Teamwork in Music

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