Choir Customary Commandments (& One to Grow On)
- Come ye to rehearsals and the services. Whenst thou comest to the day whereupon ye may not attend, make haste to notify thy choir director, lest there be much wailing and gnashing of her teeth.
- Be ye on time to rehearsal. Warm-ups are crucial to good singing, and being on time is crucial to the good will of the group. (That said, some among us struggle with daily labors and snarled routes of travel; some travail with family care. Verily, we shall be welcoming to the latecomer.)
- Whenst thou doth enter the rehearsal space, take notice of thy brethren and sistren who might be rehearsing a solo or an ensemble of music offering unto the Lord. Let thy mouth be buttoned and thy movements be stealthy. (Also, keep thou shutteth the door of the Chapel, lest the dulcet tones escape the rehearsal space and smite the ears of our neighbors, those teaching and learning of the Word.)
- Wear ye not perfume or "loud" lotions and potions - these aggravate allergies in some.
- Answer not thy cell phone once rehearsal has begun. (If you must be "on call," take it to the narthex!)
- Chew not thy gum in rehearsal as a cow cheweth a cud. (It impedeth good singing and diction! Plus - gross!)
- Keepest thou clean and tidy thy choir cubby and thy space in the choir loft, lest ye dash thy foot against a stray water bottle or breathe foul pestilence from a discarded tissue and die.
- Consider ye the opinions of everyone - not just the most vocal.
- Be ye worship leaders, even though we be hidden in the back of the temple. Loud page turning, the reading of novels, the sending of emails on thy smartphone, conversing with thy neighbor during times of focused listening – these are distractions to thy choir family as well as to those who sitteth upon the hard pews of the congregation.
- Take not upon thyself the burden of inviting others to sing with the choir. Rather, let thy fearless leader proselytize the Gentile.
- Love ye one another. Be ye kind to one another. (Words cannot be unsaid.)