How do you determine when to play? How much? And when to hold back?
It depends: 1.) On the song; 2) On how strong the group is; and, 3) what part of the service the selection is being played.
It’s how much you play, but rather what one has to say musically when they do play. On some songs one can play a few whole notes and say more musically, than a bunch of 8th and 16th notes.
In Church, playing as part of a group tends to be more important, because that’s what the people in the pews (PIP’s) hear – the group. They are a captive audience to a certain degree, and that’s a double edge sword. Some are there to worship and some are there to be entertained. Although, all of them will tell you is all about worship. We are there to minister to all of them, without judgment.
None of us want to do is to stick out like a sore thumb, whether it’s volume level or just playing too much. The key is listening to what is going on around you. And compliment it, whether that means backing off completely or stepping up and blowing your eye balls out. If one is blowing a 100%, then the rest of the group should be at 100%, as not to overshadow what everyone else is doing. There are times when it’s time to just let the horn go and just listen. This leaves you somewhere to go in the song. If you start out full blast, where are you going to go from there? Where is the dynamic? It’s always good to keep the GROUP dynamic in mind.
Solos are usually at the direction of the director. Although, there is Carte Blanche, the key is to keep it that way. It is usually when the song isn’t long enough for a particular part of the service. Sometimes, that happens in rehearsal or it can also happen on the spot, when a whole bunch of extra folks show up for communion and the director decides on an instrumental verse. There are also times when just the horn and the keyboard (piano or organ) play the entire song.
It’s not a bad thing that people tell you that they want to hear more of you. But it’s far better to let them imagine how you would sound, rather than playing too much. Their imagination is a good thing. Hero worship always feels good, but it’s Church. I wouldn’t discount what the wife is telling you. Your wife hears you all of the time, including your practice at home.
If you play every week, once the congregation gets used to what you are doing, they will become like your wife. It’s O.K. now because they don’t hear you are home. But after, week after week after week, the same effect will kick in. Things will build up after a while. The first one to notice is usually the wife. On the other hand, if it’s all single women telling you that they need more, well that’s other story.
Do you play every week? The places I play every week are a tougher crowd because they are used to the horn. It’s the same effect as listening to just one artist on the radio or through you home sound system all day.
The places played every other week are a little more enthusiastic. And, of course the first time one plays anywhere is when they really go nuts. Every other weekend, I play in three churches, so it’s interesting to watch the different reactions. If Grover Washington Jr. (when he was alive) played every week in a church, they would get used to him. So, it really doesn’t matter how good one is. The better one is, the longer it will take for them to get tired of you. But eventually.... I used to have the privilege of playing with a flute player that was on the jazz charts every time he cut a CD. He on the local public radio and plays the local clubs. It was the same with him.
Are there set aside solos for the sax or do you improvise at will? There are written parts in our sheet music, mostly for other instruments (which are usually real pedestrian.) The worst was when they told me to play a hand bell part, because it came with the sheet music. That was the worst. Between the time of the rehearsal to the service, something else is worked out that is more for saxophone, and that will compliment the rest of the group, instead of the instrumental part that comes with the music. The instrumental parts are usually for flute, trumpet, clarinet and sometimes oboe. There is one song that is based on “Take Five,” entitled “Sing the Lord’s Goodness.” We usually do it for a closer. That’s one of the few times where it is over the top – on purpose. At my age, it’s nice to know I still have it.
I used to improvise all the time, now I read a lot more. Still improvise, but only on occasion.
The older I get, the more I realize that whatever one doesn’t play – God will fill in the blanks.
It seems like your wife is on one end and the congregation is one the other. Maybe, it’s time for a third opinion from the people you play with? It’s better to get it from all sides now, rather than when you least expect it.
When in doubt, lay out.
Ben brings up a good point about concerts versus "the service." Some groups that I work with do Concerts once or twice a year. That where you can let it all hang out -- at the concert.
Just thinking out loud.
