The Jamming Takahina

No pictures today. Bet you guys have enough of Takahina flaunting his own dashing looks. Lucky people...

Anyways, Takahina has been in bands, bands that does originals, bands that does covers, even an instrumental band. To be frank, other than Child's Play, most other bands I've been with don't seen to have any possibilities of playing again, be it's because it's just me, or simply we don't keep in contact anymore. Not that Child's Play is the best band I've played with, it's just the feel and chemistry we have with each other, it makes it unforgettable.

I've played in a band whether I've done nothing at all, waiting for the keyboardist to forget out things to play. And what was the songlist? My Immortal from Evanescenes. So I, the drummer kinda just sat there, waiting for everything to proceed properly, before I can play like 16 bars of my stuff at the end of the song.



Anyways, here's the song if you wanna know what I'm talking about.

That band hasn't contact me anymore. The bassist Alex is quite good, and I played with him again in another band, kinda a faithful coincidence actually.

Also, right now I'm with another band, a chinese band which included another bassist that I've played with before in ANOTHER band. I don't know what's gonna happen to this band in the future, so I'll just sit and wait and open my eyes.

But anyways, what I wanna talk about in this topic is ALL BEYOND THAT.

No names to be stated, but recently I've heard about a few things about this certain guy who seems to "manipulate" young budding musicians, into bands and stuff, with promises of this and that and his vision of the band.

I've played with him before, he didn't really call me up after like 3 sessions. Don't know is it because of my skills or my character. I have a feeling it's both. My skill is too good for him, and my character is too sharp for him.

(ok la, I'm too boastful here, even at Takahinian level).

Anyways, not trying to be critical, but I've heard of some ridiculous things he has done.

1.

Some band fund policy thingy which he had. Like wanting band members to contribute money to the band fund and using it to buy stuff for the band like digital cameras etc etc, useful stuff for stage performance, demo recording and such.

He had several things up to it, like needing a 3 month contract with the band, if not no $$ back.

Whoa, so you mean to say the band is a contract now... why you got them to sign anything? Are they like protected by the band protection union?? Well workers... even freaking bangala foreign workers have them. You want me to apply NTUC protection for you? So they have like

"Band members insurance against defective band leaders."

Why for all I know, you could just take the $$ and run off. Hah, if so then I'll be "band leader" a long time ago, and many people in the scene would hate me with such anger that even Satan would be worried of containing.


2.

Promises which sound fantastic and compels with your dream, but are often ridiculous after some logical thinking and time.

You know contacts in Japan, you promise this bunch of young musicians you found on some local music website and tell them dreams of the band. Going to Japan to perform, going for gigs, doing originals.

But seriously, if you gather a bunch of beginners, will you be willing to let them go overseas if their standard still isn't on par after like a year or 2 of band practices? Even Takahina doesn't have the confident to go overseas to perform, maybe Benji has, maybe Huimin has, I know Edwin definitely have, but nah, I don't. And I analyze players that I play with, I find it almost IMPOSSIBLE to nurture them up in a year. It takes time, like long term investments, bonds, share dividends, derivatives.

Next, you don't show people your contacts, you don't let your band members know exactly what is going on, you think they'll still trust you? Your status as a band leader will drop to a fucking common thug.

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Look, the thing about band funds, not that it's bad, I have been in bands that handle band funds, EvE for example. But that the way you're putting it up with all the rules and stuff on a freaking forum named after you (Why, you're very big ar? Immortal Lee also don't have his own forum, only his fanpage forum ruled by a bunch of Leenatics) , is a little too overwhelming. Firstly, you're not a fucking company, you're just a fucking person with contacts to Japan, and god knows (The song I jammed with him is God Knows by Aya Hirano btw) where in Japan. For all I know you could be just waiting to sell some innocent girls to Japan's porn industry and earn commission from it. And yes they'll be making music alright, "music" that makes guys have boners.

I could be writing a bit too aggressively, but to make my point through I have to be ridiculous. Being so overwhelming could harm both ways. Firstly you lose band members, people who trust in you, will feel cheated. They will feel as if you're out there to own their money. Even if you have the heart to nurture them, this is not the way.

So my advice to young musicians, on an unofficial Takahina's guide to music is as such:

Please take note, I go the Takahina way.

How Takahina progressed in his ways of drumming, to a current status whereby he's prolly intermediate at most at 22 years old.

I have been involves with bands, not a lot, but I learn from each band, in that I learn how to deal with politics, how to see things properly, how to see whether a band is promising or not.

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Advice number 1: Dream big is fine, but make it realistic.

