Rehearsal experience design
Many years ago, an orchestral musician said that I should give a masterclass on rehearsing. I've never forgotten that comment.
I was aware that my rehearsals were usually a good balance between enjoyable and productive, where time seems to move really fast. But the truth is that I had no idea what I was doing to make that happen. It was natural for me and not something I learned from a textbook.
It's probably one of the reasons why I have extensively researched leadership. I wanted to figure out how I was doing it. It bothered me that I couldn't articulate it.
So I thought I'd attempt to describe what a masterclass on rehearsing would look like.
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My masterclass on rehearsing would be all about experience design. Consider the musicians' experience from the moment they engage with you to the moment they leave you. 4 components come to mind:
Clear communication
Frame the invitation in how you ask them to join you. Are you asking them for a favor? Are you giving them something (beyond money)? What are they going to get out of it?
Take care of them before the first rehearsal. Do they have everything they need (music, schedule, etc.) within a respectable time? Do they know what to expect when?
Remember to debrief the experience with them after the concert. How do they know you are proud of them? How would they know that you recognize all that was good, and the not so good?
Communicate your expectations. What are your specific expectations? How do you plan to show to affirm when they are met? How do you plan to give feedback when they are not? Clear is kind.
Awareness of needs in the rehearsal/concert space:
Meet their physical needs. How can they be most comfortable? Do they have equipment that works?
Meet their psychological needs. How could they feel safe to try their best? Do you care if they have a good time?
Meet their belonging needs. How do you greet them when they enter? How do you say goodbye? How do you show gratitude? How do you show support? Do they feel connected with people around them?
Meet their intellectual needs. Are they thinking critically and making creative choices? Are they enjoying the experience? Does it feel like play? If not, what needs to change?
Design around purpose:
Frame the experience around why we are there. What is the ultimate purpose? If not the concert, then what? How do you communicate that? What strategies will allow you to focus more on intrinsic motivation (and away from extrinsic motivation)?
Share the full road map and navigation route. Do they know how long it is going to take? Are they aware of the important checkpoints (like run-through at rehearsal 3)? Do they have information to help them pace themselves? At any given moment, do they know where they stand? This transparency means a lot.
Help them stay invested in the journey. How do you give them reasons to persevere when it gets hard? How often do you remind them of the mission? How do you inspire them to believe in the mission as intensely as you do?
Aim to achieve flow state:
Flow state can be described as when challenge meets skill in an appropriate balance.
Navigating this tightrope of challenge vs. skill requires awareness and flexibility. Does it feel like just enough of a challenge? Are they confident that their skills can help them meet that challenge?
A rehearsal in flow state never feels impossible nor ever feels boring.
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When we think of a rehearsal, we can use experience design to think beyond the lines of music. Communication, awareness of needs, purposeful design, and flow state all offer an initial blueprint to start.
Most of the time, I still don't know what I'm doing, but I do know these will get us closer to designing that exceptional experience for our musicians.
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