JP Honk: How to Lead a Song

[Suggested “Best Practices”]

Know the structure and general characteristics of the song, as much as you can

• What the sections 1, 2, 3 etc each sound like
• What typical sequence the sections are played in
• Are there sections of the song that should be played softer or louder?
• How does the song end?

As appropriate, before starting the song remind everybody how the ending goes

• Will there be a stinger or a decelerando?
• A triple-tag or a double-tag?

Pay close attention as the song proceeds because your biggest responsibility is: during the final phrase of each section, give a hand signal for the immediate next section (1, 2, 3 etc; vocals; back to head; etc)

• So you might want to opt out from soloing, if you are leading the song
• "During the final phrase of each section" means be careful not to signal too far in advance... this requires a little practice but you will quickly get the hang of it

If you want softer, hold hand flattened horizontally palm down and motion it downward/lower

• For louder, same but palm up and motion it higher/upward

To go back to “the head” i.e. everybody plays (usually means section 1)

• tap your flattened hand on the top of your head
• OR point your index finger upward and motion your hand in a circle

For vocals, move your hand in a duck-quack motion

For songs with solos

• If there are few soloists, the solos can be typical length (i.e. not shortened):
• Option to have all play the chorus between each solo (song not too long)
• If there are lots of soloists, make the solos shorter:
• Hand signal for short solo is thumb and forefinger open like U shape with pinching motion toward each other horizontally
• You can have one solo immediately after another (keep song manageably short)

When pointing out soloists

• Be sure to make eye contact with the person and get their consent indicating they want to solo and they are ready to solo, just before they take over
• When they should start, cue the person with an open-upward hand, or hand held high up with finger(s) pointed directly at the individual soloist
• If possible, at least on songs with typical-length solos (i.e. not super short solos such as commonly done for Second Line), try to alternate instruments, i.e. trumpet then sax then trombone before an additional trumpet, etc
• Think about pointing out a pair of soloists (or even a trio) and asking them solo together ("trade 4s")
• Also try to alternate brighter/louder instruments (trumpet, alto sax, trombone) with softer/mellower instruments (melodica, baritone)
• When a solo by a softer/mellower instrument is about to start, it sometimes can be helpful to gently signal to the percussion that they should get softer during the solo
• Use flattened hand horizontal, palm down, and pushing downward/lower

To signal the end of the song is coming up, use a closed fist

• For a stinger ending, motion your fist with the beat, to keep pace on tempo so folks don't slow down, and bang out the stinger
• If it is decelerando, lead the slow-down, so people can stay together with each other
• If it is long vibrato sustain, spread hand out all fingers wide/separate and vibrate them