Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; The Annual “Thank You” Blog

“When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.” Dalai Lama

We are finishing the choir year. No matter what sort of choral organization you are involved with, things are winding down with the end of the school year, the concert year, and the church year. There are people out there you should thank, if you haven’t already done so.

Your accompanists and singers should be thanked all the time in the regular course of events. Do really you have to thank your singers? Isn’t that a lot of work? Send out a group email or, if your choral groups are small, write each a thank you note. Yes, it IS a bit of work but will pay off for you next year; trust me. If you still haven’t said thank you to your accompanist this year, send them a card and enclose a gift card for their favorite coffee place or get them something else they would enjoy. It could be just a heart-felt thank you note but it will be appreciated. Flowers from the Music Boosters are nice but something coming from you is special.

If your mother didn’t drum it into you enough, let me paraphrase her sentiments by telling you to thank EVERYONE as the old choir year winds down. You will be sowing the seeds for a good new season. If you don’t say thank you in the normal course of things, make it a New School Year Resolution for the fall.

Thank the custodians and the bus drivers who help you move your risers or who help you move your choirs. Thank the church secretary who doesn’t get flustered by the occasional last minute change of anthems. Thank the department assistant who gets everything where it’s supposed to be, when it’s supposed to be. Thank the Music Boosters for all they do and your chorus officers for helping collate. Thank everyone who does a job you can’t, hems a swing choir dress in an emergency or makes sure your robes are dry cleaned. I know it is your job to be concerned about the music, as it should be, but things that are not the music need to get done by someone. Thank anyone who helps get your concert on stage or your choir in the loft on Sundays; you know who they are.

Why? Thanking others lets them know you appreciate what they do for you and your choral groups. They will have good feelings about you and will want to continue to help you. No one likes to be taken for granted, so don’t take those around you for granted.

And thank YOU dear ChoralNetters! I appreciate your continued support for my Choral Ethics Project. Please continue to email your Choral Ethics questions to and we will have a conversation about what’s concerning you.