I hear ideas, concerns, and problems, in addition to many compliments and positive suggestions. I also have the distinct pleasure of hearing all the concerts presented at Birch Creek over the course of the season. Fortunately, having been trained as a musician, listening comes easy. Critical listening is an essential skill for musicians, coupled with the ability to synthesize what you have heard and then make immediate adjustments in performance. Synthesizing all the ideas and comments heard in the course of a day, not to mention the entire season, can be overwhelming.
Some ideas take shape immediately, and some take years.
Some ideas have been tried in the past, and some are just not appropriate for Birch Creek at this time. The following are two key examples of how comments and ideas received are used at Birch Creek. At the conclusion of each session, exit meetings are held with the program director, key ensemble directors and faculty, administration, and trustees. A critical look at the session just completed generates constructive comments that are used to plan and improve upon the session for the upcoming year. Birch Creek is also currently embarking on a new long-range plan.