“Initiative is doing the right thing without being told.” Victor Hugo
ChoralNetter correspondents email me questions but seem to already know the answer. They know what is right and what is wrong, they just want to be given permission to do what is right. I’ve written about this before and today I’d like your input about a couple of these dilemmas.
Our morals and ethics have shifted so we have lost perspective as to what is right. It is my opinion, it is always better to err on the side of what we believe is right, rather than go with the flow or what others do. IN OUR GUTS, we know what we should do. A couple of ChoralNetters have shared their recent revelations, and I hope you’ll chime in with your opinions a well.
Rosalie* is beginning her second-year teaching middle school chorus. Her predecessor made a point of having all the names of his singers in the printed program but none of the accompanists’ or instrumentalists’ names. He told her he was never quite sure who would be accompanying or playing, so he made the choice of not including anyone’s name. Rosalie did the same for her first Winter concert, but it felt wrong to her. She decided to include all participants names for the Spring concert, and she did. But her predecessor attended that concert and scolded her for doing so after, seeking her out to tell her. She wonders why she should even care what he thinks.
She DID know the name of her accompanist, one of her chorus parents with a degree in piano. She DID know the name of the high school trumpet players, a brother and a sister of chorus members. And the percussionist was the band director so of course she DID know his name. She feels she did the right thing and will continue to do the right thing but is worried her predecessor will again give his opinion.
My opinion is this; put people’s names in the program no matter what. If there is a change, it can be announced from the stage, but most often, the audience doesn’t care unless it’s their child. Folks remember when they are excluded, not when they are included. I always thanked everyone in the written program, from the custodian to the principal and more. If Rosalie’s predecessor doesn’t like her putting HER accompanist and HER instrumentalists’ names in the program, that’s too bad. He no longer works there and hasn’t a right to scold her. What would you do?
Larry* has been accompanying the Acme Chorale* for many years. He began when he was fresh out of grad school as a favor to the Director at the time. He didn’t really expect to be paid; he was doing it for experience. The Director insisted he was compensated, to set a precedence for all future accompanists. With the repertoire the Acme Chorale performs, it wasn’t just rehearsals and concerts, but the practice time needed, and the Director felt it important to pay for Larry’s time.
Through the years, Larry usually has been compensated in some way, either with a stipend, or some sort of gift of food or wine or a gift card. He’s been fine with any of those things because, as the years have gone by, he has really loved working with this fine group of people.
The current Director decided the Acme Chorale no longer needs to compensate Larry. Much has been expected of him recently, rehearsal-wise, and when Larry explained he could not reschedule obligations from his real job (he was asked to reschedule a music theory class he was teaching at a community college), that’s when the current director became unhappy. The president of the board explained to Larry it’s really a cost cutting issue and nothing personal, but Larry doesn’t feel that way.
Larry wants to inform the Acme Chorale that this will be his last concert cycle. It isn’t just the compensation issue but a whole lot of things, including being disrespected in rehearsals by the Director. Larry has always had fun working with them, but now it’s just a job and one he is not being paid to do.
I told Larry he is under no obligation to follow through with THIS CONCERT CYCLE if he doesn’t want to. It would be kind and classy, but not necessary. He needs to decide what will be best FOR HIM. How would he feel if he informed them, then was told he was no longer needed, and can leave right now? Is he worried how leaving now would affect his reputation? Would it make more sense to inform them AFTER the concert? If he decides to inform them after, would he feel bad not being able to say good-bye properly to some of the singers he’s especially close to? What would you do?
*Name Withheld
DToole says
In my opinion, you are correct in both instances here. In the latter instance, the conductor should know that an unpaid accompanist has no obligation to the group unless the accompanist has expressed such, and, even then, real-life interferences happen, and the conductor is responsible for a replacement accompanist when such interferences happen.
Honest, open communication is always best, too. Larry should communicate his reasoning to the chair of the board.
Community chorales sometimes function well with a volunteer accompanist, but usually they do not. The “Acme Chorale” may find it must pay Larry’s replacement accompanist.