When our band started, I (and to some extent my husband) did practically everything in terms of working up songs and leading the effort-- from listening to songs for new material, to transcribing lyrics, arranging, singing lead, teaching material to the group, organizing the library, etc. While we both are capable of this style and extent of leadership, it was never really our preference. We live in a very sparesel-populated area, so we worked with the people who were available and who shared our areas of interest.

Now I am very lucky that others who can share the load have joined us in the last few years. One of them sings lead now almost as often as I do, chooses which songs we might do from our repertoire, and teaches us new songs from time to time. Another is really good in arranging, often from poor-quality historical recordings, and he is a fine bass player who adds a lot to our interpretations in how he works out his part simply, with great embellishment, or anywhere in between. He's also been keeping an eye out for new players we might like to incorporate. I learn a lot from him, for my own arranging, when I see how he solves problems or approaches a piece, as I play it to try it out.

Today furnishes a good example. Tom chose 5 songs for Saturday. (I had found these songs and made up a wordbook plus ready-to-arrange players' sheets, and I have sound files archived for them.) I already had an arrangement for one, and startups on a few others. I emailed Louis a link to hear another one, and the lyric-- the one I was least sure I could capture easily. I arranged the other 3 myself. By the time I was done with those, there was an email from Louis with a .JPG of his arrangement, ready for me to play through and adjust if needed, for autoharp! Wow!

I'm finding that it's very, very comfortable working with these people-- no control issues at all, tho by consensus I still have ultimate veto if something isn't working, so we can move on to something else. And I lead rehearsals because we usually don't have 3 hours for all the gitar noodling some of them would like to have. :~) (Jams are another story!)

How much collaboration (and what kind) do you have in your band, and do you wish you had more, or less, in any area or overall?

~Susan