Orchestra Personality and MBTI Type

Haphazard · 05-17-2008, 07:47 PM

It's long been known in the orchestra that each section of the orchestra seems to have a certain kind of personality -- collectively for the section, if it doesn't hold true for the entire orchestra.

Now I wonder, does this correspond with MBTI? Can we force it? I'll need some help, because I'm only really familiar with string orchestra.

I'll start us out:

Conductor: ENTJ

Even though they don't play an actual instrument, a good conductor has to be innovative with musical interpretation but still be strict in implementation. They keep the entire orchestra on task, but they can also go on their own little 'power trips' if they're not careful.

htb · 05-17-2008, 11:57 PM

Based on my own experience with stereotypical players:

Violinist: ISTJ

Violist: ISFJ

Cello: INFP

Trombonist: ESFP

Clarinetist: INTP

Percussionist: ISTP

Cornetist/Trumpeter: ESTP

Pianist: ENFP

Evan · 05-18-2008, 02:55 AM

leader of the slacker percussion section that basically fixed all the freshman kids' errors: INFJ

oh wait, we're talking about general cases?

Haphazard · 05-18-2008, 03:00 AM

Hmm.

I'd almost type viola as some kind of NT -- at least the ones that start out on viola, rather than the ones that switch, who are still violinists, only with a bonus inferiority complex. 'Absentminded intellectuals,' I've heard. INTP? The usual repetitive music lets their minds wander.

And I'd type Cello as either ENFP or ENTP. Too mellow to be INFP.

htb · 05-18-2008, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haphazard

Too mellow to be INFP.

I was thinking of INFPs who are Enneagram Nines.

While we're casting, harpists are probably the most otherworldly. Which type?

Haphazard · 05-18-2008, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htb

I was thinking of INFPs who are Enneagram Nines.

While we're casting, harpists are probably the most otherworldly. Which type?

INFJ, obviously.

Uberfuhrer · 07-06-2008, 01:34 PM

Synthesizer Programmer: INTJ

Sling · 07-06-2008, 01:54 PM

This is a stupid thread.

But yes:
Lyricist/Vocalist : INFP
Cellist : INTX
Sax Player : ENFJ

Yeah. If your orchestra doesn't have a sax, then it sucks.

moonlit_reveries · 07-07-2008, 06:24 PM

What about the woodwinds?
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
and Bassoon?

Being an oboist, I have a few ideas myself but I'm really curious to hear what others think before I jump in yet.

moonlit_reveries · 07-07-2008, 06:25 PM

whoops, I saw that clarinet was typed already... my bad.
But I'm curious about the other 3 I mentioned

05-17-2008, 07:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Haphazard In Bloom Join Date: Apr 2008 Type: COLD Posts: 4,829	Orchestra Personality and MBTI Type It's long been known in the orchestra that each section of the orchestra seems to have a certain kind of personality -- collectively for the section, if it doesn't hold true for the entire orchestra. Now I wonder, does this correspond with MBTI? Can we force it? I'll need some help, because I'm only really familiar with string orchestra. I'll start us out: Conductor: ENTJ Even though they don't play an actual instrument, a good conductor has to be innovative with musical interpretation but still be strict in implementation. They keep the entire orchestra on task, but they can also go on their own little 'power trips' if they're not careful. __________________ -Carefully taking sips from the Fire Hose of Knowledge

05-18-2008, 02:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
Evan . Join Date: Nov 2007 Type: INTP Location: Berkeley Posts: 3,453	leader of the slacker percussion section that basically fixed all the freshman kids' errors: INFJ oh wait, we're talking about general cases? __________________ INTP I think I'm a 5 now? Type calculator Function explanations Improved Enneagram system

05-18-2008, 03:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Haphazard In Bloom Join Date: Apr 2008 Type: COLD Posts: 4,829	Hmm. I'd almost type viola as some kind of NT -- at least the ones that start out on viola, rather than the ones that switch, who are still violinists, only with a bonus inferiority complex. 'Absentminded intellectuals,' I've heard. INTP? The usual repetitive music lets their minds wander. And I'd type Cello as either ENFP or ENTP. Too mellow to be INFP. __________________ -Carefully taking sips from the Fire Hose of Knowledge

07-06-2008, 01:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
Uberfuhrer Metal Join Date: May 2007 Type: ENTP Location: C-Town, Ohio Posts: 8,829	Synthesizer Programmer: INTJ __________________ "Knowledge is power; the more I know about you, the more power I have over you." --Überführer

07-07-2008, 06:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
moonlit_reveries Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Type: INFJ Posts: 25	What about the woodwinds? Flute Oboe Clarinet and Bassoon? Being an oboist, I have a few ideas myself but I'm really curious to hear what others think before I jump in yet. __________________ ~INFJ~ -4w5 so/sx "Ideals are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them."

05-17-2008, 11:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
htb Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Type: ENTJ Posts: 1,475	Based on my own experience with stereotypical players: Violinist: ISTJ Violist: ISFJ Cello: INFP Trombonist: ESFP Clarinetist: INTP Percussionist: ISTP Cornetist/Trumpeter: ESTP Pianist: ENFP

07-06-2008, 01:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sling Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Type: N358 Location: On a different page Posts: 133	This is a stupid thread. But yes: Lyricist/Vocalist : INFP Cellist : INTX Sax Player : ENFJ Yeah. If your orchestra doesn't have a sax, then it sucks.

07-07-2008, 06:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
moonlit_reveries Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Type: INFJ Posts: 25	whoops, I saw that clarinet was typed already... my bad. But I'm curious about the other 3 I mentioned __________________ ~INFJ~ -4w5 so/sx "Ideals are like the stars: we never reach them, but like the mariners of the sea, we chart our course by them."

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