Tuning Slide 4.49- On Playing Together

Weekly Reflections on Life and Music

If I'm playing with a good band, I can last all night but a crappy, loud, out of tune band croaks my chops.
— Unknown

As that quote implies, the people we play with in our bands can make a big difference in how we play. While we may at times like to be the serious, top-shelf musician in our band, the truth is that such a position is not one that we truly want. In the long run, the best type of band to be in is one that is good and yet challenges us to be more than we have been. That begins with the idea of teamwork. In surfing the Internet I came across a number of articles that focus on this aspect of music and life. The first was from Engauge, a company in Great Britain that is in human resources and management consulting. The article, written by Vandy Massey was titled “Orchestras are a model for good teamwork”. There were seven elements in the list and they tell us a great deal about what we can learn in a band of any type that can then be applied to so many areas. As is my habit in these posts, the original material is in normal type and my comments are in italics.

◦ Knowledge – it’s important that everyone knows the repertoire. If not, there are bound to be hold-ups, mistakes or inconsistency as the wrong sheets of music are read, and confusion causes cacophony.

Another description for this is that knowledge keeps us all on the same page. That requires communication among the members of the team. Even for an orchestra, jazz band, or ensemble, it is more than just the repertoire, it is about the team environment and how we express that to each other. Often such communication needs to be a two-way circuit- each member needs to give helpful feedback to continue working on the same agenda.

◦ Resources – ensuring that everyone has all the equipment they need. Are the music stands in place, and is there enough seating, in the right order and at the correct distances from each other? It’s impossible to make sublime music without the right kit.

While this may not always apply to each of us individually, but resources are also part of the communication and knowledge system. Talk with each other; find the areas of uncertainty; make sure each member of the team is willing to do their own part on providing for the growth and betterment of the team.

◦ Culture – Is there a culture of participation or competition? Do all the musicians co-operate to ensure the right collection of instruments play at exactly the right moment at the perfect volume? Or are there some divas who make sure their sound is heard above all others – even when that’s not going to create the best overall experience for the audience

You can also call this the ambiance or environment of the group. Does the group feed you or drain you of energy. It is not about the individual, for example, it is about working together. If that is not a commonly accepted goal, it can be difficult. Sometimes groups have to work hard to fix a broken culture; other times the group just falls apart. With the right culture, built on the other things in this list, a group can grow and improve.

◦ Resilience – What happens if someone skips a beat? Do other members help carry the music? Or does blame culture mean that individuals are pilloried rather than supported.

If the team isn’t communicating and in agreement about the group’s purpose, it is hard to be resilient as a group. Group resilience is, as they say here, how do we respond when there is a mistake, someone makes a mistake or for some reason or another ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time? Positive and creative support allows the group to grow, to respond, to succeed.

◦ Commitment – Months of rehearsal and planning go into a performance. To make sure all the preparation pays off, every member must stay focused and committed to the last note.

If you are in a volunteer group, this can be the source of some of the greatest difficulties. The place of the group in a person’s priorities can get in the way of a commitment. While in any group there can be different levels of commitment, the focus of the group must remain important. Commitment means practicing the music and a willingness to make it the best music you can play. It means supporting the others in the team and being willing to work together.

◦ Sensitivity – Are individual members sensitive to and aware of the needs of the others? If they aren’t, there’s the potential for one person’s difficulties to diminish the overall listening experience. If everyone is aware and responsive, the conductor can adapt the sound at the flick of a baton.

If all I care about is my sound and my needs and my situation, the group will never make it, the teamwork will fall apart.

◦ Leadership – is the whole orchestra inspired and poised to entertain? Do they trust that their conductor will lead them through a flawless performance to rapturous applause?

Each of us is a leader to those around us, but a good group needs a team leader who can make a difference. In smaller ensembles we can learn “shared leadership,” but there is often one who leads if only by serving the whole team or helping set vision and direction. Is there one or sometimes two people in the group who have the ability to inspire you or others? How do YOU contribute to that leadership?

The last question I asked about your contribution to the leadership may be the central focus of the post. Be honest with yourself- are you a help or a hindrance? (Yes, any one of us can be a hindrance. Sometimes it is due to our own egos or just being in a bad mood.) Do you take the time to know the needs of the group and help provide them? Do you support the culture and positive environment of the group, helping it to be resilient? What is your commitment level and how sensitive are you to the other group members' needs? Put them together, how is your leadership helpful to the group and what can I do to continually improve?

Next rehearsal- take a moment to do this personal inventory and then build on it.