The Conductor as Yogi: It Does Not Go Unnoticed

We made it through the semester.  Our return to in-person music making.  I have been reading our singers’ reflection papers, their one-page response to three prompts:  What did you learn musically?  What did you learn beyond the music?  What suggestions do you have for the future?

On music, they wrote about re-learning how to sing with others, to blend their voices and listen in new ways, mask and all.  About challenges and successes relative to the sight-reading skills they are dusting off (or never really had) and about stepping up to the level of collegiate singing.  Suggestions include more chamber group singing (something we did as part of our post-concert assessment) but it’s the “what did you learn beyond the music” responses that really struck me, especially those about the breathing, mindfulness, and yoga-informed practices that I have been writing about and encourage you to explore with your singers.  Here are some of their comments (used by permission, names have been changed):

Chloe:  Beyond the music, I learned that moments of stillness throughout my day are just as important as being productive. When we would begin class with meditation and stretches, I noticed a difference in my attitude. I often would come to class tired and stressed but would leave feeling refreshed and happy. I have realized just how essential rest can be for my mental well-being, and I thank you for that!

Margo:  I’ve also carried our yoga skills into my daily life; I find myself doing some deep breathing and stretches when I’m stressed and need a break.

Michael:  I have also learned how to take better care of myself through different yoga exercises and mindsets. Remembering to breathe out everything I do not need in my mind/body, and to breathe in fresh air and peace has been extra present in my mind this semester. I have also been taking bigger breaths in our yoga exercises, which I think has carried over to being ready to sing well-supported.

 Amy:  I’ve learned so much about the connection between body and mind and about how beneficial it truly is for wellness, even after just doing a couple sun salutations before each rehearsal.

Kayla:  Another skill I learned this semester was self-awareness. A few times you asked us to listen to ourselves while also listening to the choir as a whole and that helped me become more aware of my contributions. In addition, I have continued to use this skill in other aspects of my life. I will ask myself “what is my role here?” and “how do I fit into this group?”

Liam:  By focusing my energy to the music, I was able to enjoy the music much more. I think that this goes for anything: if I spend the time learning something and remove all distractions, I can be much more productive.

Anne:  Choir has also taught me how important our mental and physical wellbeing is in relation to our vocal and musical wellbeing. Whenever we would do sun salutations or short meditation exercises to ground ourselves and centralize our breathing, I would always notice how much more ready I felt for the musical lessons we would then go on to learn and for the rest of my day in its entirety. Even just a few moments of time to myself to not worry about any deadlines, obligations, or extraneous stresses and simply allow my body and mind to refresh were cause for replenishment in every aspect. This is not only important to remember in terms of choir, but also in terms of life. We are our one constant in our own lives, so we must do all we can to take care of ourselves along the way.

Kendra:  This taught me a lesson that was important both in and out of a music context: that growth is not always linear. In my personal life I also found I was learning this as well this semester. With the return to in-person choir, with everything else, I found that I had lost some of the stamina I had developed pre-pandemic. This was frustrating to me at first, as I have always held myself to a high standard of consistent growth. However, I began to realize that growth does not always need to look like doing more, being more, but that growth can sometimes just look like being and that that can be enough.

 As conductors, we hope that our teaching “sticks,” that singers learn at least the big things and that their experience is meaningful.  But now, more than ever, we can be discouraged with the heaviness of life, with the limitations and challenges and uncertainty and fatigue.  With decreased numbers and increased protocols.  Does what we do really matter?  Is there growth, musical and otherwise? Are we crazy to try new ideas, to take different approaches when the ground below us seems to shift every moment? Are we making a difference?  Do our singers understand what we are trying to do on their behalf?

Maybe Sage’s comment says it all.  Though she sent it to me, I extend it to all of you because I think it reflects what may not be said by your singers, yet is deeply felt:

Thank you for everything you did this term and continue to do for us. It does not go unnoticed.

As we end this season and prepare for the next, take a moment to rest and reflect and know that this work of your life matters.  Not just what you do, but who you are, impacts every person who is fortunate to be in your path.  And remember, even in the hardest times, we learn and grow and feed our soul, too.  So if you are wondering whether this is all worth it, trust, take a breath, and keep going.  It does not go unnoticed.

Dr. Ramona Wis is the Mimi Rolland Endowed Professor in the Fine Arts, Professor of Music, and Director of Choral Activities at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and the author of The Conductor as Leader:  Principles of Leadership Applied to Life on the Podium.  Dr. Wis is a 500-hour CYT (Certified Yoga Teacher) with training in yoga history, philosophy, meditation, energetics, pranayama (breath work), anatomy, Sanskrit, and the teaching, sequencing, and adaptations of asana (posture-based) practice. Reach her at: