Mentoring session #2: experimental musical collaborations

On Friday 9 February, I had my second mentoring session with Peter Wielgold, via Zoom, as I work towards a series of experimental musical collaborations.

Picking up from the theme of our previous session — “creating the conditions to happen upon something” — today’s session was spent considering in more practical detail the ways in which this need be prepared for, then facilitated and lead, within the sessions coming up in February and March.

My instinct is to prepare for the upcoming sessions much as I would prepare for lessons or seminars, where I think of planning and preparation much like an artist preparing their pallet: assembling elements to be easily drawn upon in response the way in which a session unfolds.

As I considered the elements which I would need to have to hand —to begin and then shape new musical ideas with others — it became clear that is a need prepare tools, techniques, approaches, methodologies and activities which allow for translating “the philosophical into the musical to make it workable”.

In practical terms, this means bringing starting points which invite others in: being both specific enough and open enough to allow others to see how they might join in, and to then do so.

It also means consideration of both the instrument and the person: drawing on coaching and leadership skills and approaches to actively identify and develop desirable aspects, ideas and qualities as they present themselves.