I have been thinking a lot about teamwork lately - Teamwork In the corporate world as well as in the world of being a musician. Ensemble musicianship has taught me so much about teamwork that is relevant to any career. Below are some bullet points on areas I think being a musician requires teamwork. Do you use any of these tactics in the corporate world or in your workplaces?

Teamwork Necessities - Musicians:

• Knowing your material first. Each performer needs to know their part first before they can fit it in with the rest of the group. Have you practiced? Have you studied? Have you prepared? Knowing your part first can help you analyze complex situations before they arise. This could help you lead a productive meeting.
  
  
• Listening/eye contact. Listening for patterns or harmonic progressions for cues. Listening to co-workers, listening to their concerns or suggestions. You don't know everything and its good to have advisors. Being in sync with other ensemble members by watching. Sometimes facial expressions can even signal a cue for a change in tempo, mood, or be a cue.
  
  
• Not panicking during a mistake. Being able to find your place and/or recover after making a mistake is important.
  
  
• Not being critical when a teammate makes a mistake. Keep going, and try to use eye contact or other cues to help them out with pattern recognition.
  
  
• Common goal? Talking as a group to discuss how you want the piece to sound. How fast, what timbre, what style...etc. What is your vision, what is your mission? Have you taken time to define this as a team?

Successful teams have many other qualities. These are just a few. If you are a musician, the next time your perform in a group think about these. If you are not a musician, have you used any of these techniques? Did you ever think musicians needed so much interpersonal relationship skills to work towards a common goal?

Happy team-building!
Larissa

Here a some pics from a recent wedding I played with cellist Matthew Heyboer. Violin/Cello.

I performed recently with Jordan VanHemert, saxophonist in his recital at Grace Episcopal church. Really cool times, classical/jazz violin in a small ensemble with sax solos. I love branching out a bit from just classical repertoire. Picture of program is below.

Also, here is a YouTube video of Jordan and a project I was involved in a few months back. Not the same music we played in the 'Grace Notes' recital, but of similar nature.

Larissa

This Thursday, June 21st I will be performing with the Holland Symphony in the Pops at the Pier Concert with the Moxie Strings as guest artist. Come check it out!! It's a really fun venue. The concert is in a boat shed. More info at link here.

Recently I took a fun vacation to Ireland! Here are some pics of some great street musicians who were performing in Galway. I bought two of their CDs. One is some music with a spanish flare, the other is acoustic guitar music. Love em! Saw some other wonderful street musicians there as well. When I walked by, this group was playing a tango. Makes me want to take my next vacation to Spain!