Choral Caffeine: Captive Choir

Isn’t it wonderful when we can make a difference in the lives of those we work with in choirs?

 

Here’s what a choir member said about his experience singing in the ensemble:  “Since joining the choir, I’ve noticed more self-confidence around other people. At first I was scared, thinking I might not be good enough or maybe others would look down on me. I was greeted with grace and kindness.”

 

Another wrote: “I feel more confident about myself. My self-esteem is much higher. I feel more important in knowing that there are people that care about me.”

 

There’s just one little thing.  Those statements weren’t written by awkward school-age adolescents or homesick college freshmen; they were written by prisoners.

 

In her article “Oakdale Prison Community Choir: A Person is a Person Through Other People” (ChorTeach Volume 3, Issue 1), Mary Cohen discusses the positive effect a choir has in the lives of the incarcerated.

 

“Rehabilitation does not happen on its own. An underlying foundational concept within this Oakdale choir is that a person is a person through other people. When people join together for choral singing, whether inside or outside a prison, participants develop human and musical relationships created in rehearsals and performances that affect their identities in a positive manner.”

 

Next time you experience frustration with your choir – whether in a school, church, or community setting – imagine the challenges faced by a prison choir.

 

Now, go make a difference in the lives around you today!

 

(To access the full article, simply click the highlighted title. For additional articles on a dazzling array of choral topics, visit  ChorTeach.)