John Thomas, the conductor of the Tawas Community Band and a former member of  Bay Concert Band, took the following article from the Journal of the Association of Concert Bands.  It is written by Thomas Proctor, who is the personnel manager, chairman-of-the-board and principal horn of the Greater Miami Symphonic Band.

The article is “Rehearsal and Concert Etiquette and Performance Suggestions.”

• Unless you play every note perfectly, have patience with an individual or section having difficulty playing a passage.
• If you make a mistake during a solo, don’t grimace, frown, shake your head or make some other gesture to draw attention to what has happened.
• If you arrive late to a rehearsal, put your instrument together and wait until the conductor stops the music before you join the ensemble.
• Try to ask specific questions about your part during a break or after rehearsal.
• Unnecessary talking during rehearsal is disturbing to the conductor and fellow band members.
• Mark your part for reminders and then be responsible to play it correctly.
• Show respect for a soloist by not making movements that are a distraction.
• Pay attention at the end of a piece to see if you or your section is being asked to stand for acknowledgement by the audience.
• Stop when the conductor stops during rehearsals.
• Do not challenge the conductor in front of the group. Questions about tempo, dynamics, etc., should be brought during a break or after rehearsal.

“We know all of this but a reminder never hurts.  My own addition is to keep the rehearsals productive and enjoyable.  We do the best we can do, entertain the audience and have fun doing it.”

JT