To say that I am a choir nerd would be a gross understatement--I mean, my mother performed as the soprano soloist in The Messiah by Handel when I was in utero. From the time I could talk, I was singing.
I grew up singing in various choirs, from my church choir to professional children's choirs to the choir at my performing arts high school. I now sing in a 30 person chamber group that will be touring Poland in May. Although I have sung with many different directors and in many halls, there are several things that remain the same about every rehearsal, performance, or group. This is a list of facts that every choir kid knows to be true.
1. You have a favorite composer.
There are composer greats in the choral music world that most people have never heard of, but you can name 10 reasons why "Seal Lullaby" by Eric Whitacre is his best piece, or why Arvo Part's "Salve Regina" is genius. Plus you've sung so much Bach and Handel that it needs no rehearsal.
2. Christmas is the most stressful time of the year.
At one point in high school, I sang four different versions of "Deck the Halls." Those Christmas favorites that your Uncle Joe loves to sing when he's had too much eggnog? Yeah, you can think of at least five different harmonies to go with them. Plus, every choir has a concert of holiday music, or a concert close to Christmas time. It's like every director is out to get you. Don't they know that finals are coming up?!
3. Speaking of Christmas, The Messiah is not a Christmas work.
Yes, you heard me correctly. This work is meant to be sung at Easter, but rarely is. "The Hallelujah Chorus" is perhaps the most-performed choral work at Christmas, much to the chagrin of pretty much everyone in the choir.
4. Every vocal part has a specific attitude.
Sopranos: They sing high. Their parts are sometimes difficult, and they know it. Sometimes they are divas. Most sopranos are really pretty awesome--they get a bad rap.
Altos: They are the cool girls. Alto often sing boring lines, so when they get super exciting lines, they SING OUT. Altos are often the closest group socially.
Tenors: The male sopranos. They never know their music, except for that one tenor who is super on his/her game. Yes, you read that right--sometimes women sing tenor. When they do, it's BADASS.
Bass/Baritones: Like the altos, basses are chill dudes. If you have a bad bass section, however, you are screwed. Basses are stable and intelligent, both as singers and as people.
5. You have opinions about a cappella groups.
Sometimes choir kids are in a cappella groups and love it, while others hate a cappella on principle. No matter what, however, being a choir kid means you have an opinion one way or the other. If you are in a group, you probably have high standards for what that group sings and how they rehearse.
6. You harmonize to everything.
It's a habit. You listen to the radio in the car and it's an opportunity to practice your improvisational skills. Not only does this make you a smarter singer, but the people riding with you are probably super impressed by your skills.
7. You probably play(ed) another instrument.
Even if you've stopped now, at some point you probably also could play piano, violin, trumpet, clarinet, or guitar. Playing these other instruments not only made you a better musician, it made you a better singer. It cleaned up your sight reading skills, made you listen more intensely for blending as an ensemble, and made you appreciate other types of music.
8. You know snippets of other foreign languages.
You've sung Latin so many times that you're practically fluent in a dead language. Be it Italian, German, French, or Finnish, you've sung in some crazy languages, but you wouldn't change it for the world. Singing also probably influenced which language you took in middle and high school.
9. Solfege!
A form of sight-reading technique, solfege was made famous by "Do Re Mi" from The Sound of Music. You're probably really good at it, and if you aren't, you're at least familiar enough with it to follow along.
10. You know everything about how to prepare for a performance.
No dairy on concert day. Throat Coat is your friend. Warm-ups are super important. Warm water and honey will help you in a pinch. No cold water--it seizes up your vocal chords! Wear comfortable shoes and undergarments. Get a good night's sleep! But you already knew all that.
11. Speaking of warm-ups, you know a ton, but there are plenty more to learn!
Everyone has a favorite warm-up or vocal exercise. Whether it's pure fun, really difficult, or just feels really good in your voice, you get really excited about doing your favorite one.
12. Fainting is a very real possibility at a choir concert.
Dehydration and heat are very real issues when you're on risers with 200 of your closest friends. Your choir director definitely told you to stay hydrated, not to lock your knees, and to sit down if your vision narrowed or got dark.
13. You get nervous for auditions and callbacks even though you've done five million of them.
You've probably auditioned for one hundred solos in your time as a choir kid, but every time one comes up, whether it's for your theatre company or for an oratorio, you get nervous. But choir has taught you to always come prepared!
14. Music connects people.
Again, another gross understatement. Music connects cultures, connects nations, and connects people. It is an influential way to spread information and something that is universally enjoyed by people around the world. It is used in religious, celebratory, political, and entertaining situations.
15. "People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts."--Paul Hindemith
Famous musical theatre composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were not fans of each other. Despite their differences, they made incredible music together, and their shows are staples in the theatre world. Music unites people. It brings people together, despite differences of opinion, language, culture, or religion.
I loved being in choir. It afforded me so many opportunities to grow as a singer and as a person. One choir in particular changed my life--the Roanoke Valley Children's Choir, directed by Kimberly Ruse Davidson. In my eight years in the ensemble, I learned more about myself as a performer than I have learned anywhere else. I was even given a scholarship that helped me attend the school of my dreams, pursuing a Musical Theatre and Music double major.
Do choir. It'll change your life!
