Happyholidays! Wishing you joy, warmth, and togetherness, no matterhowyoucelebrate—whetherit'sChristmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another cherished tradition.Maythisseasonbringlight,love,and happinesstoyouandyours!
Beforewecouldgetanythingdone,wehadtohaveaclassdiscussiononleavingissuesthathavenothingtodo withchoiratthedoor Thiswassomethingthatneededtobedoneeverysingleday,orelsethestudentswould not be able to focus. After attending several musical and non-musical professional development sessions over the years, I’ve come to realize that those “man-to-man talks,” as I called them, were social-emotional learning activitieswheretheypracticedself-awarenessandresponsibledecision-makingskills Overtime,ourrehearsals becamemuchmoreenjoyableforeveryoneintheroom.Thebehaviorissuesallbutvanished,andthestudents wereabletosingtogetherasanensemblebecausewetookthetimetobuildafoundationofmutualrespectfor eachother
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines social-emotional learning as “the process through which all young adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others,establishandmaintainsupportiverelationships,andmakeresponsibleandcaringdecisions.”1Wemust teachourstudentstheseskillssotheycanbesuccessfulatauditions,concerts,andperformanceswhiletheyare inschool Thisalsofostersthedevelopmentofskillswhichhelpwiththeirpursuitofsuccessintheircareersand lifegoalsaftergraduation.
Ibelievethatmostteachersunderstandtheimportanceofsocial-emotionallearningintheclassroomandwant to implement it in their rehearsals, but they do not feel like they know enough about it for activities to be effective. I believe that one does not need a certification in social-emotional learning in order to teach a child how to work collaboratively with others, to develop communication skills, and to treat themselves and others with respect The choral rehearsal is the perfect place to hone these skills while providing an excellent music educationtoourstudents.
R&R Resource
There are several different educational resources available that focus on how to implement social-emotional learning in the classroom. We are currently implementing the Capturing Kids Hearts initiative developed by Flip Flippen in our rehearsals. OneofthehallmarksofCapturingKidsHeartsisthedevelopmentofthesocialcontract
Asocialcontractisabindingagreementformulatedbythestudentsinwhichtheyoutlinecomponentsthatgovernwhatsocial interactionintheclassroomshouldlooklike 2Tobeefficientlyusedinthechoralclassroom,thisactivityshouldbestructured asaclassdiscussionoccurringduringthefirsttenminutesofclassforfiveconsecutivedays Thepremisebehindtheactivityis thateachday,studentsgetthechancetolearnhowtoarticulatecomponentsofhealthysocialinteractionamongsttheirpeers and those in authority Students also get the chance to brainstorm how to frame and overcome conflicting points of view before issues become a problem in rehearsal During the development of the social contract, the following questions are discussedasaclass:
As the students come up with words that describe what each of the interactions above should look like, the teacher then recordsthemontheboardsothattheycancomebacktothemduringthenextday’sdiscussion Witheachday’sdiscussion, studentsbegintorealizethatmanyofthewordsthatdescribewhatinteractionshouldlooklikearethesame,regardlessof whethertheinteractioniswithanadultorapeer.Attheconclusionoftheweek,oncethefourquestionshavebeenanswered andallresponseshavebeendiscussed,afinaldraftofthecollectionofallofthewordsthatoutlinehealthysocialinteractionis postedatthefrontoftheroom.Tocompletethesocialcontractprocess,everyoneintheclass,directorsincluded,mustsignthe poster.Whenstudentswritetheirnameontheposter,theyaremakingacommitmenttoadheringtotheprinciplesthatthey createdtoguidesocialinteractionsthroughouttheyear
