How does DT go about rehearsing?

[SnakeEyes]

I was just thinking about this today.... how and when do they rehearse?  They make the album, then immediately go into rehearsals or take a break, then rehearse?  How many reheasals do they have and how long are they?  etc....

I would be interested to know more about this.  Anyone know? 

[Adami]

I've haven't heard about them just rehearsing in like 10 years. I know that they do it live a lot, or at least on stage a few hours before the show.

[rumborak]

If they're in any way like my DT tribute band, everybody learns their shit at home, and then you meet and iron out the kinks.

rumborak

[Adami]

I honestly don't think they practice as a band outside of the venue they're playing in.

[SnakeEyes]

Really?  Even after recording a whole new album of crazy instrumental parts and changing time signatures?

[Adami]

Really?  Even after recording a whole new album of crazy instrumental parts and changing time signatures?

If they have a facility to rehearse in, then I'd assume they'd use it to jam in before recording.


I'll wait for bosk to come in and prove me wrong.

[The Letter M]

Really?  Even after recording a whole new album of crazy instrumental parts and changing time signatures?

I think they would just learn their parts (at home) before a couple days of full-band rehearsal at or near their tour's opening night's venue. Other than that, probably not much more than that.

-Marc.

[goo-goo]

I remember seeing Dream Theater on  a video (can't remember which tour) but usually they book a couple of days on the venue before the first gig to test out full production and rehearse a bit. I'm pretty sure they have to have their parts learned and ready to play by that time.

[Perpetual Change]

They rehearse for sure. I've read them talking about it before and several times actually, but I don't have a source.

[SnakeEyes]

I thought I had read about it, too.  ^

[Perpetual Change]

Actually, I think during that Chaos in Motion documentary at one point they're talking to Jordan during a rehearsal break. In the vid he's talking about what kind of songs DT are going to play on the tour.

[Ħ]

I remember Mike saying that the only time he practices is during sound check, which means its the only place they have regular rehearsal.  With the other guys, you always see them playing by themselves and not really with each other.

[EPICVIEW]

They dont need to rehearse..just warm up before walking on stage

[TAC]

I seem to remember MP saying that they got together for a week before the tour.

[ishak540m]

I think it was on the Budokan DVD where JP completely forgot how to play Goodnight Kiss, minutes before the show began, lol. 

[bobs23]

They do about a week before the beginning of a tour.
1, to get there stage legs back under them
2, for production to learn the music ques.

[hefdaddy42]

They do about a week before the beginning of a tour.
1, to get there stage legs back under them
2, for production to learn the music ques.

That's what I was thinking.

[rmp0012002]

I forget what magazine it was in but a few years back JP said they rehearse one week prior to a tour and that's all the time they needed to go over all the material for the tour.  That's a lot of material to cover since MP would pretty much make up the setlist prior to the shows.

[hefdaddy42]

I forget what magazine it was in but a few years back JP said they rehearse one week prior to a tour and that's all the time they needed to go over all the material for the tour.  That's a lot of material to cover since MP would pretty much make up the setlist prior to the shows.

He had the master setlist ready by the time they get together to rehearse.  And a lot of it is stuff they've played thousands of times before.  Most of the work is on the stuff from the new albums and whatever new wrinkles they throw into old songs.

[kala1928]

I honestly don't think they practice as a band outside of the venue they're playing in.

Even though they are seasoned musicians, you just have to play the songs as a band. Prob wont take too long doing it for a week or two before a tour since they can do it for like 12 hours a day if needed being full-time musicians. But still, sitting at home playing along a recorded song or whatever and playing in a band are two completely different things unless the music you're playing is simple and every single structural part is pre-determined.

[blackngold29]

So if I'm reading this thread right... they practice, sometimes they practice before a show, or they practice before the tour, they practice together, and they practice alone, but they've been doing this a long time and don't need to practice, then again this one time in an interview they said never practice. JMX never puts his bass down, he's always practicing. I remember a commentary where MP said "We need to practice that part," but that could've meant anything. Maybe he was talking about making a certain kind of drink from Starbucks.

[bobs23]

Each tour(until now) MP makes a master setlist comprised of songs from the new album and library songs that they will play each night.
The new songs, since never been played before as a group would need to be worked up for live presentation.
The older songs usually get some sort of twist that would need to be rehearsed.
This is the time that the crew hears these and figures out the lighting and effect cues, and audio presets.
The day of show rehearsals are for the fill-in songs that they play for that days performance(normally 2-3 songs)

[hefdaddy42]

Each tour(until now) MP makes a master setlist comprised of songs from the new album and library songs that they will play each night.
The new songs, since never been played before as a group would need to be worked up for live presentation.
The older songs usually get some sort of twist that would need to be rehearsed.
This is the time that the crew hears these and figures out the lighting and effect cues, and audio presets.
The day of show rehearsals are for the fill-in songs that they play for that days performance(normally 2-3 songs)

And this rehearsal usually happens for a week or so before the start of the tour, correct?

[bobs23]

^Si

[hefdaddy42]