Building an Ensemble of Growth

ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online publication, designed for those who work with singers of all levels but specifically K-12 and community choirs. A full annotated ChorTeach index is available online at acda.org/publications/chorteach. Over 160 articles are organized into seventeen categories. For more information, email  or visit acda.org/chorteach. Following is an excerpt from an article in the Winter 2024 issue titled “Building an Ensemble of Growth” by Trevor Tran.
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When we look at successful people, we often wonder, how did they create their success? How did they persevere through adversity despite their failures? There are many possible explanations, but I am of the belief that it is because of their mindset. These greats believed that with enough work they could grow and achieve, and that mindset fueled their drive and success. This idea of a mindset comes from the work of psychologist Carol Dweck.1 Her research focuses on the link between your belief in abilities and intelligence and your performance through adversity. Mindset exists on a spectrum where one side is a “fixed” mindset or belief that abilities and intelligence cannot be significantly developed. The other side is a “growth” mindset or belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed with effort, learning, and dedication. Dweck’s research contends that students with a growth mindset have better intrinsic motivation, self-esteem, and perseverance. By believing that effort can develop their abilities, students are more apt to grow and achieve success in their education and overall lives.

As stated earlier, mindset exists on a spectrum, so you cannot have either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. In addition, your mindset is changeable, and it shifts based on your experience. With the right conditions, it is possible to foster a growth mindset environment in your ensemble, and creating this environment has considerable benefits. In this article I will share steps I have taken to facilitate an ensemble of growth and develop students with a greater growth mindset.

*Visit acda.org/chorteach and choose the Winter 2024 issue.