choral
To that end, when I’m speaking to the audi- ence at my concerts, I will step up to the microphone and tell people that the students in front of them are not talented (that usu- ally elicits some gasps), but rather they are skilled… and then I briefly explain what I mean by that. Sharing that explanation gives my singers a badge of honor of sorts. They are recognized in that moment for the diligent work, care and effort they put into the music, each other and themselves. They also see that not everything is predisposed. That if anyone works hard enough, they can accomplish great things – regardless of where they started. And that’s a lesson they take with them for the rest of their lives.
Managing Relationships – Especially Conflict
As I was preparing to write this article, I actually asked my students what they think comprises the invisible work I do as a choir teacher. Their answers had a lot more to do with humanity and relationships than it did with the logistical expectations of the job.
The overarching theme I got from them in every class was that the biggest invisible task I complete is managing social conflict – their words, not mine. I found that to be fascinating, thought provoking, and oh so very true.
When you combine students from different social circles and ask them to come together for a greater ideal of creating something beautiful, there is going to be conflict. When you ask singers to take risks and step outside of their comfort zones, there is going to be conflict. When you have raging hormones, teenage insecurities, invasive social media influences and humans just trying to figure out who they are, there is going to be conflict.
In order to manage those conflicts, help the students navigate them and give them skills for managing conflicts in relation- ships throughout their lives, it’s imperative that you truly know the students. There is a vast amount of invisible labor that goes into that. You must be an observer, a listener,
an empathetic spirit, a compassionate guide and someone who holds them account- able. You have to learn to read their faces (especially when they don’t match their words), hear their tone, understand their perspective. You must balance letting them figure it out with guiding their process. In the short term, it’s about helping them love and respect themselves and each other so that their humanity can sing through the music. In the long term, it’s about helping them love and respect themselves and each other so their humanity can shine in their communities for the rest of their lives.
When the tasks seem overwhelming and the appreciation seems underwhelming, I hope you’ll take a moment to remember the incredible importance of the work you are doing to shape humanity. It may not be seen, but it is certainly felt.
Joy Paffenroth is the choir director at Kaukauna High School.
Email:
paffenrothj@kaukaunasd.org
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Wisconsin School Musician 31
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