Does learning the same exam pieces for a whole term ever seem like a lonely experience?  Do you ever find it difficult to keep up when suddenly thrust into an orchestra rehearsal?

In my experience, these are common problems encountered by many students taking private lessons.  Making music with others is surely one of the biggest joys of learning to play an instrument, yet it always surprises me how many students don’t take the opportunity to play in an ensemble.

The benefits of doing so from the earliest stages of learning are immense, as general musicianship is broadened in every possible way.  Students who play in a quartet or their school orchestra for example have a better sense of pulse, rhythm and intonation than their isolated counterparts.  This heightened musical awareness then naturally feeds back into their private lessons and the rate of personal progress soars.

There are also many extra-musical reasons to play in an ensemble.  One learns the importance of playing a small part in a larger whole, and players of instruments like my own, the viola, learn that having the tune is not always the most important thing!  Chamber music specifically, lacking a conductor, teaches students to work democratically to prepare a piece for performance. Constantly shifting leadership and supporting roles have to be established in order for the group to function.  It is commonly said that being in a string quartet is like a marriage – a statement which rings true to me having been in a quartet for three years!  Nevertheless, the rewards of overcoming difficulties and performing together are immense, as the players share collective ownership over something painstakingly created.

I sometimes wonder how many political problems might be solved if the leaders were to sit down and play some Haydn Quartets together.  A thought for the future, perhaps?