Thoughts on Collaboration

We use a number of means to collaborate. We don’t have the luxury of having unlimited rehearsal time and are forced to maximize our time together. We are getting rather good at sharing ideas, sketches and compositions via phone and e-mail. While this approach is never as effective as rehearsing together, it has benefits. One aspect which I enjoy is the time-delay associated with e-mail. When I receive an idea or a sketch, I can look at it briefly and let it rest for some time before I really begin to dig in. This internalization of the ideas can yield some surprising results. Especially when it leads me to a place which wasn’t originally intended. Perhaps the original idea reminds me of something quite different. If we remain open to shifts like that, it can help us discover some fascinating music.