What are your ensemble’s keywords?
In preparation for the Rockford Aces’ fifteenth anniversary celebration, I asked our alumni to answer that question. I loved reading their responses and learning about what they carried with them – and how it mapped onto how I think about the ensemble.
Some words that came up frequently: camaraderie, brotherhood, joy, community, harmony, fun.
Knowing what students across over a decade associate with the group (some of whom never met each other, but offered the same keywords) is a powerful way of knowing what you’re doing well, and what you can connect more effectively on.
Ask yourself what you would choose as keywords, and then ask your students the same question. Do they match? Do they differ?
I think the more clearly you can define the personality of your group, the more successful your group will be in living into that personality.