Dear Music Director: THE ISSUE OF RESPONSIBILITY 1

written by W.N. Vincent

I hope this meets you full of the joys that stem from choir leading.  

Growing up as children, my mother would always say to us, “When I go out, don’t just sit down in the house all day and do nothing! As a good child, look around the house and ask yourself, “What can I do in the house so that when my mother comes back she would not shout?” Then go ahead and do that thing so that when I come back from work I would not complain about, or shout over anything.”

I didn’t understand this then, but later I realized that over time she had helped us cultivate a value, – a sense of responsibility.

In my experience, majority of the challenges we face in the choir arise from members who do not want to be held responsible for their actions.  

Think about it; They’ll always give sound excuses for not scoring songs. They’ll always give legit excuses for every wrong action in an attempt to shy away from the problem.

When we have choristers who know why they are in the choir, the nature and demand of the minstrel’s office, etc. and are willing to be responsible for both their actions and in-actions, things will work a little better.

You can join the Choir as a child, but please grow into a man.  

A singular difference between a child and a grown man is a sense of responsibility. While a child will say, “It is not my business. Thank God I’m not the leader“, a man will say, “I’m not the leader by position, but I have the responsibility to make things work where I am as a Soprano singer“.

So if a fellow Soprano singer dresses wrong or comes to rehearsal unprepared, they will be cautioned even before you hear of it as the leader. But imagine soldiers at war. Imagine one soldier refuses to help a member of his company who has been shot, because the commander wasn’t close by to give the command.

Having responsible choristers on your choir will save you so much stress, but you should help them grow in their days of childhood. It is such a blessing when people find themselves and grow under you as their leader, and it is only possible when you give them both the right amount of challenge and opportunity, among other factors. And by opportunity I do not mean the platform to sing in major events or programs only. I mean responsibility.

I must emphasize this; One of the things that makes leadership work is not just great strategy, etc. It is when everyone is performing at their fullest and continuously increasing capacities and potentials.

Great strategies will fail when followers do not follow through on the plan.

It’s a plus, and to your benefit when you have choristers who can do things on their own without you having to cajole, beg, or force them to do what they know how to do, or should do. If you still cajole, beg, or force them to do things like, to come for rehearsals, etc. then they have not learned responsibility.

But don’t flip out! Help them. Teach and mentor them on these values. Consciously give them room and watch them closely.  

Whether on an individual or corporate level, irresponsibility will crumble any Choir.   

I hope to hear from you how things are working in your choir. Remember, if you have a challenge in your choir, you can reach me personally on Facebook.

Cheers!

HOW DO I IMBIBE A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN MY CHOIR MEMBERS?