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Research Report

Bryan E. Nichols, editor

Everyday Social Change: The Importance of Daily Actions in the Choral Setting

Kelly Bylica & Cara Faith Bernard

The current American Choral Directors Association students have expressed a growing interest in social
(ACDA) Vision Statement positions choral musicians as change, they often lack strategies or practices to sustain-
having the potential to “create powerful artistic experi- ably enact such ideas. Large-scale, structural change
ences” and become “advocates for cultural and educa- that impacts society as a whole is an ongoing process,
tional change” with the hope that such practices “might and measured acts can provide sustainable actions that
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transform people’s lives.” In light of this vision, ACDA build the foundation for more impactful, long-term
has developed numerous ways in which the organi- transformation. One way to approach such measured
zation and its members can respond to growing calls acts is through the lens of everyday social change. We
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to pursue equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion define everyday social change as small steps that hap-
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through choral music. This commitment has mani- pen daily in classrooms, rehearsal spaces, performanc-
fested at the ACDA national level, including through es, and community collaborations.
the creation of the Diversity Initiatives Committee and In this article, we offer practical starting points for
state-leveled subgroups that work to draft policies and thinking and acting through everyday social change
practices that are more inclusive of multiple ways of and consider how such practices might be important
knowing and making music in a myriad of settings. to the work of the ACDA community. Drawing from a
While institutional change can be impactful, indi- larger study on social change, we ask: (1) What could re-
vidual actions also matter. One way to frame localized flective and reflexive practice look like in choral music?,
change that focuses on the pursuit of equity, accessibil- (2) What could community look like in choral spaces?,
ity, diversity, and inclusion is through the lens of social and (3) What could working with/for the broader com-
change. We define social change as a series of ongoing, munity look like?
everyday practices that involve reflection and purpose-
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ful engagement with the community. Social change
has long been seen as central to arts education; how- What Could Reflective and Reflexive Practice
ever, guidance about how to participate in social change Look Like in Choral Music?
is limited. Reflective and reflexive practice are key to support-
We have observed similar questions about enacted ing social change in choral spaces. Though often used
social change in our work as choral educators. While interchangeably, reflective and reflexive practice are not

CHORAL JOURNAL November/December 2024 Volume 65 Number 4 27