I did choir on and off-- thanks to my school district's disregard for the arts-- for seven years. I have experienced competitions, trips, festivals, and more throughout my time as a choir student. I had fascinating experiences, and messier experiences. No matter what you go through in your experience as a choir kid, there are the telltale signs that you were a choir kid at some point.
1. You still talk smack about other sections.
I typically alternated between Soprano II or Alto during my times as a choir kid. And whenever I see or talk to one of my old section pals, we can still identify the song, day, and year when the Soprano Is were being a bit screechy and the Alto IIs weren't quite rounding out those low notes. No matter how much time passes, you will always think your section is the best.
2. You can harmonize with any song that comes on the radio.
Whether it's the newest pop song or an oldie on the radio, a tell-tale sign that you have been in a choir is the effortless harmony you find yourself creating in the car. If you're anything like me, you don't even notice that you're doing it until a friend asks why you're not singing the melody.
3. You never want to tell anyone that you did show choir.
You may be a little embarrassed to relive your show choir glory days, and I don't blame you. The matching outfits, the cheesy choreo, and the taunting that comes from being in show choir will make even your best of friends laugh at you. So usually if no one asks what kind of choir I did, I don't mention I did show choir. Well until now they didn't know... I'm still pretty proud though, because I think it's pretty cool.
4. Some of your best high school memories are the fun trips you took.
My favorite trips range from local festivals at the university to three-day, non-stop trips at Disneyland. Some of your favorite memories will come from those trips. When you meet with your old choir friends, you can talk about the fun you had at Disneyland in 2014, or how great you did at the 2012 festival.
5. You can make music as soon as you're with your old choir friends.
Any Christmas music, the national anthem, your school's alma matter are just a few songs that are instantly replicated when you get in a group with your old choir friends. Even then, you can bust out any song and make music on the spot by replicating a song playing in the coffee shop you met at.
6. No matter who you lose contact with, your choir pals have your back.
There's friends from my choir I haven't seen in years. But if I needed anything, those girls would have my back. Even though there was tons of drama and you didn't usually like them during festival time, you knew they always had your back. The bond you form by making music is one that can't be broken by any drama or distance.
7. The phrase "sight-singing" still makes you cry.
Sight-singing was the bane of any choir student's existence. Every festival and competition required it, and it was the one thing we could all hate as a group. No matter your talent, sight-singing could bring you to your knees and cry like a baby.
8. You probably still have your old dress or tux.
That hideous dress that cost you $80? I bet you still have it. That five-piece vest, button-up shirt, shiny cufflinks combo? I bet you still have it. Letting go of an outfit that you won first place in, or performed in a different state in holds so many memories. Even though it had probably absorbed pounds of hairspray, makeup, and sweat, it holds a lot of sentimental value. And hey, maybe one day you'll need a hideous, floor-length black dress for an event. Or not.
9. You know the words to every Christmas song.
One thing was consistent with choir every year. And that was the dozens of pieces of Christmas music you had to learn for multiple school functions, fundraising events, and the winter show. When the holiday season comes around, I guarantee you know every word and at least two different harmonies to every Christmas song. It's a blessing and a curse.
10. Random competition music will pop into your head.
As I typed this, the hardest piece of music I had to master popped into my head. We all have that song that still finds it's way into our brain and won't get out until we sing it a few times. It can be from five years ago, or two. It is still as clear as ever, and it will never escape your brain.
The experiences I went through because of my time in the choir programs at my old schools were some of the ones I still hold so close. Although it was stressful, it was rewarding. You will always have those harmonies in the back of your mind, and you'll always have those friends that you can relive those memories with.
