ABSTRACT
This chapter explores something of the nature of group-based rehearsing and the opportunities it presents for developing musicians' personal attributes and life skills. The typical popular music band, comprising between four and six musicians, is an ideal group size for developing skills appropriate to the 'life-world' of the music rehearsal. Difficulties among group members, whether arising from deteriorating interpersonal relationships, creative tensions, accusations of musical incompetence or a lack of commitment, are not untypical of the problems experienced at one time or another during band rehearsals. The single personal attribute cited as one that interviewees wanted to develop more than any other was confidence. Raising levels of awareness in rehearsal through identifying personal attributes in a peer learning system can help band members to develop and improve qualities which are success in their professional lives as working musicians.
