Don't waste your time with Orb, its a very niche item for very specific uses mostly early in server progression. Anything you're going to solo you will likely be able to land songs on with no debuffs and certainly Fufils and eventually OOS will cover anything you need and are easier to use in that regard. The stronger drums from Kunark/Velious (Selos/drums of the beast) more than offset the value of the Orb.
46-51 is amazing in LOIO doing the bloodgills. Also a fan of Spectres in Feerrott. Generally velious mobs are harder than prior releases.
Bard is an awesome class because you can do whatever you want. I tend to stick more towards solo just because its faster exp and easier to come and go when you want but you have a ton of utility in groups as well. Charm kiting is my favorite leveling strat which it sounds like you're doing currently. I recommend equipping a drum and using your DoTs between each charm then switching targets every charm break, its the most efficient way to kill mobs using charm.
As far as raiding pay attention to the guilds on your server and identify who you would like to join. There is some raiding you can do from 46-52 (naggy/vox/planes) but some of the harder content most guilds want 52+, 55+, or 60 for. 55 is really a huge level for bard raiding wise as its when you get your final cantana and OOS, the main 2 songs you use for raiding.
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