Choir Practice

One of my favorite stories about my dad as a boy happened one night on his way to choir practice. Someone stopped my 5 yr. old dad in the hall and said, "Robert do you sing bass or tenor?" My dad replied, "Neither, I sing "Praise Him, Praise Him". Choir has been part of my life ever since.

If you know me at all, you know there is a lot of music in my life. One of the things I have "left behind" in this move is singing and a lot of time spent "doing" music. What I have found however, is Father had another plan. A few months ago, through some friends, I was introduced to some people who sing in a choir, but their choir director has just gotten married and moved away. So, these friends asked me to come and "teach their choir how to sing"....which is a loaded assignment. I told them I couldn't commit to every week, because I had other responsibilities and they said to come when I could.

So the next Friday, during my language class.....I did a crash course in music/singing vocabulary with my tutor. I have a great language curriculum, but it doesn't include words like "note", "measure", "breath support", "breathe from your diaphragm", etc, etc. Armed with my vocabulary, I set out for two hours of choir rehearsal/language intensive all at the same time. Leading a two hour choir rehearsal in English is tiring by itself, however, leading in another language....exhausting. People here don't grow up with music in schools or having choirs to participate in, so these adults are very new to singing.....however they are passionate about it. They have so much energy and excitement as they sing to their Father.

I have now attended 3 times, and each time I come away so blessed. I don't know if they are learning anything from me....but I am certainly learning tons from this group of people. Last night, for example, as we ended, a young man asked to share his heart. He is a new brother and shared that he had been struggling with depression, but as we sang Amazing Grace last night, he felt peace and joy for the first time.

I am overwhelmed to be able to meet these great people and have a part in their lives. Last night they were comfortable enough with me to laugh at my dumb jokes and my language mistakes. In all my years of singing in choirs, studying music, and leading choirs I never would have dreamed of having this opportunity. Every day is a new adventure......