thanks for this. Our director does a lot of this well- is open, has a positive attitude- and for the most part, the members love getting feedback and ask for it, or for clarifications. We have a culture of "my bad, overs please" which I love love love. The "wind" in our case is actually the person who is trying to raise morale. a woman from our management team gets up after warmups and asks us to "leave it at the door" and "Let go of feelings of not wanting to come" and do affirmations of being focused and trusting.. and I feel like it's having a very opposite effect. On Saturday we had an all day coaching with Karen Sweeters starting at 9AM- Laura said "I know some of you might not have wanted to get up this early" and three or four of us from the risers said "Nope.. no. none of us feel that way" not sure where to go from here.
Because of my laid back personality, and yet still be able to get things done and sound good, one of my singers complimented me last week and called me the “raddest director” they’ve ever had. I completely agree with the having a welcoming energy as a director, it makes your singers actually want to sing and come to rehearsals.
Also when you are generally nice and supportive, those times you do yell/scold are more impactful. My high school band director was a super nice and supportive guy who earned everyone's respect through kindness, musicality, and strong leadership. So when he yelled at you, it was like a parent who was "disappointed, not angry". It was gutting. And it was effective. But it only worked because he earned our respect and only yelled at us when we failed to earn his.
As someone who's sung with a very stern director (who has since been much better), I absolutely agree. Force is never the answer, except maybe in Star Wars. Music is communication, and if your way of communication is aggressive, the singers will feed off of that. It doesn't matter how perfect you get the performers to perform. The takeaway is that it will influence how they view music, and it will change them. I know this from personal experience. Don't let that be the deciding factor on them quitting music.
Love this video, so many great points! I approach music with a lot of intensity so I really have to work hard to make sure that intensity is being applied the right way, and make sure that intensity never comes across as anger or belittlement. Definitely got some more ideas to help with that from this video, thanks Deke!
Deke, Loved your video. I believe so deeply that our number one job as directors is to create a safe place where singers can be vulnerable. I have always strived to do that and been rewarded. I am now in my fifth year teaching grades 7-12 and my choirs have grown. Here is my problem. This year my youngest choir, grades 7 and 8 has grown so much that my gentle what I like to call "edutain" method, similar to what you talked as Directors performing, has back fired. I now have a hard time getting them to focus and a significant portion of them are slipping through the cracks. My question is what do you do as a Safe place director to discipline? I know what not, to do, my list is very similar to yours, but what can I do?
Perhaps some goals, such as performances, will help the young singers realize that focus and making sure they know their part is important, as the feedback will be from an audience, not just their director. I realize this is all very difficult now with Covid, but once things return to normal, finding a number of performing opportunities both in the school and community can be a fantastic motivation.
thanks for this. Our director does a lot of this well- is open, has a positive attitude- and for the most part, the members love getting feedback and ask for it, or for clarifications. We have a culture of "my bad, overs please" which I love love love.
The "wind" in our case is actually the person who is trying to raise morale. a woman from our management team gets up after warmups and asks us to "leave it at the door" and "Let go of feelings of not wanting to come" and do affirmations of being focused and trusting.. and I feel like it's having a very opposite effect. On Saturday we had an all day coaching with Karen Sweeters starting at 9AM- Laura said "I know some of you might not have wanted to get up this early" and three or four of us from the risers said "Nope.. no. none of us feel that way"
not sure where to go from here.
Because of my laid back personality, and yet still be able to get things done and sound good, one of my singers complimented me last week and called me the “raddest director” they’ve ever had. I completely agree with the having a welcoming energy as a director, it makes your singers actually want to sing and come to rehearsals.
Also when you are generally nice and supportive, those times you do yell/scold are more impactful. My high school band director was a super nice and supportive guy who earned everyone's respect through kindness, musicality, and strong leadership. So when he yelled at you, it was like a parent who was "disappointed, not angry". It was gutting. And it was effective. But it only worked because he earned our respect and only yelled at us when we failed to earn his.
As someone who's sung with a very stern director (who has since been much better), I absolutely agree. Force is never the answer, except maybe in Star Wars. Music is communication, and if your way of communication is aggressive, the singers will feed off of that. It doesn't matter how perfect you get the performers to perform. The takeaway is that it will influence how they view music, and it will change them. I know this from personal experience. Don't let that be the deciding factor on them quitting music.
Love this video, so many great points! I approach music with a lot of intensity so I really have to work hard to make sure that intensity is being applied the right way, and make sure that intensity never comes across as anger or belittlement. Definitely got some more ideas to help with that from this video, thanks Deke!
Deke, Loved your video. I believe so deeply that our number one job as directors is to create a safe place where singers can be vulnerable. I have always strived to do that and been rewarded. I am now in my fifth year teaching grades 7-12 and my choirs have grown. Here is my problem. This year my youngest choir, grades 7 and 8 has grown so much that my gentle what I like to call "edutain" method, similar to what you talked as Directors performing, has back fired. I now have a hard time getting them to focus and a significant portion of them are slipping through the cracks. My question is what do you do as a Safe place director to discipline? I know what not, to do, my list is very similar to yours, but what can I do?
Perhaps some goals, such as performances, will help the young singers realize that focus and making sure they know their part is important, as the feedback will be from an audience, not just their director. I realize this is all very difficult now with Covid, but once things return to normal, finding a number of performing opportunities both in the school and community can be a fantastic motivation.
Looking for what a director needs to know and be able to do. Struggling to find director for new group
DEKE SHARON HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE TFC???
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