[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]
I wrote a post a while ago called Ask not what your choir can do for you – ask what can you do for your choir. The more you put in, the more you get back.
There are plenty of practical things you can do to help you get more out of your choir. Here are a few. Why not try them in the coming year?
Liz Garnett’s wrote a post on her blog Helping You Harmonise recently called Four Non-Musical Contributions You Can Make That Can Transform Your Choir.
In it she suggested “four things that every choir member can manage, whatever their current skills or levels of experience, that will actively help their choir improve”. Here they are:
If only every choir member took these responsibilities seriously! It’s all pretty obvious stuff, but it’s amazing how many singers forget their lyrics, arrive late, can’t remember which part they’re singing, get distracted by chatting to their friends.
I mentioned some similar points in my post How to be a good choir member.
Yes, singing in a choir is fun, but if you can balance it with a few basic responsibilities, it makes the whole experience much more rewarding for all concerned.
If you recognise a bad habit (or two!) of yours when reading these posts, make a note of it/ them. Don’t try to change everything at once (those kind of New Year resolutions are bound to fail), but maybe pick one important one and see how that goes.
You might also enjoy my post from last January: What small changes will make you a better singer in the coming year?
I wish you every luck with any changes you want to make and hope you have a wonderful year of singing ahead.
You might also find these posts relevant.
The pleasures of being a choir member
How to deal with unwanted talking during choir rehearsals without killing anybody
How to get people back after the break
Don’t stand too close to me! – finding the right place to stand in your choir
How will your choir cope if you don’t turn up?
You are the most important singer in your choir
Don’t try to help your fellow singers – it’s not your job!
Dealing with choir members who are always late
Joining an established choir: a guide for new singers
Chris Rowbury
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