[HANASHIR:15455] Re: choir members miss rehearsals. What to do

[Laura Ferguson <allenderl...>]

Perhaps the guideline is expectations.  A Cantor I sang with in a community 
choir, made clear by his expectations that:

1) we started on time (because he always started on time, and if you were 
late, it was always with great regret for what you had missed)
2) we were responsible for learning the music because the music was 
challenging, and if you missed rehearsal you would fall badly behind
3) because he took attendance and set a limit to how many absences were 
allowed before a performance (this became a self enforced guideline!)
4) if you knew your music, that is what counted, but rehearsals were fun so 
we always tried to be there.

Note: this is a volunteer choir, but there was some screening for new 
members.
On that topic, I was grateful.  IMHO, a simple screening (a minimal 
audition) is more FAIR to everyone than no audition at all.  Ask the person 
to sing Hineh Mah Tov or the Sh'ma.  It's really not fair to the other 
choir members when someone really can't sing or can no longer hear well 
enough to sing along.  When we allow the lowest common denominator to 
dominate, we sell short the talent in our congregations.  Singers with 
talent and skill quit choirs where that skill is not appreciated and where 
the quality of the choir is so poor that they feel they are wasting their 
time.  Wouldn't it be better for everyone to have a generous policy that 
still expects you to be able to sing and to work hard at it?

At 08:36 AM 9/29/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>I agree that, when you're dealing with a volunteer choir, you need to
>forgive people's inability to make a total commitment, and find ways for
>them to keep up at home. The bottom line is that the congregation feels
>closer to the music and the prayers. (Btw: I'm sure you didn't mean to
>say the teenager is menopausal!)
>-Amy



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