I've been placed in a group with six people I've never met. In the next few weeks we have to get to know each other, agree on a song list and work out how to work together as a rock band.
The drummer asks me "So, what's your band experience?" I don't try to lie; I tell him "None" and see his eyes roll.
Choosing songs is not as easy as you might think. Everyone has their own tastes and preferences for different styles of music, and the level of difficulty has to be taken into account. For me, the range of the song presents a challenge. In the school choir, I had always been a "Second Alto" - we bellowed and growled along the bass line of every song. I have about one octave of range available to me, and there are not many songs that sit within that octave.
Luckily, our coach Tony helps us choose suitable songs and advises on the best keys for me and Allison, the other vocalist in the group. The idea that you could select the key that suits you is a revelation to me. But at the same time it feels a bit like a "cop-out" - that if I was any sort of singer I would be able to sing the song in its original key. It takes a long while to change this mind-set and prevent my self-esteem from being eroded when I need a different key.
I'm very lucky to have been placed with good musicians. We have three guitarists, a bass player and drummer, plus another singer. A couple of the guys played semi-professionally in the UK before moving to Australia, starting a family and packing the guitar away in the shed. When people like this get into Weekend Warriors, the guitar never goes back into storage.
The progress of our band follows Tuckman's classic stages of group dynamics: (quotes are from Wikipedia)
Forming - "The individual's behavior is driven by a desire to be accepted by the others, and avoid controversy or conflict. Serious issues and feelings are avoided, and people focus on being busy with routines, such as team organization, who does what, when to meet, etc. Individuals are also gathering information and impressions - about each other, and about the scope of the task and how to approach it. This is a comfortable stage to be in, but the avoidance of conflict and threat means that not much actually gets done."
Storming - "Every group will next enter the storming stage in which different ideas compete for consideration. The team addresses issues such as what problems they are really supposed to solve, how they will function independently and together and what leadership model they will accept. Team members open up to each other and confront each other's ideas and perspectives. In some cases storming can be resolved quickly. In others, the team never leaves this stage. The maturity of some team members usually determines whether the team will ever move out of this stage. Some team members will focus on minutiae to evade real issues.
The storming stage is necessary to the growth of the team. It can be contentious, unpleasant and even painful to members of the team who are averse to conflict. Tolerance of each team member and their differences should be emphasized. Without tolerance and patience the team will fail. This phase can become destructive to the team and will lower motivation if allowed to get out of control. Some teams will never develop past this stage."
Indeed, it does appear at times that the group is on shaky ground. At one rehearsal, we do nothing but argue with each other. The drummer tells me "You should sing that song at my funeral". It's not a compliment. Later he does a dummy spit just like the scene in Spinal Tap.
Norming - "The team manages to have one goal and come to a mutual plan for the team at this stage. Some may have to give up their own ideas and agree with others in order to make the team function. In this stage, all team members take the responsibility and have the ambition to work for the success of the team's goals."
We aim for a high standard. We not only rehearse with coach Tony once a week, but also schedule an extra practice session each week at guitarist Rob's spacious music studio. I find that my basic musical knowledge is very useful - some of the rhythms are a bit tricky, and it's helpful to be able to theorize about how the piece is put together, even though I don't have the sheet music that I'm used to - just guitar tab.
And finally we are ready for:
Perfoming - "It is possible for some teams to reach the performing stage. These high-performing teams are able to function as a unit as they find ways to get the job done smoothly and effectively without inappropriate conflict or the need for external supervision. By this time, they are motivated and knowledgeable. The team members are now competent, autonomous and able to handle the decision-making process without supervision. Dissent is expected and allowed as long as it is channeled through means acceptable to the team."
The month is up, and it's almost show time.
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