Joyful Gifts

Our Middle school choirs are really coming along. The students in the classes are rising to the challenges set before them and are singing quite beautifully with some very nice expression. I’ve chosen some rather difficult pieces for their Christmas concert, but they have no idea the music is hard. They’re like sponges—soaking up musical ideas and trying everything they are asked to do with a smile.

The 7th and 8th grade choir is promising to be great this year. The students are working very hard and are already giving me goose bumps when they sing. Wonderful!!! The spirit in the classroom is incredibly unified.

My 6th grade choir is delightful, although a little bit wiggly and chatty, and I’ve really had to work to keep them attentive and focused. Today, I told them I would brook no talking—we were there to work and make something beautiful and excellent happen as a team. The students sat tall in their chairs and really gave it their all, with the exception of one very sweet and funny little guy. I stopped the music, bent down to him, and quickly fixed his posture, music, and addressed the way his technique needed adjusting, trying to help, but not embarrass him, as well as trying to keep the energy of rehearsal moving.

He looked rather sheepish, and I said with a smile, “Remember, I’m very demanding.”

“I noticed,” he replied, smiling back.

“Think how much more you can achieve if you give me 100 percent!” I coached.

Quickly moving back to the music, we worked very hard until the bell, and the sounds they produced were quite lovely.

At the end of class the satisfaction on their faces was plain to see. They had worked hard and it had paid off in huge dividends.

I’m really grateful for this school year. I feel like I’ve finally found my stride in teaching after a long, long spell of going through the motions. It’s days like today with the children that make me glad I didn’t give up when I was so tired and hurting. The sparkle in the students’ eyes when they sang beautifully was an absolute gift from God.