How do you handle a significant regression between rehearsals?
Significant regression is rare, but occasionally happens. I think there are usually significant mitigating factors – absences, tiredness, or the weather, to name three.
I think the important thing is to acknowledge the regression. There’s no pointing in denying it, and if you’re teaching your students to be smart musicians, they already know.
Acknowledge the regression, and then acknowledge this cognitive dissonance.
- There is no reason for anyone to take the blame or leave rehearsal frustrated. It happens, and it’s not necessarily anyone’s fault. We don’t own the regression.
- Each of us has to take responsibility to make sure that these significant regressions don’t happen regularly. We have to own it.