments. only people i kno who play have no feel for it. its bullsh*t

OW! I can hear the pain in that! It might help a little if you don't think in terms of "forming a band" but rather of finding just one like-minded musician of about your own age and skill who wants to play some stuff together with you (what music they like most is unimportant, the most important thing is that both of you want to collaborate). That person could play any instrument at all. Rehearse a little with that person and take it from there...

 

[JazzItUp]

maybe having a older person would help make you a better player. Never thought about that, they can help out with improvising and melodies and everything in between.

Here's the tough question, would they play my kind of music?

(YIKES!)

 

[Saxmusiclover]

maybe having a older person would help make you a better player. Never thought about that, they can help out with improvising and melodies and everything in between.

Here's the tough question, would they play my kind of music?

(YIKES!)

It's a sad fact but most people who like jazz tend to be "older".
I would advise you to wait until you're over 18, before forming/joining a band with a bunch of seasoned "geezers", for two reasons:
* The kind who play the music you like usually hang out in places where you have to be of alcohol-drinking age to get in; and
* You may end up learning "things" other than music which may not necessarily be good for you at your age right now (but of course that's where the fun is).

 

[Finnerski]

I am trying to picture a clown with a Saxophone. Not that you are a clown, it's because you said you were a clown and you had to play. Well you know what I meant!)

Here you go. How about six of them.
http://webhome.idirect.com/~lederm3/6bb/sbb1.htm

 

[Jolle]

D I am trying to picture a clown with a Saxophone. Not that you are a clown, it's because you said you were a clown and you had to play. Well you know what I meant!)

Those days, I wasn't playing on stage yet. I did other things :

 

[docformat]

NIckW - if you can't form a band in London you're not looking hard enough - I don't care how old you are!

JazzItUp - I have more sympathy for your situation. What you need to do is turn a difficult situation to your advantage - reach out to your peers who like different styles by incorporating it into your music. Some people will cry 'sell out' but this all good music starts out as a fusion - as long as you remain committed to musicianship, innovation, craft and self-expression that's all that matters.

 

[docformat]

Jolle

I hear you have a great street carnival in Gent.

 

[JL]

Here you go. How about six of them.
http://webhome.idirect.com/~lederm3/6bb/sbb1.htm

LOL, yeah it fits! Looks like those of us who play Bueschers are a bunch of clowns.......

Anyway, jazzitup, I was going to suggest checking out some jam sessions, but most of them are held in bars. You might find one in a bar/restaurant where you don't need to be 21 to get in. A jam session is a good way to meet other musicians who share your interests. How about at school? Is there a jazz or music program where you attend school? If so, see if you can recruit some others from the music program.

Oh, and age doesn't matter, except for the fact that you're "underage" for the bars. Have patience, time flies.

Meanwhile, keep practicing, learning tunes, and playing along with cds so when you do get to a jam you can play.

 

[Jolle]

Jolle

I hear you have a great street carnival in Gent.

All over the country in fact. Aalst is very famous for its carnival, and during the year you find a lot of street art festivals that might come close to carnival as well

Sorry Jazzitup to hijack your thread. Plenty of good advice here though.