The most effective rehearsals for me are ones where I feel I have achieved something musically. Playing something technically correct and where everyone stays together is nice, but it is only part of the picture. When I play something musically or am a part of a group that does, I leave the rehearsal feeling refreshed and energized. I also leave motivated to keep working so that the next rehearsal sounds even better.
As a teacher, my goal is to make sure that every rehearsal contains some kind of musical moment. I want to work on reducing how much I talk, because this can kill that momentum - I saw this first hand during my observation at Haslett High School. While I know part of my job is technical accuracy, most people do not participate in school music to achieve technical perfection. I can't allow myself to focus on a tree and lose sight of the forest. The most rewarding rehearsals are the ones where the music is the focus, not the technique.
Again, talking is thinking in language. Musician is thinking in sound. It seems so obvious but it is a challenge to keep the music-making at the fore.
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