Monday, January 30, 2006
On a more serious note
Hey Voices In The Garden,
You saw the fruits of your labours - all these weeks of hardwork, dedication, sweat, love, interest and passion has not gone to waste. And you have made me very proud at the Chinese New Year performance. This is an important milestone of your musical journey as a chorister and of the choir's developmental track. Apart from gaining from the every performance you put up, you and your fellow choristers will gain a shared experience in every thing you do as a group. And that is important because it is in shared experiences and shared rituals that groups find their solidarity and stay together.
what are rituals and experiences? Rituals are like customs, they are things people do always and they do not change over time. Your everyday warm-ups and your daily morning assembly song-leading are examples of shared rituals. Even hanging out at the coffee shop after every practice or telling "cold" jokes can be rituals, as long as it is something you do on a very regular basis and its not something people outside of your group will practice or understand.
Experiences are events that happen to you and every performance, every outing u attend is a shared experience. When a group has shared experience and rituals, the members will all have something they share in common and that is something that binds them and connects them because only people in this group will have these things to talk about and outside people won't be able to identify or share in the same way.
That brings me to the point about attendance, whether in practice or in performance or in any activity at all, be it bbq, field trip, excursions or even just going out for a movie. Every time some one misses one practice or performance, he/she robs himself/herself of a shared experience/ritual with the group and draws himself/herself away from being identified as part of the group.
This is not to nag at you about attending practices or what, I think you're all young adults who have the clarity of mind to sort out your priorities and to know what you need to do. If you don't want to come, I cannot put a chain around your neck or point a gun at you, it's really your choice. I can only say that you should know that you are important to us and every single one counts. You are more important in the choir than you realise, especially when our numbers are few, one absentee means a great percentage loss in strength. And where development is concerned, the choir grows musically from every practice and performance. And in order for the group to improve, all its members have to be part of that experience and learning. Remember a group is only as strong as its weakest member. So having just one person who don't know what's going on or what cannot match up to the pace can bring the whole group down.
At this point I feel it's time to share with you the Vision and Mission which the committee has decided upon rigorous deliberation. So members have a clear sense of direction this group is taking and would then know what we're working for.
OUR VISION
We can touch and inspire the audience, winning their respect and love for the choir.
OUR MISSION
We will put in every effort to make good music and display professionalism.
The commmittee will next be charting out an action plan for the choir to achieve her vision and mission. But this is so you know that we've got something going and the committee is working extra hard for the choir. But the committee alone does not make up the choir, it's you. Yes you. Every single one of you. Whether this choir thrives or fails depends on the hardwork of every member. And do not underestimate yourself or the little things you may be able to offer, like coming punctually, being a little more conscientious in practice, doing homework, learning your part, organising sectionals at your own time, asking questions if you do not understand, taking care of your body, rest well, have enough sleep and water, protect your voice and not abuse it by shouting or screaming unnecessarily etc. and the list goes on.
So let us march towards our vision and carry out our mission and make Voices In The Garden not just any CCA but a place for sharing good music and for people with love, interest, passion in choral music to grow and develop themselves and make friends along the way. Thank you for reading this far. Please rest well over the CNY holidays and take good care of your body and your voice. Remember you have got to respect your body if you want your body to do what you want.
Take care and God bless,
your conductor
Our Voices Raise As One
One Heart One Choir
