Effective studio feedback is personal.
First, it’s based on personal trust. Without trust, any constructive feedback can be like hitting the brakes hard on the session productivity.
Given trust, the feedback must then be individualized. It requires understanding how the performer is experiencing the session – what’s hard, what’s easy. What will they be able to hear and take in?
Studio time is expensive, so it also needs to be specific, clear, brief, and actionable.
In my experience, effective leadership in the studio is much harder than leadership in rehearsal, and it comes down to the psychological component. Especially with students, who don’t often spend time in the studio, there are some significant mental hurdles to overcome.
Even despite these challenges, I think studio work is one of the best ways to use time and money on an ensemble. There is so much to learn in the studio.