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Re: Leading a Sectional

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-11-08 05:47

You're right about all of this. I still don't want to imply any approval of the band director if, in fact, he has already "abdicated his role" in this. It isn't clear that he had done so before the sectional, apparently, ended up going badly. So the next step in establishing ground rules, expectations and structure is his. Hopefully, he will follow up as needed.

Leadership skills are always valuable. So are the skills of working cooperatively and collaboratively when not in an authoritarian structure. It just shouldn't take a cat fight or a round of "King of the Hill" in a sectional to establish a conducive atmosphere.

No argument, Paul, with your comments about the value of developing leadership skills or with anything else you've said in the general case.

" It is therefore a good idea that the best musicians learn to pass on their knowledge to others, either as "coaches" or section leaders. "

Yes, and it's also a good idea that good musicians learn to accept leadership from others without reacting defensively, maliciously, destructively. Any of us can find ourselves in either position as working musicians or in any other life pursuit. Leading needn't be obnoxious and following needn't be obsequious. Ideally, they're two sides of the same coin, which gets its value from cooperation toward the same goal.

Hopefully, the band director can put Humpty-Dumpty back together.