Why Chamber Music Is Different (and Maybe Not What You Think)

It wasn’t until I was in high school that I discovered the joy of chamber music.

My first musical performance experiences in my childhood were probably typical for many young music students. I played on my piano teacher’s yearly recitals and I sang in my church choir. Once I started harp lessons, I was also playing harp solos in recitals and performing with several community and youth orchestras.

In high school, though, I found a pianist friend who shared my love of playing music. We were both serious about our music and we created a duo piano and harp recital program, performing it publicly in our senior year of high school. We chose the music, rehearsed it, created posters, gave interviews about the concert to our community newspaper, wrote and printed the programs, and, of course, played the concert. That experience gave me my first taste of true musical collaboration, and having once discovered the joy of making music come alive in partnership with another musician, I knew it had to be a continuing part of my musical life.

Many harpists discover chamber music later than other instrumentalists. While string and wind players often play in trios, quartets and quintets as students, most harpists don’t have this experience. Also, the harp parts - or more often, edited piano parts - that accompany one or two other instruments are often quite challenging, usually at a higher difficulty level than the parts for the other musicians, which puts the harpist at a disadvantage. A frustrating first chamber music experience is likely to be a student’s last chamber music experience, and that’s unfortunate, because I believe we find special opportunities in chamber music.

As a harpist, I value the chance to step away from solo literature and work creatively with other musicians. As a harp teacher, I know that my students find new depth and dimension in their own music when they begin collaborating with other musicians. As a musician, chamber music is where I most fully experience the magic of making music come alive.

Chamber music requires a player to make music according to a different set of priorities. It’s not just about practicing your part and playing it well. Chamber music only works when it is a collaboration, a creative partnership, and this kind of partnership has three key attributes.

First among these is communication. Talking to your musical colleagues is obviously essential but listening to them is even more critical. LIstening to their thoughts and ideas about the music. Listening to the way they phrase or the way they pace a ritardando. LIstening to when they want to move the music ahead or when they want to take more time. And after you’ve listened, being able to talk about it in a spirit of openness, using questions like, “What would you think about doing this?” and “Could we try it this way once and see if we like it?”

Second is that, unlike large ensemble or orchestra playing, chamber music asks you to think of the music as a whole, instead of focusing mainly on your part. In orchestra playing, your job is to play the right notes at the right time so that you fit into the ensemble. The decisions for the ensemble are made by the conductor. In chamber music, you are one of the decision-makers. It’s not about following directions; it’s about making choices and decisions.

Thirdly, and perhaps most important of all, chamber music requires you to trust. You have to trust your musical partners to approach the music with the same level of integrity you are. You have to be able to trust them to value your ideas and opinions in rehearsal and to support you with those in performance. A high level of trust allows you to experiment in rehearsal and take chances even in performance. It makes musical magic possible.

I have been blest with wonderful musical partnerships, some now in their fourth decade. I am so grateful to be able to make music with these amazing musicians and generous human beings. My musical journey wouldn’t have been the same without you, my friends, and I thank you.

Learning to collaborate as a chamber musician is one of the most rewarding things duo playing can teach you — and it's something we coach directly at Chrysalis. If you're ready to explore what a musical partnership could be, we'd love to work with you. Register today.