When I was a young child, my parents asked me what extracurricular activity I wanted to start so I could make some friends and develop hobbies. They suggested the usual options of dance or gymnastics or basketball, but I told them I wanted to play violin. They dropped the topic and tried again a few months later, probably expecting me to have changed my mind but my answer remained the same. I was determined to become a violinist. Thirteen years later, I thank myself for that decision constantly.

When many people think of learning instruments, they immediately think of private lessons and screechy recital videos posted on Youtube. While the first few years are indeed often like that for many beginners, playing music is also about so much more. For most of the thirteen years I’ve been playing I’ve been apart of ensembles. My first orchestras were no New York Philharmonic, certainly, but they taught me invaluable skills that have applications far beyond just violin performance.

On my way to class last week, I overheard a couple of athletes talking about what it means to be part of a successful team and how that’s helped them in their academic career. From the little snippet of their conversation I heard, they were drawing connections between their early training in teamwork and their ability to be successful with group projects and forming bonds with others. One of them then made a comment about how it was a shame that only athletes could experience these team benefits. His friend agreed, saying that sports was the only cooperative experience that could build those kinds of skills.

Music ensembles are certainly vastly different than sports, but they’re a team in their own kind of way. They’ve taught me the cooperation, teamwork, and camaraderie that’s carried me through many group projects and other assignments. In orchestra, there are two teams. You and your section members all play the same part, and therefore must work together to make that part sound like one voice using common stylistic techniques and unified bowing. Your whole section must also work with all the other sections to bring the piece to life. The orchestra depends on this cooperation between everyone as much as it depends on every individual. If one person plays the wrong notes or doesn’t know their rhythm, it can ruin the entire piece. On the flip side, an individual who knows their part well can help and inspire others to make the piece reach its maximum potential. There are opportunities for leadership as well. As principal of a section, you’re responsible for everyone else and making sure that any notes from your conductor as well as any relevant markings are passed on. As a soloist, you have a chance to be featured and supported by all your fellow musicians.

Teamwork is crucial in other ensembles such as quartets and bands as well. Whenever two musicians want to play music together, there is a kind of teamwork that is mandatory. While it may not be the same kind of training you receive in an athletic environment, I believe music ensembles still deserve the distinction of being a team activity.