Three Key Ingredients for a Sustainable Ensemble

I think it is fair to say that most musicians who start an ensemble hope that it will be sustainable.  There are many factors that effect the longevity of a group of musicians, but let me suggest three key ingredients for keeping your ensemble together and moving forward past at least the 5 year mark.  And I am thinking generally about small to medium size ensembles.

Have Shared Goals – If we are talking about a quartet, each member must be on the same page in terms of their commitment to the group, where they want to go as an ensemble and as individuals.  If everyone doesn’t share the same goals, the priorities of each member will be different and the group will not be able to sustain itself over the long term.  With slightly larger groups, you may have a core of members, plus others who have a smaller role.  In that case, it is the core members who must believe the in shared goals of the ensemble.  Regardless of the size of the group, take time to talk about your goals as an ensemble – what you want to achieve and how you plan to do it.

Have a Clearly Defined Structure / Roles – Be very clear about who is responsible for what. Does everyone in the ensemble have some administrative duty as well, or are there separate administrative staff?  Try to be clear with what is expected of each member and this will help everyone feel like they are committed.  Structure of your ensemble and roles can change over time, so talk about these things.  But if you don’t think about them, situations will surely arise that create tensions between members of the group when it seems like not everyone is pulling their weight.

Be Flexible – Have goals, plans, and a clear idea of roles and responsibilities within your group.  But be flexible – things will change.  Life tends to get in the way sometimes; a member will need to relocate, someone will take on a new job, funding for your latest project might not all come through, etc. Be open to change, be creative with resources, and be flexible when needed.