It works 60% of the time, all the time
October 15, 2008
by: Jenny Baxter- AWS percussionist
On this blog I could pretend we worked together great 100% of the time but that would obviously be lying and journalists generally try to stay away from that. Tonight honestly was not a good or a fun rehearsal and I think everyone left a lot more down than they’d come in.
The good thing about the practice was that 89.5 FM’s Lilly Gibson came to record our songs and some interviews for the station’s Saturday Matinee program. It was great to receive the press but we also felt pressure from a recording to air on public radio.
The great thing about this ensemble is that we’re open and discussion is encouraged. Patrick doesn’t sugar coat anything for us and I feel like I could tell him about any problems I have, giving it right back. That’s why I can talk about our rehearsal in this post. Patrick can get very emotional when we’re performing under our potential and though I felt uncomfortable and stressed out while he confronted the ensemble, he made it clear that it’s because he cares about us so much and wants us to think of ourselves as much more than amateurs.
This is the reason why we can be honest and talk out our thoughts and feelings when we need to. It’s because music involves the internal heart and brain as well as the external limbs and lips. It’s because we come every week, make a commitment to the group and strive to do more than play the notes on the page.
The source of our stress is also the source of our joy–the performance– and I think we should remember that, especially coming into next week’s rehearsals.
I wore my Star Trek: The Symphonic Frontier shirt yesterday into a costume store and an employee there got so excited when she saw it and heard about our concert. I hope we think about all those people who have grown up watching Star Trek and light up with joy at the thought of this concert. I hope we think of these people not only when they’re right in front of us, but when we’re tired at the end of rehearsal and don’t feel like giving everything to the music.
Good comments, Jenny! It is great to remember the purpose for the stress! The concert which we stress out about makes all of the work worthwhile. Thank you!
Some of my most memorable ass chewing’s have been from band teachers or conductors in my life time. Truly stung at times. As I look back on those as I get older, I can honestly say that the people I respect most in my life, the people that I have gleaned a little wisdom here and there, the people that have literally shaped who I have become….(wait for it) are those same people. Why do I remember and still keep in touch with Don Knox in Gaylax Virginia, some 30 + years after attending and performing in band in Naples Italy at the DOD school there? That respect never dies, or diminishes. I feel your pain. Think of it this way, it’s like having braces. You get used to the pain, (and in some ways which are a little twisted) kind of liked it. But you don’t remember how much that pain changed our lives until the braces come off and have nice straight teeth.
It’s that pain that keeps on giving. Keep up the great work! Oh.. and thanks for the shout out in one of your previous posts. I can’t wait to perform with you on Thursday and Friday nights this week! As I said.. I miss the pain. Cheers! Jim Kipping.