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Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Letters (emails), We Get Letters (emails)

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“Letters are among the most significant memorial a person can leave behind them.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

It’s been a while since I shared correspondence from Ye Olde Choral Ethics Mailbag (Inbox) with you. Today I’d like to share letters from two ChoralNetters with similar problems. And as you can guess, these two folks are not the only ones who’ve had to deal with these “new normal” problems.

Robin* tells me, after in-person learning this past fall, her district is going back to remote learning until the beginning of March. She’s not especially happy about it but understands the wisdom, with the Omicron variant running rampant in their community.

Some parents in her choral parents’ group are definitely NOT happy about it. A few are trying to force her to hold in-person rehearsals at a local church. After speaking with her department chair (who is also struggling with remote versus in-person rehearsals), it seems having one rehearsal per week in-person, not on school property or during the school day, would be acceptable. The only problem is the parents want it every day and during the school day. Her department chair is understanding BUT has made it clear if she does what her choral parents want, his hands are tied. Robin feels her job is on the line if she chooses to go along with the parents.

Robin has explained over and over once a week in-person rehearsal, not during the school day, is as good as she can do for right now. If things improve, COVID-wise, it may change. She thinks remote sectionals during the school day, then an in-person rehearsal once a week will work very well. There does not seem to be any way their usual March concert will happen, but a late April/early May concert certainly is possible. And this strategy will be helpful toward that purpose.

Her gut tells her to do what her department chair suggests and not be swayed by the parents. The parents might be angry, but everyone is angry right now.

Robert* had remote rehearsals for his community chorus, with parking lot concerts, almost from the beginning of the COVID nightmare. It was not up to their usual standards, but it was something and something is better than nothing as far as he’s concerned.

During the fall, they were able to have in-person rehearsals and a nice winter concert in early December. The December concert was almost back to their usual level of performance and the Board was satisfied. Or so Robert thought.

The first Board meeting of the year was last week, and Robert was chastised for the quality of that December concert. He tried to explain, after more than a year of patched together rehearsals and performances in unfamiliar and frankly, crazy venues, the singers were getting used to singing together in-person again. As the music professional, he told them it was going to take a while for the chorus to get back to normal, plus they were singing in masks. And no one has sung in masks like this before.

The Board wants to take a vote amongst the chorus’s singers about what to do if they have another lock-down. Robert thinks they should do what they did before, since he still believes “something is better than nothing.” The Board thinks they have a reputation to uphold and to do nothing might be better this time. Robert’s gut to telling him to get out of there!

My solution for both situations is the same; trust your gut. How many times have I said that here on ChoralNet? Many times, I assure you. Your gut, that little voice inside you, almost never leads you astray. But some of you forget to trust yourself because it seems too easy. “Too easy” is simple and you don’t want simple, you want something to agonize over because it somehow seems more correct. With all the difficulties in the world right now, go with simple, you’ll be happier.

If you have a Choral Ethics dilemma, you can always email me: with Choral Ethics in the subject line.

Until next week, be well and be safe.

*Name Withheld

 

 

 

Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: This Is Christmas

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“At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.” Thomas Tusser

 For the month of December, I’m rerunning some Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Two of my MOST REQUESTED December Blogs will be making their yearly appearances. Happy December! ~MLGA

Today is the day before Christmas Eve. Right now, it seems to be better than it was last year. We are still required to wear MASKS in public and I have to share with you, wearing singing masks is something I may never get used to—who knew my face could sweat like that? But I will wear a mask no matter how uncomfortable I feel, until we get the “all clear” to do otherwise.

This is Christmas, Christmas 2021, and while things ARE better and we ARE approaching more “normal,” it’s still different from what we are used to.

Church musicians, I feel for you. Most of you are probably able to worship in your sanctuary, with some restrictions, such as social distancing and those above-mentioned singing masks. Very few of you will be doing exactly what you usually do and for that, I am so very sorry. I’m sure it was difficult to make the decisions you had to make but last year’s Advent and Christmas experience should have helped inform how you handled things this year. I hope you were able to feel good about your decisions.

I’m willing to guess those of you who direct school choruses were able to have holiday concerts, with restrictions. Were you able to figure out the best way for you to do so in your present situation? I hope you were able to sing your concert IN-PERSON with your students, and their parents were grateful for all your hard work.

