CJ Replay: We Create the Safety

(An excerpt from the Choral Journal article, “Creating a Safe Environment for Singing,” by Kenneth H. Phillips)

       For many people the act of singing can be a daunting experience. Called upon to perform before others, they feel vulnerable and intimidated by expectations that scare them. Boys, especially, seem to fear “sounding like a girl” when they sing, and participate less willingly as they grow older. Music teachers and choral directors need to recognize this phenomenon and work to provide a safe environment where students can sing spontaneously without being laughed at and judged negatively.

       Singing is a deeply personal act. When a person sings they share their inner self, which makes them vulnerable to criticism. Any type of laughter or ridicule is bound to make a person retreat from willing participation. Unfortunately, singing in American society is viewed by many as a feminine behavior. It’s okay for girls to be “tomboys,” but a boy who is sensitive and artistic becomes suspect. Such boys may withdraw from singing rather than be made fun of and suffer from embarrassment. This should not be permitted to occur and music teachers need a plan by which to counter such negativity.

 

READ the entire article.