What’s worth taking seriously and taking personally in rehearsal?
Take the music seriously.
Take yourself seriously.
Take your commitment personally.
Take other people’s behavior personally.
The key to effective rehearsals where everyone is having fun is to take the music seriously, and be committed, but don’t take yourself too seriously and don’t take other people’s behavior personally.
When you take yourself too seriously, you can’t relax and have fun in the lighter moments of rehearsal. And when you take other people’s behavior personally, you can’t help but end up offended by others’ choices.
Of course take the music seriously. That’s why we’re here together. But laugh and have fun along the way. Be serious about the music but don’t be serious. Remember: music should bring us joy. Take it too seriously and you’ll find the joy fade away.