[HANASHIR:4692] Re: kids' choir names & uniforms

[Roslyn Schwartz <rs4...>]

There is always an ongoing tension, in every group, between those who
favour tradition - "doing things as they always have been done" - vs
those who favour innovation - "trying out new things".

In your situation, it would certainly be politically difficult to ask
that the choir go without robes on an ongoing basis.  But here's an
idea:  perhaps you could ask for a "dress-down Friday" (so to speak) - a
service at which _both_ choir & congregation were asked to wear
"whatever they felt most comfortable in" - rather than dressing up.  The
service itself could be conducted in a more casual style than usual -
(this is the sort of thing, by the way, that Youth Groups are often
particularly good at) - and the sermon / discussion could talk about
different ways of approaching worship.  It could also be interesting,
afterwards, to have a private discussion with the choir, to talk about
how people felt about the experience of performing in robes vs. in more
casual / comfortable clothing.  You might not get any long-lasting
changes, but I would predict that people would have a greater
understanding of each others' feelings & point of view.

I'd be interested to hear how things progress!

- Roslyn

Susan Schanerman wrote:
> 
<snip> I'm also curious.  Our adult choir members wear white robes when
> they sing at services.  Somehow it seems appropriate at High Holidays > but 
> it bugs me at Shabbat services.  Robes seem so churchy and pompous > to me. 
> Do your choirs wear them?  Why?  Our Sisterhood bought them > (megabucks) and 
> the Sisterhood President is in the choir so we're > stuck with them for 
> awhile...
<snip>

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