Check out this basic outline of what you can expect over the course of 8 weeks in a PickUp Band.

In the first session, the group gets together much like they would at my 3rd Monday Jam, calling out songs in a circle and briefly running through chords, arrangement and harmonies before starting. From this session, a list of potential songs is developed which I will email to everyone with my thoughts on which best suited the group. At this point I may also start creating multi-track harmony files for people to practice with. These files can be faded left or right to hear more of the baritone or tenor parts. Check a few out.

Over the course of the next three sessions, the set list is finalized, arrangements are solidified, and special attention is paid to the interplay between instruments including fills and dynamics. During this time, harmonies are fine tuned through repetition and a close look at how they can be tightened for power and blend. After each session, a recording (at least one version of each song plus any special endings or arrangements worked on) is uploaded to The Pick web site along with an arrangement sheet and comments for each person and the band as a whole.

The next two sessions work on the flow of the set and getting familiar with what needs to be done between songs (retuning, capos, etc). We'll look closely at song order and consider set pacing, key changes, and variety. At this point, arrangements should be very familiar and the focus is shifted to communicating the songs (and band member personalities) to the audience.

The final two sessions before the show are done standing up in front of microphones and recorded to multiple tracks and include discussions of mic approach, stage presentation, and choreography. By the time, the show comes around, the mics and material will be familiar and the band can actually enjoy the experience of playing in front of their friends, their families, and a room full of bluegrass fans.