Raise Your Voice

Last month, I told you about my Solutionary Choral Curriculum. In summary, my middle school chorus focuses on a cause for the year. They not only have a fundraising concert at the end of the year to raise money for that cause, they also work on finding Solutions to help the cause throughout the year. If you need a review, take a peek at my last post (which was also my first post!) 

Well, it’s been quite a month hasn’t it? Actually if we go back to when I actually wrote that post, it’s been a couple months. A school shooting. A Supreme Court ruling. A parade shooting. And the thing is, while this month has been noteworthy, it’s also not so far off from the usual. Shootings are commonplace. We saw that ruling coming, possibly for years. What other rulings may be coming? Will the new gun rules prevent mass shootings? Everyone is asking the same questions. 

What’s weighing on you? 

LGBTQ rights

Child trafficking

Factory farming

Guns

Women’s rights

Ukraine

Racial equity

Manatees

Disability rights

Homeless animals

Climate change

Owl habitats

Waste

. . . The list goes on.

So what do we, a bunch of musicians, do? Most of us are not policymakers or influential celebrities. What the heck are we going to do?

Voting, sure, yes. 

I mean, hibernation is tempting, right? We’ve had good practice for that these past couple of years. Everything stinks and little me can’t do anything about it. Hmmm . . .

But we’re not one person. We have our choirs. We have each other. And we can raise our voices.

*pause for applause*

Okay, cool. So . . . what does that mean, though?

Whatever kind of choir you lead, you can be Solutionary – meaning, you can Solve things. 

At the beginning of your school year/rehearsal period, ask your choir members what problem in their community/government/world they would like to work on solving. Write down all the answers, and send it out as a survey. The most votes win – yay democracy!

Then ask your choir members what they want to focus on in order to work on this cause? There can be several things. For example, I had students contacting legislators, coming up with educational presentations, and making posters. 

At the same time, start figuring out what organization you would like to support, and start planning songs on the appropriate theme for your fundraiser concert. If you’re working with a community chorus, this could be scheduled as your next concert or the last one of your season. In school, I did one cause for the whole year with our fundraiser at the end (with our usual concerts in between), but you could do it anytime that works with your schedule. 

You’re on your way. 

Our theme was LGBTQ rights. The students were very proud and brave. We presented five choral songs, and eight small group pieces (with each student in one), all by LGBTQ artists and/or on a theme of acceptance. The stage was decorated with different flags. In between pieces, student volunteers went forward and explained the different flags/gender and sexual orientations. We raised almost $1,200 for The Trevor Project, which supports LGBTQ youth through counseling and resources. 

I had parents coming forward to thank me for giving their child a safe space where they could truly be proud. I had grateful emails to me and the administration, thanking us for a welcoming and empowering environment and experience. I had the whole community Facebook page asking why there’s not a copy for everyone to see. At the same time, I had demands for my firing from people who were not at the concert and who have advocated for Maine schools to adopt a “don’t say gay” platform. I had a superintendent who informed those folks that the students had chosen everything about the concert, including the theme, cause, and songs, and that it was entirely optional and well-communicated to parents. I had the popular radio station praise our school on the air for doing something good for the world in these dark days. I had sixty middle schoolers with their heads held high. 

The whole experience was not smooth sailing, of course. I knew it was going to be controversial as soon as the kids picked the topic. But I communicated everything to my administration up front, I pushed no certain agenda, communicated openly with parents, and made the whole thing optional. And I’m still working. In fact, my administration is excited. They see those kids walking proud, knowing they made a difference through teacher training and contacting legislators and raising awareness. Also, through raising money for youth like them, creating a safe space, and singing their hearts out. 

What’ll it be next year? Let me know, I’m taking bets.

You and your choir can make a difference. Anything is better than hiding under the covers. Get out there.

Raise your voice.