Knut Birkeland: I had a chat with Jan this morning and heard that the “SGL-taffel” was a great success! _ During our conversation, we discussed how music can be a powerful metaphor for teamwork. Since Jan is considering launching an English version of the SGL website, I thought it might be useful to highlight this idea. As someone who plays multiple instruments and has experience in concert bands, I know how tough it is to make different sounds blend beautifully.

What Does Music Have to Do with Teamwork?

A lot, actually!
Just like a team, a musical ensemble needs everyone to be in sync. Interpreting a musical score in the same way isn’t easy — it takes communication, practice, and trust. When you add more instruments and voices to the mix, things get even more challenging. But thanks to the invention of music notation (which dates back to the 500s and was perfected around the year 1000), musicians today can play music composed over the past 1000 years
The bigger the orchestra, the greater the challenge. Let me give you two examples that really bring this to life:

1. Borodin – String Quartet No. 2

Borodin was actually a professor of chemistry, but he composed music in his free time. This quartet is one of his most famous works. What’s fascinating is how he gives each musician a chance to lead. No one overshadows the others — they all take turns playing the main theme. This is the essence of great teamwork: everyone contributes, and everyone gets to shine. Pay attention to how the musicians communicate with glances and subtle gestures.