Tuesday, June 5, 2007.10:43 AM

Ensemble Playing

Came across this Blog entry when I was doing research on Knowledge Management. The guy was using orchestra as an analogy in explaining some concepts.

"The leader of the orchestra isn't the conductor, it's the principal violin player. The conductor's there to set the right tempo and manage the interpretation of the piece the orchestra's playing."

The conductor, concert master and principal players need to provide the direction and coordination if their musicians have no clue at all. However, if the conductor doesn't even know that his musicians are not playing together and seem to collapse everytime a meter change occurs in a piece, is there anything left for the orchestra to do to save themselves? After all, you're the one waving the stick right?

Internal Pulse
If our musicians don't even try to keep an internal pulse, not even Herbert von Karajan can make us play together.

Communication
This requires the musicians to be receptive to comments and not act defensively in order to protect your own 'face'.

Listen
Ears are there for a purpose. Listen out for what other musicians are playing and what part do you play in it?

Teamwork
Do we even need more elaboration on this?

Finally, another great blog entry on knowledge management in orchestra playing - Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

.:. 0C o m m e n t s.:.