Choral Ethics; Ten Commandments

 “The Ten Commandments have never been replaced as the moral basis upon which society rests.” Edwin Louis Cole

I know what you’re thinking; I’ve come up with another clever “Ten Commandments for Choirs” but nope, not today. Today I am blogging about the actual Ten Commandments and how they can relate to our profession. I won’t refresh your memory about all of them, just the ones I believe pertain to our choral work. And I have a ChoralNetter, Gregor*, with a Ten Commandment-type sticky issue as well.

Choral Ethics, I find, has many layers of what is right and what is not right, leaving much room for interpretation. But using the Ten Commandments a guideline is a good place to start our own Choral Ethics journey.

There are a few of the Commandments which can be taken quite simply and literally, such as Do Not Steal or Do Not Kill. Both can be interpreted in our choral work. Taking credit for someone else’s work (or illegal copying and the like) could be perceived as stealing. Criticism, not the constructive kind, meant to cut someone down instead of lifting them up is killing someone’s spirit and we all know choral leaders who do that.

Telling lies, of course, falls into literal Ten Commandment territory. But I suggest gossip—and you all know how I feel about gossip—and spreading rumors you are not certain are true, also falls into this category. We Choral Folk can certainly be catty and perhaps not INTEND to gossip or spread rumors. Even if our motives are pure, there can be real damage done by gossiping and spreading rumors, damage not only to other people but to us as well.

A more pleasant way of looking at Commandments, with our Choral Life in mind, is honoring our Teachers and Mentors as we do our Parents. It never hurts to honor those who nurture us. In turn, we will eventually be honored by those we have taught or nurtured.

Coveting other people’s positions or lives or education or experiences or possessions can both be good AND not so good. If we use others’ lives as examples and motivation for our own lives, it is a good thing. However, if we see others’ lives as an excuse to whine and moan about what we DON’T HAVE and HAVEN’T DONE, it is not so good. Motivation can be a very good reason to strive to better ourselves but envy and jealousy can eat away at us, and those around us, causing much destruction and heartache.

Now to ChoralNetter Gregor’s sticky issue. Gregor conducts a community chorus and is concerned about a relationship he feels is inappropriate between two of his singers. It doesn’t seem exactly above board, and it makes him feel a bit queasy since both are married to other people. He asked me what he should do. I told him I am not sure, but he could speak to one or both of them privately and express his concern. More than that is probably pushing it. It may be more appropriate to do nothing, since these are adults, and their affair is none of his business unless it impacts his chorus in some way.

Please share your own thoughts in the comments below.

*Name Withheld