Community chorus directors were probably able to have a holiday concert this very strange year, again with restrictions. We are all doing the best we can, and I hope you know you are doing everything you can possibly do; please don’t second guess yourself.

It’s another Holiday Season of phrases like “doing the best we can” and “wish we could…….” and “how are you holding up” as part of our daily conversations. But we are “doing the best we can” and we do “wish we could….” and we are “holding up as well as can be expected” and that’s fine. With our usual expectations again thrown to the wind, perhaps it’s time to modify and accept and just get on with it with as little drama as possible.

There is some hope for the New Year as things begin to really open up, mandates are lifted, and we can go about the business of making music nearer to normal.

I wish you a Merry Christmas this year, most enthusiastically. And most importantly I will wish you Comfort (some small comfort) and Joy (some small joy) in your life. It is the small things, I’ve learned in the last year and a half, that are the most important.

Until next week, be well and be safe!

I am not able to take my Choral Ethics Blogs to my chamber choir’s Facebook page today. Hope to see you again next week!

 

Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Let There Be Peace on Earth

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“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” Leonard Bernstein

 For the month of December, I’m rerunning some Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Two of my MOST REQUESTED December Blogs will be making their yearly appearances, including today’s. Happy December! ~MLGA

Have you ever noticed the best holiday stories portray some sort of dream? From the ballet, “The Nutcracker” to all of the many incarnations of Dickens, “A Christmas Carol” someone is always sleeping and having a dream. There is also the ‘alternate universe’ version of that dream in holiday movies such as “It’s A Wonderful Life,” giving a slightly different spin to the idea. When the main characters wake up or get back to their own universe, all their holiday hopes and wishes seem to have come true. Problems are solved and they are happier. Even Clement Moore’s “A Visit From St. Nicholas” has a ‘long winter’s nap’ as part of the action. When we were children, we liked to think miraculous things can happen when we sleep and dream. Unfortunately, as adults, we know that isn’t possible.

But I have a dream anyway. It’s not a holiday dream but one for our profession. I dream we, as choral musicians, will become agents of change for good in our communities and in our world. We will bring together people of all ages. And we will accept all folks, no matter who they are and what they believe, into our choirs. If you can sing what we need you to sing, you are in our choirs, no matter the color of your skin or whom you love or what you look like.

I dream choirs of all sorts of singers are welcomed and respected into our choral community. Instead of saying, “there’s an app for that,” we will say, “there’s a choir for that” when someone asks us if their particular need is represented in a choir, because there will be a choir. I dream we will be proud those with special needs, adults or children, are welcomed into local choirs and encourage them if we are able.

Choirs of senior citizens as well as children will sing together, bringing together experience and enthusiasm. There will be choirs in the workplace, encouraging fellowship and teambuilding by singing together. There will be Hospice choirs and prison choirs and choirs for those affected by cancer or Alzheimer’s. Singing will unite us. Perhaps, when we sing with someone who is different from us, we will understand a little bit more about them. And we won’t be afraid of their differences because we will know them because we sing with them. In my dream, there will be choirs to comfort those touched by violence. And we will do our best to be an agent for peace in our own communities and beyond.

There was a song when I was growing up that was very popular. I sang it as a solo, in my youth choir at church, in my school chorus and caroling with a church youth group. We also sang it at the end of every Christmas pageant at church for several years. I heard it not too long ago shopping at the grocery store, on their piped in music. It was Vince Gill’s version and the lyrics have kept running through my head ever since.

One line in particular from the song strikes me as quite appropriate for today’s blog: “let there be Peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.” If we want change, it must begin with us. If we want acceptance, we must do it. If we see injustice, we must step up to make it right. Peace and kindness and compassion must begin with us. There is no need to wait until someone else does what we believe to be right. We can make the world a better place by taking that first, small step. My dream can be a reality if I begin it. And so, I do.

Sing this holiday season with your choirs and your families and your friends. Let differences go and reach for the common, shared values you do have together. Make Peace with those you love as well as those you don’t love. Cherish the old songs and laugh at the silly songs. Let the music bring you together. And let it begin with you.

I wish Peace for you during the coming week and as we head toward the New Year. And much love.

Until next week, be well and be safe!

I am not able to take my Choral Ethics Blogs to my chamber choir’s Facebook page today. Hope to see you again next week!

 

The Conductor as Yogi: It Does Not Go Unnoticed

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We made it through the semester.  Our return to in-person music making.  I have been reading our singers’ reflection papers, their one-page response to three prompts:  What did you learn musically?  What did you learn beyond the music?  What suggestions do you have for the future?

