Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti "NO"

The music world isn’t an unfamiliar place to me. I’ve grown up playing the piano, violin, and viola. Here and there, I’ve even tried band instruments. I never really imagined myself being in a choir though. I mean, of course I think that I’m the best singer when I’m in the shower or around my house, but actually performing - no thank you. So, this week, I decided to go to a choir class. Let’s just say that my assumptions were reassured and I should stick to instruments.

I walked in the room with my friend Sam. She introduced me to the instructor of the day, a Graduate student and TA, Melody Gifford. She is accustomed to only teaching elementary school students. So, at least I wasn’t the only one stepping out of my comfort zone.

The classroom was huge. It had four rows, each one higher than the next. There were at least 20 chairs in each row, they were all colored blue. A mirror covered one of the walls and there was a huge piano in the middle of the room. So, Sam grabbed a seating chart, we found her seat and I sat right next to her.

Okay, assigned seating, section leaders, it all seemed familiar so far. It was time to warm-up. The class then stood up, I thought to myself, I mean that only makes sense nobody sings sitting down. Then they stretched. Like touch the sky, touch your toes, do windmills with your arms type of stretching. Next, they were instructed to “let all your air out.” The room filled with painting dogs. Just as I thought of how weird this was, they were instructed to do trills. Okay, okay, I know what trills are, this should be normal. Nope, nothing like I’ve done. The room soon filled with mini helicopters and cicadas buzzing around my head. Next, the room was filled with sirens. Warming up has to be almost over, right? Finally, something I was familiar with. They matched pitch with piano and did scales.

Choirs are divided into four sections: Soprano, Tenor, Bass, and Alto.

I’ve always wondered why choirs often sang in different languages. So, I figured this was a perfect time to figure it out. One of the main reasons is to add diversity. I’m not sure why I couldn’t figure this one out on my own because why would such a creative group of people only stick to one language of music. Secondly, it adds to the learning process. Different languages have a variety of amazing composer that offer harder levels of music. It offers a challenge, which musicians seem to love.

I am very grateful that Sam invited me to go to choir class with her and that the instructors were so happy to have me come and watch. I’m also sure that everyone else is very grateful that I play instruments and don’t sing.

Thanks for reading

P.S. Sam CAN sing J

All photos by me