One of the worst experiences as a music major is showing up to rehearsal unprepared and getting grilled by the director. Individual preparedness for music ensembles is extremely important and necessary for the success of the group. Each ensemble is built up of many individual members and each has an important role to play in creating the ensemble’s sound and musical texture.

One moment that has stuck with me throughout the past few years of college is the first percussion ensemble rehearsal I walked into as a freshman. I had a busy schedule, so I wasn’t able to pick up the music prior to the rehearsal. I was also thinking, “It’s the first rehearsal, there’s no way my professor will expect me to be able to play the piece well.” However, little did I know that everyone else had picked up the music a day or more before and practiced it. After making a bunch of stupid counting and sightreading mistakes, the professor put me on the spot to play a super difficult part by myself. At this point, I was extremely embarrassed, stressed, and anxious from being put on the spot, and I just completely butchered the part. I left that rehearsal extremely embarrassed and went straight to a practice room instead of returning to my dorm. I frustratedly practiced and also texted many other members of the ensemble to apologize for my lack of preparation. As I was practicing, I realized that I wasn’t extremely flustered by my own lack of preparation, but rather by how I may have disappointed, or let down the other musicians who all put in their due diligence before the rehearsal.

This experience led to many late nights of practice, especially at the beginning of each concert cycle, so I could show up to every rehearsal as prepared as could be. I set a goal of trying to be the most prepared person in every ensemble that I was a part of and even to have a basic understanding of others’ parts and how they fit into mine and the piece as a whole. Many people thought I was crazy when I would ask for music early so that I could practice it and be prepared for the first read-through, however, I tried my best for every rehearsal after that first day in percussion ensemble.

“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV

Similar to a music ensemble where every musician has a part to play for the piece, when we gather together as believers, each member can have a portion to share. Each musical part and each member of the Body come together to create the whole and portray the full picture. In the verse from 1 Corinthians above, Paul mentions the different aspects of what members can bring to a gathering and then writes “let all things be done for building up.” One way that I read this statement was to not allow yourself to be puffed up or bring something for any other purpose than the building up of the members. To compare this to the music metaphor, being puffed up would be similar to showing up at an ensemble rehearsal and showing off how well you know your part or putting others down for their lack of preparation. The way it should be approached, is that you should be prepared and ready for rehearsal for the purpose of providing a solid sound and support to the members around you, for the full ensemble sound, and for the building up of each individual member. When I am ready and prepared for rehearsal, it gives me more mental space to consider how I could help others and I am able to provide tips or suggestions to other people in my section because my focus is not completely absorbed by an unprepared part. I am able to support the full ensemble by laying down a solid foundation of sound, and also encouraging those around me. It is much easier to play with someone who is solidly laying down a beat, rather than someone else who is stumbling through their part, and I always tried to be someone who everyone could feel comfortable listening back to and playing with.

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” 1 Peter 2:2 ESV

When I was practicing one day, I was taking a break and stumbled onto this verse. I realized that this mindset is similar to how I needed to practice a lot to be prepared for ensemble, and to progress as a percussionist, I needed to long for spiritual milk as a believer of Christ. I should be like a babe longing for milk, so that I can be fed and grow and have something to offer for the building up of the Body.

Let us long for pure spiritual milk so that we may each have a hymn, lesson, revelation, tongue, or interpretation for the building up of the saints!