Choir Handbooks

One day I will need one of these, specific to the school and grades I teach. Here is an example of a handbook from a Highschool in Texas.

And here is one from a Middle School in Texas (man, Texas does choir RIGHT!)


3 More:
From Ohio

From Michigan

and from Washington.

The end.

Paradigms of Interdependence

I see that up until this point my blogs have spoken of the habits I feel are my strengths. Covey's chapter on Paradigms of interdepence, which is interestingly separate from any of the other "habits," is challenging to me.

I am an only child who was raised to be an independent woman, a productive member of society. My parents instilled independence from an early age and I ate it up. I am very stubborn, I can be bossy, I would prefer to do things myself because I like things done "MY way." Throughout the years I've tried to stifle those attributes and harness them instead into effective leadership. No one likes constant "withdrawals from their emotional bank account" as Covey writes, so I've tried to be better at living INTERdependently instead of independently.

This chapter is very spiritually- centered for me. I think of the story in the Bible of when Jesus met with Mary and Martha. He valued the attention and intention that was shown Him by Mary over the details and organization of Martha. Very often I can become so detail-oriented and SELF-oriented that I forget the most important things; understanding the individual, forgiving, apologizing. Apologizing is difficult work. Forgiving is not for the weak. I loved this quote by Leo Roskin: "It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can be expected of the strong." That is the kind of strength I want to have.

Habit 3: Putting First Things First

I am good at saying no. Sometimes this makes me look like a selfish, un-supportive, B*&%$, BUT it's because I live by my principals AND I implement Habit 3: putting first things first.

I have known many people throughout my life who are "YES-men" (which reminds me of a cute movie I saw recently called Yes-man with Jim Carey. You should check it out, add it to your netflix). Saying 'yes' has allowed them nothing but opportunities to distract them from Quadrant 2 work, or important-non urgent, things. Because these friends of mine are seemingly incapable of saying 'no,' they end up either avoiding things they really wanted to say 'no' to, or they do them with horrible attitudes. Saying 'no' is hard. It takes practice to do graciously and lovingly yet unapologetically as Covey suggests. Saying 'no' risks looking like a meanie-pants but in reality it keeps you in line with your mission and your principals in life.

Saying no is absolutely vital as a musician. Typically musicians have more than one, sometimes more than 4 jobs at one time. If I were not good at saying 'no' I would be overextending myself preventing me from being fully present, fully available to each one. Sometimes it's a matter of saying 'no' to an unpaid, time-consuming gig when you need the money. But other times, it's saying 'no' to taking a job that is not in line with your principals or one that will keep you from giving your full attention to another important job. Sifting through when to say 'yes' or 'no' again, takes practice and deep, firm convictions of what really matters to you.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I LOVE THIS BOOK!! As Nancy mentioned in our class last week, I believe this book puts into words common sense ways of effective/fruitful/positive living that many people discover by trial and error, or never find at all. After reading this book I have asked myself "self, have you been living an effective life?"...haha, the answer was a resounding YES! but also, not completely.

I believe I have been good at living a "principal-centered" life as discussed in Habit 2: beginning with the end in mind. The funeral visual that Covey asks us to ponder helped me realize that in MOST ways and on MOST days I am living a life from my principals. I am definitely not money-centered (or I wouldn't be a musician!), I am definitely not enemy, friend or pleasure centered. MOST days I live a life doing and behaving from my principals. I try to use my gifts because I believe to whom much is given, much is required. I try to love unconditionally whether my political, spiritual, or other views are the same as yours. I try to be giving, loving, encouraging, loyal....all the things I would want spoken of me at my funeral. On my worst days, I worry about money or tie my emotional well-being to my husband's, but on my best days I believe I live a principal-centered life. This reminds me of a song we had sung at our wedding and that I lead in worship (now, you must understand I am relating based on my paradigm of being a Christian worship leader!). The song is called Center, by Charlie Hall:

Oh Christ, be the center of our lives
Be the place we fix our eyes
Be the center of our lives

You're the center of the universe
Everything was made in You, Jesus
Breath of every living thing
Everyone was made for You

You hold everything together
You hold everything together

We lift our eyes to Heaven
We wrap our lives around Your life
We lift our eyes to Heaven, to You

More reflections on another Habit will follow.....

nothing to do with Choral Methods but....

I pretty much rocked the cello today...the snare drum, not so much. Watch out ASO!! Did I miss my calling?

I have a new blog! Dr. Copeland at UAB is requiring his Choral Methods students to keep a blog during his class this semester. I look forward to sharing (at least with him) all of my musical adventures, questions, and meanderings! Welcome.