On music, they wrote about re-learning how to sing with others, to blend their voices and listen in new ways, mask and all.  About challenges and successes relative to the sight-reading skills they are dusting off (or never really had) and about stepping up to the level of collegiate singing.  Suggestions include more chamber group singing (something we did as part of our post-concert assessment) but it’s the “what did you learn beyond the music” responses that really struck me, especially those about the breathing, mindfulness, and yoga-informed practices that I have been writing about and encourage you to explore with your singers.  Here are some of their comments (used by permission, names have been changed):

Chloe:  Beyond the music, I learned that moments of stillness throughout my day are just as important as being productive. When we would begin class with meditation and stretches, I noticed a difference in my attitude. I often would come to class tired and stressed but would leave feeling refreshed and happy. I have realized just how essential rest can be for my mental well-being, and I thank you for that!

Margo:  I’ve also carried our yoga skills into my daily life; I find myself doing some deep breathing and stretches when I’m stressed and need a break.

Michael:  I have also learned how to take better care of myself through different yoga exercises and mindsets. Remembering to breathe out everything I do not need in my mind/body, and to breathe in fresh air and peace has been extra present in my mind this semester. I have also been taking bigger breaths in our yoga exercises, which I think has carried over to being ready to sing well-supported.

 Amy:  I’ve learned so much about the connection between body and mind and about how beneficial it truly is for wellness, even after just doing a couple sun salutations before each rehearsal.

Kayla:  Another skill I learned this semester was self-awareness. A few times you asked us to listen to ourselves while also listening to the choir as a whole and that helped me become more aware of my contributions. In addition, I have continued to use this skill in other aspects of my life. I will ask myself “what is my role here?” and “how do I fit into this group?”

Liam:  By focusing my energy to the music, I was able to enjoy the music much more. I think that this goes for anything: if I spend the time learning something and remove all distractions, I can be much more productive.

Anne:  Choir has also taught me how important our mental and physical wellbeing is in relation to our vocal and musical wellbeing. Whenever we would do sun salutations or short meditation exercises to ground ourselves and centralize our breathing, I would always notice how much more ready I felt for the musical lessons we would then go on to learn and for the rest of my day in its entirety. Even just a few moments of time to myself to not worry about any deadlines, obligations, or extraneous stresses and simply allow my body and mind to refresh were cause for replenishment in every aspect. This is not only important to remember in terms of choir, but also in terms of life. We are our one constant in our own lives, so we must do all we can to take care of ourselves along the way.

Kendra:  This taught me a lesson that was important both in and out of a music context: that growth is not always linear. In my personal life I also found I was learning this as well this semester. With the return to in-person choir, with everything else, I found that I had lost some of the stamina I had developed pre-pandemic. This was frustrating to me at first, as I have always held myself to a high standard of consistent growth. However, I began to realize that growth does not always need to look like doing more, being more, but that growth can sometimes just look like being and that that can be enough.

 As conductors, we hope that our teaching “sticks,” that singers learn at least the big things and that their experience is meaningful.  But now, more than ever, we can be discouraged with the heaviness of life, with the limitations and challenges and uncertainty and fatigue.  With decreased numbers and increased protocols.  Does what we do really matter?  Is there growth, musical and otherwise? Are we crazy to try new ideas, to take different approaches when the ground below us seems to shift every moment? Are we making a difference?  Do our singers understand what we are trying to do on their behalf?

Maybe Sage’s comment says it all.  Though she sent it to me, I extend it to all of you because I think it reflects what may not be said by your singers, yet is deeply felt:

Thank you for everything you did this term and continue to do for us. It does not go unnoticed.

As we end this season and prepare for the next, take a moment to rest and reflect and know that this work of your life matters.  Not just what you do, but who you are, impacts every person who is fortunate to be in your path.  And remember, even in the hardest times, we learn and grow and feed our soul, too.  So if you are wondering whether this is all worth it, trust, take a breath, and keep going.  It does not go unnoticed.

Dr. Ramona Wis is the Mimi Rolland Endowed Professor in the Fine Arts, Professor of Music, and Director of Choral Activities at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois and the author of The Conductor as Leader:  Principles of Leadership Applied to Life on the Podium.  Dr. Wis is a 500-hour CYT (Certified Yoga Teacher) with training in yoga history, philosophy, meditation, energetics, pranayama (breath work), anatomy, Sanskrit, and the teaching, sequencing, and adaptations of asana (posture-based) practice. Reach her at: 

The Special Rehearsal Before Thanksgiving: OUR BIG WIN!

