Seven Signs of Successful Ensembles – Part 2

Thank you to those of you who reached out personally thanking me for Part I in this post – I was pleasantly surprised with comments, encouragement and (nice) demands for Part II. I take great unabashed joy to write about this part of the music ensemble. As I mentioned last week, there are core components here that are influenced by the important work of Bennett Reimer. I look forward to conversations with many of you about Seven Signs of Successful Ensembles (Part II).

Part I examined the aspects of trust, respect, courage and competence. Each of these qualities are a barometer of sorts for developing a culture that is self-regulated and committed to improving the experience for the individual and the ensemble. They do not guarantee that every note is in tune, the right music has been selected, studied, and rehearsed, or that the final performance will go flawlessly. The previously mentioned four aspects – along with cooperation, passion, and pride which will be discussed today – are important personal decisions that point the ensemble towards success.

Cooperation

Regardless of the size or kind of ensemble, cooperation is the working together of people, instruments, and ideas. Effective cooperation allows a director to meld the personalities, interests, passions, and abilities into a cohesive whole that can maximize every opportunity. From year to year, many groups may change and evolve in terms of ability, size, and temperament. Cooperation becomes paramount to manage and balance this process. Patience becomes an important characteristic trait that is developed as groups of people cooperate.

Cooperation is not always easy to achieve. It does require some humility on the part of a director so that ego will not impede a decision that would be in the best interest of the group. From the perspective of the players, they must recognize the criticism they receive from their peers is not intended to be harmful. It stems from a desire to maximize every opportunity with everyone giving their best effort for the good of the group. There are many that can do something, but more can be accomplished and realized by an ensemble that who are committed to working together for the best possible result.

Passion

Courage enables leaders to have passion for their group and the purpose which that group serves. Passionate leaders are single-minded in purpose as they aspire for the absolute best for their groups. Although some connect the word passion with strong emotions, passionate leaders regulate their own emotions in a healthy manner. Passionate leaders hold compassion for the individuals within the ensemble, and are able to forgive honest mistakes or missteps along the way. Passionate leaders celebrate the journey in moments of joy and excitement as people and ensembles discover new concepts, acquire new skills, and mature into new areas of their emotional template. Egregious decisions and actions are met with harsh, but appropriate criticism as to properly convey the breach of trust and respect that has occurred. The passion to pursue the very best instills within leaders and their ensembles to be above the mundane and trivial trappings of their surroundings.

Pride

A successful director understands the context of their ensembles, and desires for their success as it is a reflection upon them. A leader understands there should be a reward for the effort that precedes accomplishment in a great moment. Pride allows a director and their ensemble to savor that moment with a healthy perspective. Pride can be a positive trait that allows us to be satisfied with our effort, our association with the group and with others, and engages our mind and spirit for noble purpose. Pride prompts leaders to sacrifice personal ease and interest, and encourages them to pursue accomplishments that are far greater than themselves or their ensemble. A director with a healthy perspective on pride understands that groups of individuals can have great mind and heart, action that is relentlessly positive, and can be elevating for the dignity of the individual member.

Some directors may define “success” for their ensemble through use of extrinsic indicators, while other directors work within their ensemble to define success on an annual basis. Regardless of where you and your group might be on that continuum, attaining success with an ensemble must remain a part of the journey and not an endpoint. A successful trip, a successful experience with a piece of music, or a successful festival or contest experience are not enough to completely define the success of our ensemble anymore than a bad rehearsal, negative remarks by an adjudicator, or our ensemble not connecting with a piece of core repertoire. Successful ensembles are no accidental combination of people, repertoire, and experiences. They are the product of intentional, dedicated teaching on the part of a director who recognizes the importance of respect, trust, courage, competence, cooperation, passion and pride. The effective director understands these qualities are vital to the success of the ensemble. Thank you for considering these ideas, and best wishes to you and your ensemble.