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 long period of time (yes, I’m a marathon stand-er) and holding a folder of music; this can require quite a bit of physical stamina. And even more physical discipline is required as breath control is very important in affecting the quality and duration of the vocal sounds we produce.
Commitment
Being part of a choir means making a commitment to yourself and to the group to learn your music, attend practices, and perform. Beyond the practice schedule, great choirs are also unified and bonded outside of rehearsal, so you’re also part of a social experience of being on a team. I’ve found the choirs I enjoyed most were those where I wanted to spend time and share a laugh with choir mates outside of practice. And because it’s all about people, empathy is very important. Everyone’s voice is a little different and so too can be their interpretation of the music. At the end of the day, that’s largely a positive thing so long as individuals also…
