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In one of my favorite books, Dear People, Joseph Mussulman chronicles much about the early work of choral conductor Robert Shaw including his habit of sending letters to his chorus. In one passage Shaw says, “This is Monday night – after that late rehearsal – I want desperately to talk to you. I wish it were possible to sit with each of you for an hour or two and just talk.”
University Job I always wanted a University job. After 34 years as a full-time church musician, I got that opportunity when hired by Houston Baptist University to direct their choral program. Except for a brief stint as an Adjunct at SMU, I had really had very little experience at this level. What I did bring was the experience of working with volunteers of all ages, developing graded choir programs, striving for excellence but always caring for people individually. I find it fascinating to learn about what makes folks tick and, and found that, the more I cared the better the product. Those who know me know that I am a card freak. This developed from my habit of sending individual notes, or adding a personal word to a mimeographed card. At a recent rehearsal, one of my youth choir members, now a Dad, brought a card he received with a personal note from me! I attribute much of the success of those years to the dual philosophy that the music makers are as important as the music. We had great times, candlelight carol services, choir tours, visiting guests, even premiering a new opera by Alice Parker. That first year at HBU was tough. “Mr. Relational” meets university students whose perception by many was “he cares more about the individuals, than the music.” The notion was that making music on that level meant being tough, exacting, demanding, because, that was often their experience in high school. The perception seemed to be that I was soft, not demanding, and that the product was not very good. They did not know that I had started the Arkansas Symphony Chorus, directed a pro group called the Arkansas Chamber singers and was, for one year, the Interim Conductor of the Arkansas Symphony orchestra. Singing is Relational I DID toughen up – unlike the one-rehearsal-a-week in church, I now had the luxury of more rehearsal of difficult repertoire. However, I never lost the notion that music is relational. At the start of every year, when singers arrived, they saw on the board: Singing is relational. I always told them a bit about my personal musical journey, and told them that I was passionate about choral music. My Commitment
Your Comments I would like for these blogs to be a conversation. So, now it’s your turn to send your thoughts, comments, suggestions, or even compliments. John C. Yarrington
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