The Good Musician

Whether you are a vocal or instrumental musician, you want to get the most from those times you perform with other musicians. Here are ten tips to make your rehearsals more productive and enjoyable.

1. Print a copy of your contract or schedule including dates, times, and locations of rehearsals.

2. Look at your music ahead of time—mark unusual events, such as key and meter changes, tricky intervals—anything that might trip you up.

3. Keep a gig bag with your music, schedule, 3 of your favorite pencils/erasers, tissues; and your “stuff”—cork grease, back pillow, dental floss…

4. Arrive early enough to properly prepare. Warm up before rehearsal if you can, if not, throughout the day, certainly when you arrive.

5. Find a corner and do some stretching exercises to relax and limber up.

6. Set up so that you have a direct line of sight to the conductor, and position your music just below that line, slightly tilted. All you need to do is glance down at your score now and again.

7. Sit or stand in an alert, grounded stance without slouching or crossing your legs.

8. Focus your attention on the conductor at all times, especially at beginnings and ends of phrases, rits, accelerandi, et al.

9. When the conductor stops, you stop. Chattering and continuing after a cutoff wastes everyone’s precious time.

10. Bring your best musicianship—make every rehearsal a dress rehearsal and you’ll improve your skills while having fun.

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