Wow what a crazy year! I can’t even begin to go into all the strange that’s happened in the last 12 months, topped off by the COVID-19 pandemic we’re all working through right now.
Among the other things that have happened, I’ve managed to lose over 65 lbs in a healthy way with the Noom app (not a paid sponsor :0) and have also learned a lot of lessons along the way. And I’ve been amazed at how many of them relate directly to what we do in building choral culture in our rehearsals.
In an effort to regain some sense of groundedness in my life, I’ve looked back at a Noom article about goals. They suggest you start with goals you are likely to accomplish because that will allow you to both achieve more goals sooner and also increase your self-confidence in your ability to achieve your goals. That’s actually one of the reasons I’m back to the blog. Getting back on here is something that I both want to do and can do (which are the two major criteria according to Noom for a goal that can be highly prioritized… more on that later!), and already, halfway through this post, I’m feeling more grounded and like I’ve accomplished something today.
So what does this have to do with choir? The first thing that comes to mind is programming. I remember when I had built my high school choir to the point where it could tackle some solid rep. And what did I do? I went crazy! The October concert that year featured five pieces from the Wisconsin State Class A list, and pieces in English, Latin, Russian, Italian, and German. And you know what? It was not the best concert I’ve ever programmed. And you know what else? It was my fault and I didn’t even know it!
Looking back, and thinking about what I’ve learned from Noom about goals, there is definitely value in programming “simple” music that both allows a choir to be successful and allows them to work towards a deeper level of artistry. In addition, thinking about building community through choir, one can see the value of setting and meeting goals early and often as a way to increase a group’s sense of confidence and ability.
Does that mean we should never challenge our choirs? Absolutely not! I’m a huge proponent of embracing struggle and failure as part of the learning process. There needs to be failure but there also needs to be success. The balance comes in programming literature that allows for different successes and different struggles. Programming a piece that’s challenging harmonically but allows quick success with diction allows for both struggle and success in one piece. Something with relatively simple notes and rhythms that demands a tremendous level of emotional depth can do the same thing. You get the point.
As conductors, it’s our job to create the conditions for our singers to find both success and failure, to facilitate growth from both things, and to coordinate the timing of those successes and failures in a way that keeps the motivational fires stoked. No easy task, but remembering to balance success and failure can be a huge key!
Have thoughts about goals as a structured part of the choral process? Please comment below!
Paul H. Thompson 