As my colleague and I prepare for the second semester of teaching a church choir, many things come to mind. How can we fit it all in? How can we make it fun? How can we do it so that we are ready for when we sing in public? Experience answers these questions in part, but because we as educators are always trying to improve every year, they are always explored.
This is a new experience for me. I have always been in a school setting, never in a church. Each of the 3 choirs has rehearsal once a week and I am responsible for the music theory portion of their lesson. I love this job, by the way!!! The kids are great and my colleague is FABULOUS!! For the first time in a long time I am able to really slow down and look at what I teach with a more focused eye. Sometimes when one teaches in a public school, there is little time for reflection. Everything is so busy and demanding. In this setting, I am more in control of time and curriculum. I am enjoying the “sabbatical”!
So to get back to my earlier questions: How can we fit it all in? How can we make it fun? How can we do it so that we are ready for when we sing in public? I guess the answer to this is the same one to the question “How do we succeed in life?”. Take each day (or rehearsal in this case) and do the most and best you can with it. I remember seeing a YouTube video awhile back of Will Smith speaking about success. He related his life to a brick wall. Every day represents a brick. He felt is was his job to lay the very best brick in the most thoughtful way each and everyday, so that at some point he would be able to step back and see the most wonderful wall. His theory has proved correct! It sounds like a great start!