On days like today, I don't feel like a choir director -- I feel like a cheerleader or a team captain. My players are sluggish, we're losing the game big time, and I have to say something that will turn things around. The trouble is, I don't know what to say or do. I cajole them; it does no good. I encourage them; it does no good. I jump around and act silly in front of them; it makes no difference. They just sit there and look at me like I'm some weirdo. I am forever looking for new ways to say what I want them to do, thinking that if I just say it the right way, it will "click." So far, nothing has worked.
I was not a cheerleader in school. I never had the desire to be one. Unfortunately, I am being forced to be one with my high school choir. I am usually a very positive person, and I go out of my way to praise the choir when they do something well. It has been very difficult to stay positive this time. In fact, when we were discussing the situation in class one day, one of my students said something about approaching things more positively. I thanked her for her suggestion, apologized to the entire group for not being positive, and went in the next day determined to keep a positive mindset, be upbeat, and put on my "cheerleader" face. Did it help any? I don't think it helped the music get any better, but I do think the kids had more fun that day. I guess fun is good, isn't it?
My choir will never be as good as I would like them to be. After all, the group has everything in it from students who have never sung in a choir before to those who have several years experience. Unfortunately, it is in my "genes" to try and make them as good as they can be. I want to push them to higher heights. I want to raise the bar. I just have to find a way to get them to go with me.
We have a concert in a week. Before each concert, I tell the students that, while I want them to sing their best, what I want more than anything is for them to have fun and enjoy themselves. I sincerely believe that, if a choir is enjoying itself when performing, an audience will enjoy listening to them. This time, I may have to rely on that to carry the performance. We have another week, and we'll keep working. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Go, choir! Sis-boom-bah!
I was not a cheerleader in school. I never had the desire to be one. Unfortunately, I am being forced to be one with my high school choir. I am usually a very positive person, and I go out of my way to praise the choir when they do something well. It has been very difficult to stay positive this time. In fact, when we were discussing the situation in class one day, one of my students said something about approaching things more positively. I thanked her for her suggestion, apologized to the entire group for not being positive, and went in the next day determined to keep a positive mindset, be upbeat, and put on my "cheerleader" face. Did it help any? I don't think it helped the music get any better, but I do think the kids had more fun that day. I guess fun is good, isn't it?
My choir will never be as good as I would like them to be. After all, the group has everything in it from students who have never sung in a choir before to those who have several years experience. Unfortunately, it is in my "genes" to try and make them as good as they can be. I want to push them to higher heights. I want to raise the bar. I just have to find a way to get them to go with me.
We have a concert in a week. Before each concert, I tell the students that, while I want them to sing their best, what I want more than anything is for them to have fun and enjoy themselves. I sincerely believe that, if a choir is enjoying itself when performing, an audience will enjoy listening to them. This time, I may have to rely on that to carry the performance. We have another week, and we'll keep working. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Go, choir! Sis-boom-bah!
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