• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
ChoralNet

ChoralNet

The professional networking site for the global online choral community.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Community
    • Announcements
    • Classifieds
    • Forums
    • Groups
  • Video
  • Log In
  • Register
  • My Posts

thanksgiving

Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Thanksgiving Day Blog

November 23, 2017 by Marie Grass Amenta Leave a Comment

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” Henry David Thoreau

As I begin preparations to cook another huge Thanksgiving Day meal, I am more thankful than usual this year.

It’s been a rough fall for our family but things are looking a bit better. My spouse had a health scare (the Big C) during the last couple of months and has recently gotten some good news. For that—and for my spouse—I am thankful. Our children are healthy, happy and productive and have turned out to be wonderful young men, and I am very thankful for them. Their support, help and their coming together when, and where, needed during this ordeal have made me not only thankful for them but proud as well.

Our house always needs something fixed but I am thankful, nevertheless, for its shelter. I am thankful for our beautiful piano and a home filled with music. Of course, I am thankful for the things in our house but I am more thankful for the people and the love that fills it. I am oh-so-thankful I am surrounded by a family who “gets” me—both my spouse and children.

I am thankful for the food I will cook for this meal of meals, and thankful for the ability to share because, “To those whom much is given, much is expected.” I am thankful for my Dad’s continued good health, at almost 90, my brother’s friendship and sharing of memories from holidays past. I look forward to spending the day reminiscing with Dad and the rest of our extended family; eating, talking and laughing as well as missing those family members no longer with us. And am thankful we will have the opportunity to do so again this year.

I am thankful for the wonderful musicians I journey with in our quest to bring a different choral repertoire to our community. Their musicianship, tolerance, appreciation and willingness to step beyond their comfort zone is something I value. And really, after Palestrina, doesn’t everything else seem easy? I am also thankful for my education and training, giving me the tools to believe we can do this; we can do anything we set our minds to. And I am thankful I get to sing and conduct such beautiful music on a regular basis.

I am thankful for my friends in music, and out of music. My best friend from graduate school who is singing with me and my best friend from high school who has decided to follow her dreams of painting in retirement; both of whom I am extremely thankful for! My voice teacher and her accompanist who keeps me sane (“if this is the sanest part of your week, Marie, it must be pretty bad!”) and who believe in my voice, I am thankful beyond measure.

I am thankful for the wisdom to finally believe in things beyond my control, letting go and allowing things to happen as they will. There is such a peace which comes from doing so and wish I had believed this long ago. I am thankful for my own good health, despite the usual Soprano Complaints, and know I am very lucky.

I am thankful for colleagues who have become friends and a rich, diverse choral community which reaches beyond my own suburban life. I am thankful for ChoralNet allowing me to come to you every Thursday with a regular blog. To those I have touched and helped with Choral Ethics, even in a small way; you are such a wonderful part of my life that I never expected to have. I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU TOO!

 

Filed Under: Others Tagged With: choral ethics, choral potpourri, thanksgiving

  • ACDA.org
  • The ChoralNet Daily Newsletter

Advertise on ChoralNet

On This Day
December 11

French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz was born on this day in 1803.

Would you like to submit a blog post for consideration?

Are you interested in becoming a regular ChoralNet blogger? Please contact ACDA Director of Membership & Communications Sundra Flansburg at .

RSS JW Pepper

  • Getting Published: A Composer Forum, Part III
  • The Inside Voice: An Interview with Bob Chilcott
  • From Wacky to Serious: The Many Sides of Composer Mark Burrows
  • Composing for the Student Ensemble: A Composer Forum, Part II
  • Writing Educational Music: A Composer Forum, Part I
  • An Interview with Composer Sarah Quartel
  • The Inside Voice: An Interview with Larry Clark
  • Randy Vader: Choirs Doing More Than Just Singing
  • The Inside Voice: An Interview with Mac Huff
  • Patrick Hawes: Creating Works for Radio and Royalty

RSS NAfME

  • Speak the Language: Use Proper, Specific Musical Vocabulary in Your Daily Instruction
  • Guitar Class in the Centennial State
  • Modeling Diversity: Translating Social Issues through Music
  • Thankful for Progress in Federal Appropriations
  • Including the Music of Your Students in Your Curriculum
  • Higher Ed Legislation Moves through Congress
  • Guitar Class in the Bay State
  • How ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ Impacted Music Education
  • Guitar Class in the Sooner State
  • Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, . . . Am I Providing Opportunities Reflecting All?

Footer

Connect with us!

  • Home
  • About
  • Help
  • Contact Us
  • ACDA.org

Recent Blogs

  • ChorTeach Replay: Emerging (Student) Teachers Grow and Excel
  • 10 SIMPLE Things That Will Make Your Concert More Successful!
  • One from the Folder: Repertoire Thoughts for Women’s/Treble Choirs
  • Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Pushing Through Difficulty
  • Ten Keys to Unlocking Artistic Choral Performance (Keys 7-10)

American Choral Directors Association

545 Couch Drive
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
73102-2207

© 2019 American Choral Directors Association. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy