Southwest Iowa Honor Choir a Success!

Eight tired CAM vocal students (and one exhausted teacher) reported for school Tuesday morning the 12th after a hard, but rewarding, day of rehearsal at the Southwest Iowa Honor Choir Festival in Council Bluffs on Monday, February 11. We had a really good day, led by Mr. Joel Johnston of Omaha. He had only four rules for the day, which he cleverly re-enforced as the day went on. His rules helped to establish his expectations for the group, as well as focus them when the energy level began to sag. Here were his "rules" for making music together yesterday:
1) Tonight we will have an "event", not a concert; 2) For today we will put our list of complaints, concerns, and problems AWAY; 3) Remember not to count Crayons (comparing your box to others' boxes), but just to draw; 4) We had his permission to be BRILLIANT! (instead of lazy, non-musical, bored, or inattentive). With these expectations, we embarked on a journey of music making for the day. (I say we, because as accompanist, I was right there with them all day. Sore back to prove it.)
What a successful day in so many ways. First, we participated in a music making event that we will remember for a long time. Secondly, we had such an appreciative crowd of parents and loved ones. Thirdly, we learned a lot about music, singing, and being brilliant! In addition, we were well-represented in the twelve "soloists" chosen by the director by four courageous students from our school (Colton, Daniel, Luke, Jenna).
Thank you! Thank you students for working hard. Thank you parents for coming. Thank you, Joel Johnston for helping us create a musical event.
Boy am I tired!
Mrs. Nichols