Posted by Tracy on March 23, 2003 at 19:36:54:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Tuba Tyrant posted by Rick Denney on March 23, 2003 at 15:47:31:
Maintaining professionalism is important in every situation and it is especially so in community and volunteer ensembles where players often wear their ego on their sleeve. All to often, musicians are not only asked to play based on their ability, but based upon how they work and play with others. One of the quickest ways one can get their self blacklisted, is to run their mouth about a fellow members playing in rehearsal. Unfortunately, community ensembles often have one or two malcontents who are firmly planted in their position. The absolute only thing you can do is to be a professional about it. In fact, a professional attitude should go hand in hand with commitment to the group.
Winning and losing is part of life. How we deal with either of those shows us what type of people we are. If someone is trying to force another out of an ensemble that they enjoy performing in, the best thing to do is to keep a cool head and be an adult about it. But if that person quits, the jerk will have won and the other guy will have lost out on a good playing opportuinty. Somehow, you implied that I sugessted this was some type of ego competition. Nothing could be further from the truth! The competition should always end at the audition. Furthermore, politics have always found their slimy way into music. There's nothing anyone can do about it except be the best player they can be with the most professional attitude. That includes working and playing well with others.
Tracy "who thinks professionalism is important everywhere" Bedgood