3 Tips for a Happy, Healthy Chamber Group

This may sound weird, but hang in with me for a second: being in a  chamber music group is a lot like dating. Hey, I said hang in there... The timing has to be right, you have to have the same goals, and you get to know and love each other's strengths and weaknesses. The similarities go on and on!

Well, like any happy relationship, there are things you can do to help keep everyone happy. I thought I would share three of those things with you today!

1. Always try it out - This is my #1 most favorite Chamber Music tip - always try out your partner's ideas. Yes, even if you think it's a horrible idea. Chances are if you try it, your partner will agree, but if you don't even try it, you're saying their ideas aren't even worth your time - that's not cool. Take a few seconds and try it out.

2. Division of Labor - Easier for bigger groups, but always important. No one likes to feel like they're doing all of the work by themselves. If you divide the business end being an active chamber group up evenly, everyone is more happy! For example if you're in an active student quartet...

1. One person makes rehearsal room reservations
2. Another coordinates gigs
3. One person coordinates coachings
4. The final person outreach events

No, you won't all be working all of the time, but responsibilities will always be clear and agreed upon by the group. Less confusion, secret resentment, and problems - more getting it done!

3. Opt for understanding - Chamber Music is all about trust, and an intense bond that takes time to create. Well, why not start right away. Make your group a forum for open communication, honesty, and understanding. It's all about actively demonstrating your respect for your partners! If someone shares a concern or problem, always choose understanding instead of defensiveness. You will save hours of strife! Don't forget, these are (or should be) musicians you respect and care about - show it and they'll show it to you :)

How have you maintained a happy chamber group or other relationship?

Distance Practicing

When Jen and I met we were in the same place for almost two weeks.  As you can imagine it was not difficult for us to spend time together, practice, and plan.  However, once we went back to our respective homes on opposite sides of the country things became a little more difficult.  Not only were we planning a concert tour, we were also commissioning new pieces from three different composers from across the country.  Of course there were many phone calls and emails to put together our plans but, how were we going to practice?  We decided that the best thing to do would be to practice in 4 steps.

Step 1:  Jen and I practice at home on our own and learn the music really well. 

Step 2:  Jen sends me a recording of her playing with a metronome:  When I listened to the recordings, I decided to call Jen to ask a couple of questions about the tuning and timbre of her cello, specifically whether she was using equal temperament.  She described how strings and instruments with adjustable pitch are by nature not equally tempered, so that while she had chosen to tune her strings with equal temperament, she wasn’t tuning all of her chords, etc with equal temperament.  That was very important information for me, as I adjusted my intonation between her recordings and my piano.  I practiced with the recordings and then recorded over Jen’s part and sent it back to her so she could get an idea of my phrasing.

Step 3:  Jen and I talk on the phone about tempos:  It was important for us to get a head start on musical priorities and basic ideas before we began rehearsals in Montana.   Jen and I also had conversations about the extended techniques she would be using like sul ponticello and (especially) harmonics.

Step 4:   Coming soon…

-Heather

PS.  If you’re interested in learning more about temperament you can check out this website.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/190596/equal-temperament

PPS.  Here’s a video of Jen playing a piece Mischa Salkind-Pearl wrote for her that uses a lot of extended technique for the cello.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm6MgkWkfbg&feature=channel_video_title