Make Time For Observing

Do you find time to watch experts do your job?

When you were in college, you observed experts teaching and rehearsing. Every rehearsal I’ve ever sung in included ample opportunity to watch the conductor do the work of running a rehearsal. Every well-taught class I’ve been in was well-taught, and I was watching the teacher do the teaching.

Once you get in the world, though, you never do get that time. You might go months without watching another choir director rehearse, or a voice teacher work, or a teacher teach. You’re too busy doing your own work!

And that’s too bad, because watching experts do the same work as you do can be inspiring, affirming, and educational. Finding time to do that over my career has been one of the best vehicles for my own growth as a teacher and conductor.