Likemanynewrehearsaltechniquesorteachingstrategies,inorderforthesocialcontracttowork,itmustbeutilized andreferredtooftenintheclassroom.Wheneverthereisanissueinrehearsalwhereastudentisnotadheringtothe guidelinesagreeduponbytheclass,theteachercanthenredirectthebehaviorbyreferringtothesocialcontract.As thosesocialinteractionguidelinesarefrequentlyhighlightedandmodeledinrehearsalbytheteacher,thestudents will begin drawing attention to the use and sometimes misuse of the social contract. You’ll know that the implementationofthesocialcontractisworkingwhenyoustarttohearstudentsholdthemselvesaccountabletouse the guidelines in their informal conversation before and after rehearsal. The whole point of creating the social contractistogetstudentstocomeupwithaframeworkofprinciplesthatteachesthemhowtocommunicateand collaboratewithothersinanenvironmentthatfosterscreativity,accountability,andmutualrespect
R&R Resource
HighSchoolMixed
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Thehopeisthatiftheycanlearnhowtousethoseprinciplesinourchoirrooms,studentswillbeabletoemploy those same principles in their everyday lives outside of the classroom. Incorporating social-emotional learning activitieslikethedevelopmentofasocialcontractintoyourrehearsalscanhavealong-lasting,positiveimpacton your students for years to come. Keep in mind that like any learned behavior, it may take time to start to see results in every student. Some students will take to it immediately. Some students will take longer to buy-in to these types of activities. Just like learning how to sing, every student begins the process learning how to work with others at various stages of natural ability. Using a little bit of rehearsal time to teach our students how to fosterhealthyrelationshipswithothersandhowtonavigatethroughconflictempowersthemwiththeskillsthey canusefortherestoftheirlives
For most of us, leading effective rehearsals and concerts come naturally. Repertoire, concert themes, artistic leadership,etc,areallpartofthejob.Butcreatingatruesenseofcommunityforoursingerscanbeachallenge. It’sanevenbiggerchallengebecausewetypicallyonlyseeourpeopleonceaweekforacoupleofhoursandwe wanttomaximizeourrehearsaltime.
USEYOURSENSEOFHUMOR!Choirslovetolaughtogether!And,ninetimesoutoften,AFTERtheyhavea good laugh, they sing REALLY well. Keep it fast-paced and light. They don’t have to be there. Make it fun for them! Share funny jokes or better yet, have a choir member share one. Share music memes or other attentiongrabbingpostsonsocialmedia.
TwothingsIwouldsuggestistohaveactive,competentanddedicatedSectionLeadersandanamed,consistent AssistantDirector.Inachorusoursize,weneededtoupoursectionleadergame.Inaddition,wewantedtostart anauditioned,high-levelChamberChoir.Wedecidedtocombinethetwo.With80altos,onesectionleaderwas notenough.WenowhaveaChamberchoirwithfouronapart,whoalsoserveassectionleaders.Now,Ihave manysingersscatteredthroughoutthesectionwholistenforproblemareasandactasaguideandresourcefor their section. The only people I allow to ask questions in rehearsals are our Section Leaders. This not only manages my limited rehearsal time, but it empowers our leaders to answer questions and get to know the members. (The Section Leaders always have my markings and any relevant notes so they can pass that on to members)Inaddition,ourChamberChoirrepresentstheChorusthroughoutthecommunitybypresentingtheir ownconcertsandperformances.
R&R Resource CommunityChoirs
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UniteAroundaCharity
Afewyearsago,IhadtheideatostartSeasonofGivingasawayforourlargemembershiptogivebacktothe community Weputateamtogether,polledthechorus,andlandedonafewdifferentcharitiesthatwecouldall support together. In the last few years, we have raised thousands of dollars and thousands of personal care items, food, backpacks, and other things for our community. We’ve supported area agencies, Honor Flights, PianosforPeople,areaschools,andafewothers.