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Are your students off-the-wall the final rehearsals before Thanksgiving?

I LOVE the final rehearsal before Thanksgiving break.

In fact, the Pre-Thanksgiving rehearsal is my favorite rehearsal of the entire year.

This one rehearsal has tremendous value and leaves a lasting impression on my students.

This blog post is FILLED with ideas that can start TODAY and go straight through the holiday season!

Here is my latest blog post:

The Special Rehearsal Before Thanksgiving: OUR BIG WIN!

 

The Special Pre-Thanksgiving Rehearsal: Our BIG WIN!

 

 

 

Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Choral Ethics for This Time

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“My sorrow, when she’s here with me, thinks these dark days of autumn rain are beautiful as days can be; she loves the bare, the withered tree; she walks the sodden pasture lane.” Robert Frost

 Today’s Choral Ethics blog is a revisited blog from last fall.

During the tough times we are going through with the COVID-19 Pandemic, self-reflection seems like a good idea. Today I am blogging a bit of what I’ve learned about Choral Ethics.

I have been writing about Choral Ethics for six years now and have heard many “interesting” stories as well as made some dear friends in the process. I have listened in disbelief to folks seemingly too gullible for their own good and tried not to shriek when they tell me the predictable end of their stories. I have scolded those who know better who did NOT do better but somehow want me to absolve them. I have been amazed by the goodness and kindness of well-respected choral folk who DO NOT HAVE TO BE good and kind and yet, are. I have laughed with, cried with, and commiserated with many, all in the name of Choral Ethics. As I think about the last six years, one thing stands out in perfect clarity when it comes to Choral Ethics; we all want to believe the best of people and are hurt and confused when confronted by the worst. Often, typical Choral Ethics problems stem from a lack of communication or misinformation or unrealistic expectations or a lack of morals on someone’s part.

There are the “legend in their own minds” conductors who create havoc in rehearsal and out. These are the self-proclaimed geniuses and know-it-alls who are impatient with everyone with which they must work. They give the impression they feel they are being expected to work beneath their talent and let you know it; Boy-Howdy, do they! I get many, many emails from former and present choristers of these directors, wanting to know “what’s up with this guy?” You would be surprised how many emails (over 30) I’ve received over the years about ONE DIRECTOR. He retired a few years ago and one of his singers told me she threw a party!

I am contacted by people who cannot believe colleagues’ nerve or chutzpah or whatever you want to call it. Back-stabbing, undermining, and talking smack about others; these are the toads of our profession. What to do when you are confronted by gossip about yourself? How do you handle your singers being lured away? Why is another choral person questioning your education and your ability and your program and your choir? I tell the folks there are no easy solutions, other than to take the high road. And I promise eventually they’ll be vindicated because I believe in Karma.

I hear plenty of complaints about singers and accompanists, though the accompanists complaining about directors might outnumber the reverse! Directors complain about their boards (or clergy or department chair) not understanding how a chorus/choir works or what is possible with what, and who, they must work with. Unrealistic expectations on the part of those not directly involved with rehearsals in preparations for concerts or worship services cause hard feelings for everyone. What to do?

We are daily bombarded with “hacks” about how to make everything in our lives “better” and it is true in the choral world as well. I have had quite a few people contact me through the years with questions about other’s motives in “helping” them and their programs. Is it right to trust your “gut” they wonder, especially if something sounds too good? Do they trust what they believe to be true? Or do they go with what they are being told is so much better than anything they’ve done in the past; look, see how many other people are doing it? The common thread with almost all of these folks is this; they do not trust their own instincts any longer.

In this turbulent and transition time, I think it is more important than ever to stick with what we believe and stay true to our morals and core values. Remember Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3, Polonius: “This above all: to thine own self be true?” I don’t mean to imply never to try something new or not attempt something which makes you slightly uncomfortable. I do mean this; if something feels morally or ethically wrong or too easy to be right, think twice.

Got a Choral Ethics Dilemma? Email me at: with “Choral Ethics” in the subject line.

Until next week, be well and be safe.

I am not able to take my Choral Ethics Blogs to my chamber choir’s Facebook page today. Hope to see you again next week!

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