The Benifits of Ensemble Playing

Many people spend many hours taking instrumental lessons and then more time on their personal practice between lessons. Instrumental lessons are extremely important to a pupil’s development and tutors provide essential guidance but I believe it is equally important is to get involved in playing music with other people. Large and small ensembles are a perfect opportunity to do this.

By playing music with other people you get the chance to put into practice all the skills you learn in your instrumental lessons and others that you would never acquire just by playing alone from week to week.

Have you ever had a teacher who has told you that rhythm is the most important part of music, to always keep going if you make a mistake during performances or to count rests properly? By playing in an ensemble you can learn to understand the importance of all of these things first hand, learning is always best through your own experiences. At some time or other most of us will have lacked inspiration to practice, it can be quite a lonely thing to do after all. However, if there is a tough passage in one of the pieces that your ensemble is playing it gives you more inspiration to practice it as you don’t want to be the one letting the group down by not being able to play your part if the others around you can.

Socially it can also be a great thing to do as you meet many new people and you work as a team on something that hopefully is fulfilling and exciting. It’s also a lovely opportunity to perform for others without the terror associated with solo performances and examinations. If you look carefully there will usually be ensembles available for those of all ages, levels and that play a variety of different types of music. Band practice doesn’t necessarily just have to be for kids!