How To Be A Musical Friend
This is Part 2 in the Competencies Series. See also Part 1 (Personal Comeptence), Part 3 (Scientific Competence) and Part 4 (Practical Competence).
Playing alone is something I like doing a lot. I like it because it makes me free, self-responsible for my doing, my musical creative process.
Unfortunately, it’s also the “easy way”. If musicians stayed isolated for all they do, imagine the amount of music that wouldn’t exist? It’s a laughable thought, but apt enough to illustrate the importance of musicians playing together. Thus, musicians require social competence.
Social competence is the ability to solve problems in a group. Four basic strategies:
- Cooperation: The ability to slice and chop a problem and distribute tasks among a group. The difficulty lies in bringing it all toghethe again at the end.
- Communication: Can you convey messages and needs to your partners efficiently? Do your fellow musicians understand what you want and do you understand what they want?
- Adaption: Can you adapt to a special situation? Are you willing to try new ideas or go with someone else’s idea instead of your own?
- Relationship management: How do you stand in your group apart from the problem? Do you culture friendships and treat each other with respect? How far do you want to go with a certain relation?
Mind-map your band or orchestra and everyone you actively interact with. Try to define each of the four fields for everyone of them. Which relationships work better? Where could you improve?
This process of self-reflection is very important, and as simple as it sounds, it will take you to great lengths. Remember: A musician’s social contacts can keep him alive in tougher times.
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