The Best Way to Keep Rehearsal Notes

A productive rehearsal has a plan going in and a record coming out. Without notes, the same issues come up week after week because nobody remembers what was identified last time.

Before Rehearsal: What to Prepare

A good rehearsal starts with a plan. What songs are you working on? What specific parts need attention? Is there a new song to learn, or an existing one to tighten? Having this written down and shared with the band before rehearsal means everyone arrives prepared.

You spend less time deciding what to work on and more time actually working on it.

During Rehearsal: What to Note

When you identify a problem — a section that keeps going wrong, a tempo that drags, a part that a member hasn't nailed — write it down. Not with judgement, just as information: "Bridge of song X — drums dragging on the bar 5 fill."

Also note what you decided. If you change a key, adjust an arrangement, or decide to drop a song from the set, write it down immediately. Decisions made in the room have a way of being forgotten by the next rehearsal.

After Rehearsal: What to Carry Forward

After the session, quickly review your notes. What's resolved? What still needs work? What's priority for next time? This five-minute review turns your rehearsal notes into a to-do list for the next session.

Keep these notes in Dashplan alongside your setlist and gig records, so everything about a song's development is in one place — not scattered across voice memos and text threads.