[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]
On the face of it, a workshop or concert can be a resounding success.
But ask individuals about how they think it went and some people will think it was terrible.
Sometimes I have to run a workshop when I’m feeling less than my best. I often don’t sleep the night before and I seem to get colds and other bugs quite regularly.
Which means that many choir sessions and singing days are a real struggle for me (as I’m sure they can be for other choir and workshop leaders).
When I’m feeling less than 100% I know I’m not giving my best. Because of this I sometimes apologise after a singing session because I know I’ve not delivered what people have expected.
Yet it’s always surprising that the feedback on these occasions rarely reflects this. Most people don’t notice that I’m under par. That’s not to say that I couldn’t have done better if I’d been well, but my perception has been clouded by how I feel.
In the same way I know of singers who’ve attended workshops and afterwards have beaten themselves up because they’ve got things wrong or not picked a song up as quickly as others or felt they kept making mistakes or believed that they let their section down.
But again, nobody else usually notices. The singer’s perception of how their singing was has been affected by how they were feeling. If we’re a bit down (or feeling ill) then we’ll notice all the things that go wrong and come away thinking it was a disaster.
So remember, next time you come away from leading or attending a singing event, be aware that your judgment of it will be affected by how you feel.
It’s never as bad as you think, and don’t ever let it put you off doing it again.
You might also find these posts of interest:
Just one of those days
How our mood affects our experiences
Wot, me worried?
About not sleeping before a workshop
Taking care of ourselves as choir and workshop leaders
Not everyone experiences a concert in the same way
No energy? Sing different, sing better!
You are not alone – most people in your choir think they can’t sing well
Why the singers in your choir still love you even though they look bored
Chris Rowbury
website: chrisrowbury.com
blog: blog.chrisrowbury.com
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