How to Be a Great Bandmate
Lakehouse Music Academy’s Director of Education, Dr. Rob Derke, is an award-winning saxophonist and seasoned touring musician. With his rich teaching background, a doctorate of education from Vanderbilt, and decades of experience on international stages, Dr. Rob is bringing his world-class musical expertise to Lakehouse students and staff.
Embrace diversity
Each member will bring a different skill set, perspective, and interest in various genres. This is your chance to learn something new, and who knows, you might like it! If everyone always wanted to play the same song, things would get pretty boring and it would limit your chances to improve as a musician.
Welcome challenges
There is no better feeling than accomplishing something challenging. The better you get, the faster you get better, and the way to do that is to challenge yourself! Sometimes this means making yourself vulnerable, but that's the beauty of a great band - a group of people who support each other's growth and give their bandmates time and space to work on skills that will ultimately contribute to everyone's success.
Trust the process
Bands are social, and as in all social contexts, things can get bumpy. Perhaps a bandmate seems a little aggressive in choosing music - but maybe that's because they're scared to play music that they don't know or are afraid to perform poorly. We all have different ways of coping with new and challenging situations. Be patient with others, trust the leadership of your instructor, and focus on the task at hand - growing as an artist and a band.
Dr. Rob Derke
Director of Education
