The Work Must Be Interesting

I like this post from Johnnie Moore called, No conductor? It shares a quote from Benjamin Zander about how  chamber musicians have a higher level of job satisfaction that symphony musicians because in a chamber group there is no conductor. I think it is a great point and recommend you read the post and click throughs.

When Bill and I go to the symphony (we are going to hear Beethoven's 9th this Sunday) I like to sit close and in one of the elevated boxes. Why? I like to see the expressions on the faces of the musicians and I like to watch the conductor. While chamber music is more satisfying to play because there is no conductor, I also think that the quality of the part is important.

Have you noticed that many of the symphony members don't play very much at all? Aside from the 1st chair players and soloists, some of the parts seem downright boring. A note here, a note there - nothing that sounds like a real piece of music.

If you love music and study it for years so that you can play professionally, I bet the last thing you would want to be doing day in and day out is pay 4th chair parts.

And then there is the politics of the symphony - the hierarchy and the drama involved in getting from 4th to 1st chair. And what about these traveling soloists? They've got it good, but imagine what it must feel like to be a 1st chair player playing back-up to some soloist who travels the country taking the best parts from 1st chair players city after city.

I think there are a lot of differences between symphony and chamber music.

Which does your work environment look and feel like? See your workplace from the perspectives of your 3rd and 4th chair players. Many of them would like to make a greater impact - to get a more meaty part every now and then.

And what about your rock stars? Are you taking away their most interesting work when you bring in consultants?