Volume XXI, Number 26 (Issue 1030) June 26, 2023
Eight Questions | Chapter Five | Part 1 Building a Cohesive Team – Making Beautiful Music
Have you ever considered the numerous roles required to bring a symphony to life? The process starts with a composer. Consumed by a bit of musical inspiration, that individual transcribes the tune in their head to paper. After scoring the assorted parts, the next stop is the publisher. From there the composition comes to the attention of a conductor or a symphony’s musical director who adds the piece to the symphony’s library and season. Once it is scheduled, the orchestra begins rehearsing. Some of those rehearsals take place under the care and direction of the conductor. Other times, the individual musicians rehearse on their own or in small groups (sections). Practice and rehearsal are the watchwords.
At this point let’s take a brief side excursion to consider the conductor since they tend to be the most visible member of the team. Most audiences experience the conductor as the individual who, after introducing the piece, turns their back on them, taps their baton to signal to the symphony it is time to begin, and then flails about in discernable patterns meant to signal to each musician how and when they are to play their chosen instrument. Because most conductors have a better than working knowledge of each instrument, its sound, and capabilities, and because the typical score allows for considerable interpretation, it is not unusual for each conductor to bring something special and unique to the performance.
The thing is the musicians are far from the only members of the team. We focus on the conductor, musicians, and their performance because they are highly visible as well as central to the audience’s experience. However, the concert and the totality of the experience could not happen without the efforts of a lot of other people, including a large number who are mostly behind the scenes. For instance, there is the publicist, box office and ticket sales personnel, ushers, the music librarian, lighting and sound engineers, concessions, printers, accountants, together with all the people who oversee, manage, and maintain the facility. Each plays an important role in bringing the symphony to life. To this list we can add the donors and benefactors who help to underwrite the symphony’s operations.
Odds are I am overlooking a few roles and the people who fulfill them. Still, the above list, incomplete as it might be, should remind us that successful events and great outcomes involve a lot of moving parts and depend upon people with varied
skills. Whether the organization under consideration is a commercial or governmental enterprise, an educational institution, a faith-based or charitable entity, or something similar, success is often spelled T-E-A-M-W-O-R-K. And though not everyone is positioned to bask in the glow of the spotlight and the warmth of the applause, every task well done contributes to the outcome.
Soli Deo Gloria
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” Psalms 133:1-3
J. Keith Hughey
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E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
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Transforming Potential into Unmatched Performance
Copyright 2023 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. The entire early library of Monday Morning Musings issues may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are welcome and encouraged.