Leadership

Articles to read:

The Problem with Talent (And What to Do About It)

Why do I shudder when people use the word ‘talented’ to describe me? Why would I ask journalists and marketers to remove it from articles about me? Though it might seem like praise, the word ‘talent’ actually holds us and our people back.

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Ten Decembers

Our past needn't dictate our future. Success is the product of persistence, sustained effort and being willing to change.

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Does our repertoire reflect our people?

Well, does it? If the answer's no, then we've got work to do. Here's how to get better.

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Ask more, tell less

The path to musical nirvana starts with a single question. And the path to musical hell starts with telling the ensemble what to do.

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How will I go? Top tips for returning to in person rehearsals

Going back to in person rehearsals? Congratulations! Excited? Scared? Me too! Here's how to manage yourself and mentally prepare for going back, without burning out

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The one word that can make or break you as a conductor and leader

There is one word that immediately creates division, disconnection and a power imbalance within our ensembles. And we use it so often on the podium, we often have no awareness we're saying it.

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An Overachiever's Honest Resume: How I Almost Quit Conducting

Outward success isn't always what it seems. Feeling left behind while others thrive? Chances are, they're feeling the same way.

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Podcasts to listen to:

S2E7: Memorable Performances - Balancing Stability vs. Risk Taking

How do you plan for and reveal that extra level of energy in the performance and connect meaningfully with the audience? What's required to balance stability vs. risk-taking onstage? How can we best use limited sound-check time to instil confidence while meeting everyone's needs and preserving energy?

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S2E6: Final Rehearsals - Cultivating Confidence and Security

What's the goal of final rehearsals? How do we ensure preparedness while keeping the music fresh? How do we need to adapt our rehearsals to build confidence in groups that perform rarely vs. those that perform often? What's the value of practicing performing, rather than just rehearsing? We tackle all this and more in this episode focussed on final rehearsals and sound checks.

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S2E5: Fostering Engagement with Questions, Conviction & Repetition

How do you know when to keep working at a passage or just move on? How do you balance your own interpretation vs. making space for the musicians' ideas? What's the role of non-verbal communication in effective rehearsals? What might we learn from taking more notice of what's going on in the room?

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S2E4: Plan, Reflect Adapt - How to Make Progress in Rehearsal

How can we set ourselves up to listen better in rehearsals? What can be planned in advance, and when do we need to adapt our plans? What tools can we use to make our rehearsals more efficient? What does good feedback for players look like, and how can we deliver it in a sensitive way? We tackle all these questions and more as we explore the nitty gritty of middle rehearsals.

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S2E3: First rehearsals - trust, expectations and listening like crazy

It's the all-important first rehearsal! What is needed from both conductors and players in the first rehearsal? How does stress play a role? How do we navigate the dynamics of conducting professional versus educational orchestras? How can understanding attention help us set more reasonable expectations for ourselves, and the musicians?

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S2E0: Better Rehearsals - Trailer

What do players need from conductors from before the first rehearsal up to the performance? Dive in with us in this sneak peek of our newest season!

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