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S
TION
VERSA
CHORAL CONVERSATIONS
CHORAL CON

I would bring a song to the rehearsal that we were not up. Other songs tendered me; my body felt what can
practicing and just allow the message of the song to best be described as a melting heart. I shared all of
speak for itself. These were carefully selected songs with these experiences with the choir while I explained why
lyrics that I hoped might find a resting place deep with- I had selected each song.
in their hearts or cause a worried mind to relax a bit. Another belief I have not changed is that I always
On this particular day, I had selected This Journey Is My wanted choir to be an experience; and while most re-
Own by Sara Groves. One of my students left the room hearsals didn’t allow much time for sharing, I made
that day with tears in her eyes and told me, “I needed sure each week to have at least one opportunity for
every word of that song today.” The connection these choir members to share. For example, I would ask the
lyrics made with her served as an encouragement to me entire choir to stand and one at a time quickly share
to keep choosing literature (both vocal and written) that something they liked about another member in the
would put words of hope, healing, and strength on the choir. They were not allowed to say something shal-
minds and voices of the singers in my classroom. low like, “Hey, nice shoes!” Some of their tributes were
so heartfelt that either the speaker and or the receiver
In an era that often prioritizes outcomes over were moved to tears. As we began to know each other
process, how did you protect space for vulnera- more deeply, appreciation grew in our hearts. I firmly
bility, wonder, and joy in your rehearsals? Over believe that it influenced our sound as we bonded to-
four decades, were there core values or beliefs gether. The sound of a choir who knows and loves each
left untouched even as your methods and the other is palpable.
world around you changed?
Through the emotional highs and lows of teach-
I think you can have it all: process/journey, out- ing, what habits helped you sustain your pas-
comes/success, vulnerability, wonder, and joy! I cer- sion and presence to show up fully for your stu-
tainly was not the same teacher in year one as I am dents without losing yourself in the process?
now. When I was in seventh grade, I recall reading a
poem where the author was swinging high over a green I recall being in a rehearsal with eighty-five high
pasture-like setting. He allowed his mind to dream school singers and feeling like I was the only one in the
while determining that he would never lose that child- room who truly cared. I had a choice to be annoyed or
like sense of wonderment and awe. My seventh-grade draw a line in the sand and step over it with renewed
self decided the same. I was never going to stuff my vigor. And that’s precisely what I did. I decided to care
enthusiasm, my joie de vivre, or my exclamations when not only one hundred percent for myself, but also for
some thrilling sound made my spirit soar. So, when the the eighty-five others in the room. Undeterred by their
choir was singing well, I would let out a whoop of joy! apathy, I dug passionately into the rehearsing and shar-
I once stopped a concert mid-song to just unload all ing, and over time I think it caused the students to join
the emotion that was welling up in my heart. I shared me. I refer to it as not allowing the smudge of some-
how there were so many “best sounds” that each singer one’s lack of effort to dull your shine. Sing on! Shine
brought to the chorus, but we had to come to an agree- on! Play on!
ment about tone color, technique, and even vibrato. I If there were specific lows, we would have what
shared with the audience that some of the singers had some refer to as a “choirside chat” where I addressed
to abandon their “best sound” for the good of the en- the elephant in the room. For example, “I was disap-
semble. pointed in yesterday’s rehearsal, but it is in the past. We
In addition, I selected music that affected me emo- have today, and here are the specific things I need from
tionally. I recall sitting in my kitchen, listening to possi- each of you to bring this music to life as we honor the
ble literature for the coming fall. One song stirred me composer’s intention.”
so much that I felt my pulse quicken, and I had to stand I would also share with the choir if I had a day when

62 CHORAL JOURNAL October 2025 Volume 66 Number 3