The past month has been great. Aside from getting married (which was a truly great day- but not really the point I’m writing about- but bringing up last month without mentioning it seems wrong- oh well, back to my original point, which I haven’t started yet), I had the pleasure of filling a few different musical roles. October started with a Tromba Mundi tour that ended in Carnegie Hall. Last weekend I was in Houston to play lead for a Pops show with the Houston Symphony. And this weekend I’ll be the guest soloist with the Indiana Wind Symphony. This has me thinking about how we function in ensembles, and the responsibilities for each role. Problems in ensembles often occur because people are either unaware of their roles, or unwilling to serve in them.

There are three settings that make up a majority of our performances. They are: Soloist, Chamber Musician, and Ensemble Member. Much has been written about how to work well with others (show up on time, have proper equipment, have a pencil ready, etc.), so today we’re going to focus on the musical responsibilities. All three share this responsibility:

Show up to rehearsal prepared

Rehearsal is not a time to learn your part. Rehearsal is the time to put parts together and make decisions about how the music will be played. The better prepared each person shows up, the easier it is to get meaningful musical work done.

1. Soloist

As a soloist, you dictate the musical style. It is your job to be clear, both when playing and speaking, to the other musicians about what your vision of the music is. Your job is to be a great leader. Being a leader isn’t just telling others what to do- it’s also listening to other opinions and being someone people want to follow.

2. Chamber Musician

What I mean by this designation is anytime you are performing in a group of any size without a conductor or designated leader. Here your job is to be part of a team. Your responsibilities include offering your opinions as well as listening to others to build the best possible musical product. Being flexible is very important. It’s okay to have disagreements. How those disagreements are handled can dictate the future of a group. Learning to work well in this situation is one of the most valuable skills you can have. You want to be someone others want as part of their team.

3. Ensemble Member

As a member of an ensemble with a conductor or designated leader, your job is to commit to that leader’s musical vision- whether you agree with it or not. Be the person that helps get everyone on the same page. If you do this, you will be someone that people want to work with.

Looking at these three descriptions might have you wondering which one you would like to be. My recommendation is to be all three. The more you appreciate each role, the easier you understand how others operate. If you are a soloist, think about how you communicate with your ensemble. When you are in a chamber setting, consider that others in the group could feel just as strongly about something as you do, and yet not agree with you. As an ensemble member, know how difficult it can be to run a group and keep everyone moving in the same direction.

If you do this, you can be someone people always want to work with, no matter what the circumstances.