MOVE OVER, BEST BIRDS

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent

if no birds sang there except those that sang best.”

                                                                 Henry Van Dyke

A well-meaning and beloved teacher of mine gave me this advice: Find one thing that you are very good at; become the best at that one thing. Great teacher, but for me, bad advice. I am a sampler. I like to try lots of different things: careers, hobbies, styles, animals, hairdos. Life is too long to be forever stuck on something just because you’re good at it. I am very glad that some people do take my teacher’s advice. A neurosurgeon, for example: please get very, very good at one thing. Genius composers: Beethoven, do not waste time in the kitchen. Car mechanic: concentrate on my struts. Focus. Be the best. But, it’s not my thing.

I could sing, not amazingly, but passably. After high school choir, my singing largely took place in the car. Sometimes the hospice staff serenaded folks at our volunteer dinners. Then, a few years ago, at a wonderful holiday concert by the Longmont Chorale, the director invited audience members to join the group for its next concert. Who, me? That concert had been terrific, well out of my league, I thought. Still, something in me was intrigued, especially since he said there were no auditions. If auditions were required, there is no chance I would have considered it. How could they produce a sound like that with unauditioned singers? I was curious.

I went to the next rehearsal. Within five minutes, I was singing out, being encouraged by those around me, being amazed at how much fun everyone was having. The director clearly loved this group and these people. They loved each other. There was laughter, there were tender moments wrapped in music. A hundred people–high school to nonagenarians. Music pros and car crooners like me. What a sound! What a feeling.

I went home and announced to my husband: “You are coming next week. If you don’t like it, I will never mention it again. But, if I have to hogtie you, you are coming next week.” He came, he sang, and he, too, was conquered. That chorale is so important to so many. It helped people weather tragedies and celebrate triumphs. It provided moments between singers and audience members that were visibly powerful. Carmina Burana, Ola Gjeilo, Mozart.

That chorale was very hard to leave. Seemed silly to try again and just too hard to reattach.  But, something made me override myself. Something dragged me to an actual–gulp!­–audition. And, here I am in a smaller group but having a very familiar experience. Fun people, dedicated people, skilled people, wonderful music.

You do not have to be a canary or a nightingale. Come on, you sparrows and crows, you finches and woodpeckers. Try choral singing. For you left brained people: singing will cure what ails you; it’s proven to improve vital signs, mood, and cognitive function. For you right brained people: you already know it will work. You just have to find the rehearsal.

You have a song in your heart. Is it time to let it out and let it work its magic on you?