Working and Playing With Other Musicians - Trust

Music conveys emotion, and it is difficult to open yourself up to conveying these emotions when there is no profound connection enabling that conduit between artist and listener to safely be open. Our instinct is to shield and protect ourselves when surrounded by people we don’t know.

Trust isn’t something you automatically have with anyone; it’s something that is built over time. Of course, this time span is different for everyone. You might hit it off with potential band mates easily, in which case that level of comfort will build rapidly, or it may take you a while to ease into it. While everyone will have to achieve this at their own pace, they will also have to contribute their energy towards building that trust.

There are many different aspects to trust. A conductor has to be able to trust that his orchestra will follow his lead or he may find himself overcompensating and throwing off parts of the musical score. A bandleader has to trust that he can steer the band in different creative directions when warranted.

Many musicians feel this single element is the most essential component in the successful production and performance of music.

“Trust is one of the most important pillars of any successful collaboration. It’s really easy to get stuck in the same habits when working by yourself, so it’s important to trust your partner and allow them to make creative decisions that you might be uncomfortable with at first. Amazing moments happen when you allow the other person to do their thing.” (1)

Trust is built by people working together towards a common goal, in this case a musical goal. There are no real shortcuts to the process, it’s going to require give and take on both ends. If you have a band mate that is pulling in a different creative direction, this could impact your overall long-term trust of each other. If you can find ways to meet in the middle, it will help develop those bonds and make your performances stronger. You will have to trust your gut a lot, and you will have to work on it differently with each musician you come across. But the rewards are well worth the effort.

You will find that when you have a well developed sense of trust, music flows more freely. Improvisation is possible because you trust that your band mates will follow your lead, and they trust the same in you. Mistakes are covered more easily. The music becomes more fluid, and allows the performer and listener to get carried away in its tides.

Special thanks to Adam Ackermann, Joshua Carruthers, Paulina Kervran, and Erik Truelove for their contributions to this article.

(1)​ Eight Tips For Successful Musical Collaboration