SocialEvents
This is a difficult one for a chorus our size (I welcome any ideas you have!) But we do try to get everyone together at least once a year. We want to start offering smaller gatherings and hope to implement section gatherings this coming semester! If your size allows, go to a show together or have a movie night or rent a private room at a restaurant Our first rehearsal is always a fun time with snacks as we welcome our new members, introduce leaders and enjoy some social time We also offer an annual picnic in the early fall for the entiremembershipandtheirfamilies
SignsofAppreciation
Whenever possible, thank the people who make your chorus run. Have them over to your house for dinner. Purchasesmallgiftsorornaments.Dedicateapiecetothem.Yougettheidea!(Most)Peopledon’tserveforthe thanks,butitsuredoesn’thurt!
PublicPraise
Finally,offerpraiseandgratitudeforyoursingers,anddoitoften.ThiscanhappeninrehearsalANDinconcert. Nothing makes your singers smile more than to know you are pleased with their work. Thank them for the opportunity YOU get to lead them. Again - they don’t have to be there. Let them know how thankful you are that they ARE there! One of the privileges of membership is the opportunity for singers to work with a gifted, choralprofessional,that’syou!
After 4th grader Nemo left his voice lesson, I noticed there was a penny laying on my piano. A week later, I toldhimheleftthepennyandreachedtogiveitbacktohim.“Ohno!”heexclaimed.“Iwantedyoutohaveit!I founditlaying“headsup,”andIwantedtopassalongthegoodluck!”Ah!Thepuregoodnessofachild!Over the last 40 years as a teacher/conductor, I’ve found many “pennies” laying heads up! Here are 15 of them I wouldliketopassalongasa“goodluck”wishtoeachofyou!
In music and in life, if given the choice between piano and forte, choose piano. Incorporating a quiet voiceinlifeandinmusicing,offersamuchsweeterpaththanforte.IlearnedthisconceptfromCharles RobinsonofUMKC.
Inmusicandinlife,ifgiventhechoicebetweenritardandoandaccelerando,chooseritardando.Speeding upoftenleadstoasortoffreneticlifeandmusic-making.Takeyourtimewhilebeingawareofmusical and personal needs. When you “ritardando,” you will leave peace and calm in your wake. (Charles Robinson.)
When the notes of your music-making sound like the definition of the lyrics, this is art! What would thesewordssoundlikeiftheywererealizedinthewayanoteissungorplayed:love,care,tenderly,joy, wonder,pain?
In choosing between family and career, choose family, every time! It has broken my heart to see others give themselves fully to an organization that cannot love them back, only to lose someone who loved themfully.
Striving to gain approval from the profession is futile. Your time is best invested in caring for the ensemble in front of you. Coax, teach, nurture, and inspire them to create the most expressive art of whichtheyarecapable.Drawacirclearoundthesehumansandcherishthem. Phrasestousewhendealingwithchallengingpeopleandsituations:
“I never thought about it that way; your perspective is important to me; thank you for helping me realizeitfromyourpointofview.”
Becarefulhowyoudefinesuccess.Thisconceptwastaughttomebyastudent.Shewaspartofachoir ofwhichmostmemberswerenewtochoralmusicandhadneversungamajorworkwithorchestraand in a foreign language She said, “If success is performing the Schubert with perfection, then you will be very disappointed However if success is defined by growth, then Friday’s concert will be a grand success”Lessonlearned
“It’s not about showing off, competing, winning, it is about offering your very best right here and now ” Thiswastaughttomebyastudentteacher Wecertainlycannotdobetterthanourbest,andweshould refusetogiveanythinglessthanourverybest
In today’s educational environment, it’s a bit risky asking an educator, “what’s your why?”Inatimewherethatquestioncanstrangelybecontroversial,it’saquerythat has left this mid-career choral director at a loss for words, which if you know me personally,knowhowoddthatis Theloveofstudents,theloveofteaching,thelove of the craft and the art itself, these typical responses are certainly present and felt, but if I’m honest, I’m tired, and sometimes I wonder if this is still my calling. Until, the downbeat It’s the spiritual moment cultivated through connection: to and through the music, the musicians, the text, to God. And I think in that moment, “HowisitthatIgettodothis?”Everyconductor’sjourneyisunique,buthowblessed arewetogettodothis.
