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5 Lessons about Team from Choir
Updated from July 2015 article, originally written for the Ryerson Student Affairs Blog
Hi. My name is Dan and I’m a choirboy — or maybe “choir nerd” is more appropriate?
The fun thing is I know I’m not alone. In a very literal sense, it’s pretty well near impossible to be a one-person choir. But also, I know there are some other vocally and musically talented colleagues working in Higher Education and Student Affairs. So whether you are singing as a member of a choir, enjoy belting some tunes in the shower, or lip-syncing to your faves on the radio, I hope you’ll enjoy this reflection on what choir has taught me as a musician and Student Affairs professional.
I went to a choir school for elementary and high school and before that I was involved in choirs at church. Truth be told, I’ve been a consistently active choir participant since at least Grade 1, save for a couple years in my undergrad (giving my voice a break I suppose). Needless to say, choir has been a big part of my life, and it has taught me a lot.
Discipline
Whether in an auditioned or open choir, choristers learn to be disciplined. Being a successful member of the choir requires a lot of listening — to the director, to those singing the same part as you, and those singing different, complementing parts. Sometimes in choir, you are standing for a…
