Thanks for your comments regarding adding the melody. With the help of a friend I figured out what I wanted to do, got the background track silenced and the melody left on. Did this by right clicking on the Combo, Melody, and so on, leaving things muted or un-muted.

Mac had a good point about not playing w/the band, the notation goes all whacky, tied notes all over the sheet, etc.

I have to get used to "playing on the spot", being perfect with the rhthym as I record. I played chamber music for years so I should be able to play with a "band" and get it right. I can slow the tempo down and get more comfortable with it that way.