There are three different visions you should have for your ensemble during every rehearsal.
- Vision for where the ensemble should be at the end of today’s rehearsal.
- Vision for where the ensemble should be on the next concert day.
- Vision for where the ensemble should be in five years.
Each vision will lead to different decisions today and should be considered. Sometimes the visions will be conflicting:
Today, I might have to sacrifice moving towards the concert day vision, because of the needs in the room today. (More than once I’ve scrapped my rehearsal plan because my singers were mentally exhausted from some event out of my control. I’ve led meditations, played games, read children’s books, and so on.)
On the flip side, if I don’t keep my five-year vision regularly present in my mind and planning, I guarantee that five years will pass without those changes coming to pass.