Keep you honest

Yesterday my teacher said something interesting. He told me that for ten years he has been hoping to get an assistant director. He thinks he is getting to the point where he doesn't know how to teach the secondary choir any more. At first I was skeptical. But the more I thought about, the more it makes sense to me that this is something he is frustrated with. He is still learning and growing (because we always are) and his ears have adjusted to hear very specific things. Then he stands in front of my choir and he doesn't know where to start. Now, yes, teaching is teaching no matter the level. But I think he views himself as more of a shaper of music than a teacher. I'm am not saying I agree or disagree with this, merely stating what I observe. Not to mention, he just spent a week with his chamber group, performing at a very high level.

I hope I don't ever lose my ability to teach. I think it is important to adjust to the group, but I believe that is more about recognizing what to listen for. I will listen for different things in a middle school group than I will my women's choir, and then different things when I'm in front of the chamber group.

But it begs the question: If you only work with one level of group, does your ability to work with other levels disappear or just become rusty?

My friend Austen sent me an e-mail in response to the above story. In it, he said that one of the St Olaf directors (he's an Ole grad) conducts the touring choir at Olaf, as well as the non auditioned women's choir and a community middle school boys choir. This director said "it keeps him honest". I couldn't agree with that more.

I have my lessons today... we'll see how it goes, as my throat is a mess. The convention in Reno was fun, but the hotel/casino where we stayed was full of smoke. Not awesome for my vocal health.