It’s easy, in busy lives, to forget that an ensemble exists from one rehearsal to the next. Bridging that gap–just remembering you’re part of something–can be a great step towards excellence.
I am constantly arguing both sides of this argument in my head:
- I want my ensemble members committed, prioritizing their group and individual work.
- I want my ensemble members to have a balanced life in which they can commit to all their many interests.
Finding the middle ground to satisfy both of those is hard: do I impose daily practice expectations and rehearsal absence consequences to force them to prioritize the ensemble, or do I bend over backwards to accommodate each individual?
Oftentimes, I land in this middle position: I want you to remember you’re in this group every day.
Practice, if there’s time. Be at rehearsals, barring essential absences. Anticipate the needs and challenges of the ensemble.
But most of all, just remember you’re in the group. From there, intrinsic motivation and commitment to fellow ensemble members should take care of the rest.