I do not know if this is your problem or not, but on 3rd Edition...your stats will be one reason that you can/cannot do something. For example, I made a Sorcerer in another game one time. In order for me to cast level 9 spells, my sorcerer's Charisma had to be 19!
Thus, I am lead to think, by what you have described...that whatever stat controls the Bard's ability to do his songs, be it Cha, Int, or Wis...one of them is too low and that is why you are not casting your bard spells. I don't know which one controls that, so I am thus not much help...but maybe I pointed you in the right direction.
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