Take the music seriously, but not too seriously.
I’ll never understand the angry conductors. (Think: Tár, Whiplash, even Mr. Holland’s Opus.)
Many conductors seem to fall into the pattern of believing that high standards necessarily mean high-key reactions to our ensembles falling short.
But we all fall short, we all strive and fail. And when a conductors fails to recognize this, they undermine the opportunity to celebrate our shared humanity and build connection.
The angry coach approach breaks down connection.
In the end, it comes down to this simple statement: We get to make music. Music is the most powerful tool I know for connection, both inside the ensemble and between the ensemble and the audience. It is a profound gift to be able spend time in rehearsal on making music.
Do I get frustrated when progress is slow? Of course, of course. But I do my best to take a breath, remember that we get to make music, and try again.