Seriously, there are so many bands which I've been in, wanting to achieve this, achieve that. Currently the closest one I've seen and about to make it is Elyzia, with their appearnace in Audition, their persistent diligence in the local music scene. They have performed in many gigs and many locations even overseas. Countdown parties, Christmas party etc etc. To be frank, I was once skeptical, but now I think they could actually achieve their aim, which I believe is to make a mark in the local music scene.

How many bands I have been in, saying that want to go to Japan (mostly the Jrock bands actually), how many bands have I been in, saying that they want to gig this and that. Well not that you can't do it, 1 word direct, your standard isn't there yet. Not to fret though.

Takahina believes in a simple logic. 欲速则不达。 More haste less speed.

To achieve dreams, you need hardwork and time. Seriously it's much more difficult than just creating a guitar rift, and saying you have created an original, no. It's a band's effort, to increasing everyone's chemistry, everyone's skill level, everyone's commitment into the band. It could take from 1 year up to even your whole lifetime to achieve it. There's no use in setting irrational goals, like to create an album within a year, or to cover and gig in any gigs which you can grab. No.

To do all those, you need standard, you need time to propel the band through. 1 standard route I will use, is to constantly search for band members whereby everyone is comfortable with each other, everyone is happy with each other, everyone has the same attitude of willingness to learn, and willingness to commit. It could take a whole lifetime to search them out (and yes, probably you're dead before you can achieve your dream). To me, skill level doesn't matter, I can be damn shitty while you're as pro as god who can play 1000000 chords and keys in a bpm. Who cares.

Eventually, as long as you have the attitude, you can reach godly status.

You go for selected gigs, do selected objectives, like...

"Objectives: To jam in St fest 2010." Etc.

But your goal...

"Goal: To be able to perform in your own personal concert with at least 500 fans, in front of your family and friends."

Slowly have objectives, which will lead up to your goal. And as you set out to achieve objectives, you level up. Seriously it's like play a RPG. As you progress along you level up. Unless you tio curse la, but seriously God Save The Queen.

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Advice number 2: Never stop learning.

This is something which Takahina is guilty of. In the past I refuse to do double bass, but now I'm starting to get the hang of it, Grottesca somehow helped me handle it.

So you see? I'm learning.

The fact is that in a band, in EVERY band you're in, you learn something. I learnt how to make originals in EvE, double bass ABC in Grottesca, my initial gig experience with Le Foret, my stint as a band leader in Child's Play, recapturing drumming basics when teaching Patricia and Karen and my uncle, even playing Drummania teaches me the many unique grooves and fills. It continues on.

You can also continue learning more, from teachers, seniors etc etc. Don't let things like NS cut you down, NS provides more free time than you think actually.

After finishing my driving lessons, I'll resume my drum lessons from Jimmy. I won't stop learning it, and no way I could ever stop. You think Steve Gadd, one of the world's best drummer and my grand-teacher (he taught Jimmy Lee) would have nothing to learn anymore, but no, he's still continuously producing new talents, producing new stuff on the drums which awe.

So whatever musicians out there, just a shout out to you, don't stop learning.

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Advice number 3: Attitude. Raw is War.

If you have a rockstar attitude, I suggest you stop your music career right now and go be a summon auntie. At least you can rockstar them when you give them summon.

Good attitude attracts good talents, good attitudes enhances your speed in learning, good attitude makes a band more conducive and cohesive. Seriously nothing will go wrong with good attitude. If you are a miser, unwilling to share, unwilling to commit, always late, giving lame reasons to not jam, playing around during jamming and not being serious ALL THE TIME (occasional happiness in the band is fine, but if it's constant you're worse than Joker). I suggest you just stop music. It's not for you.

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Advice number 4: Band leaders.

They are important people. They direct the band's route, and sets the goals and objectives for the band. Normally how good a band leader is, dictates the route of the band into heaven or hell.

So if a band leader is unclear about what he wants from the band, unable to control the band, always playing around, losing confidence from his band mates, you need to do some self reflection.

Listen, and don't be overly selfish, the band is not made of you, you're not the fucking Hitler of the band.

And please be realistic. If the band sucks, it sucks. Don't force the band to perform. Seriously.

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Ok enough.

Anyways, hope musicians/band leaders/bands alike that do manage to read this, know what I feel about the whole situation.

... Even though I feel the situation won't change 1 freaking bit. >_>

And to that guy who didn't wanna use me after like 3 jam sessions, I gathered a bit of info, and from what I know, your current band is like... erm, I don't know what to say. Members keep changing, you get young... as in REAL YOUNG INEXPERIENCED PEOPLE to play with you, and you prompt the drummer to play fast play fast play fast, while in the meantime you awe him with your "metal" guitar skills... (Drummers take note, it's the timing and groove that is important, not to wank of the drums. You don't wank with drums, you wank with your dick.)

Heh heh heh.

Give any of my Gengers (Rurounis) a week on the guitar and he can play better than you I swear.