Is my choir teacher crazy?
By Awinds
@Awinds (2468)
United States
July 8, 2011 4:06am CST
Long ago at a Christmas program, I remember my choir teacher sharing this little bit of philosophy: even if you are badly ill, the show must go on. She stated that even if you are sick with something as serious as the flu, you should still show up for the performance. Even if your throat is so sore you can't sing, you still need to come and mouth the words. You are a necessary part of the choir - and the choir needs you! Be brave and don't let everyone down just because you are feeling under the weather!
She wasn't just talk. She made sure we followed this advice religiously. Our grades would suffer a reduction if we didn't show up for all of the concerts. The circumstances didn't matter. But I question her philosophy in this area.
Persevering when you are sick sounds noble and self-sacrificing, but is it really? I don't want to sing next to a kid who has flu - mainly because I don't want to get sick. In my opinion, the most considerate thing a sick choir member can do is stay home and keep their germs to themselves.
What do you think? Should someone who is sick still show up to participate in the show? Or should they stay home and spare everyone else's health? What is the right thing to do?
6 people like this
9 responses
@talisman (1300)
• United States
8 Jul 11
I don't think she is crazy. It's true that the show must go on. I'm a stage actor and for my last few plays, I have been sick. Oh, and they were both musicals! I had a cough and a sore throat, with no option to mouth words. I was singing or the show was cancelled. I remember a scene where I sang, had to cough, held on until the lights went, rang off stage, had a coughing fit, and ran back on for my next scene. It's all part of the business! It's not fun, but it won't kill you either.
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
9 Jul 11
The word of the real deal with experience is weighty. That sounds rough - but I suppose all careers require some form of occasional night of endurance. Thanks for commenting! I think I am beginning to get the reasons behind my old teacher's insistence on arriving even if sick.
@jaiho2009 (39142)
• Philippines
8 Jul 11
Your teacher is only saying those words to keep and lift everyone's spirit.
It doesn't actually mean that you have to go and show'd up yourself when you really are sick.
No teacher ever want to see her class fall down during the show eh.
What she meant to say is...do your best,and let no mountain hinder you to reach your goal.."the show must go on".
@Bibispark2 (195)
• Nigeria
8 Jul 11
Well, it depends on how your faith carries it...for me..I have taken the choir as my LIFE...I just cant do without singing....there was a particular a very hurt water that has gotten to a boiling point, poured on my buttocks...i cried so much and my butt, got pilled....the following day, i still went for choir rehearsals, no one knows I had burns. To me i believe you choir teacher is trying to make u a great person that even when fire is falling...people can trust u...and if u are coming to church with a flu...have the faith that u are going to be healed...my faith has healed me so many times...it works for me....people so count on me in the house of God that, when am absent...the vaccum is just too obvious...that's how God should be in your life and everyone's life...Take him serious.
1 person likes this
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
9 Jul 11
As something of an artist (not a performing artist, though), I can tell you just as well as the next guy that when you are doing something you love, you have a lot more stamina and tolerance for being sick. You love what you're doing enough to go and do it regardless of your condition.
A little example (not quite to the point, but this is the closest I have): Right now, I have a second degree burn on my right hand, no muse to write, and a headache. But for a large part of the day, I've been doing just that. I love to write, and whether I'm trying to state my opinions openly here, or trying to get the ol' imagination working to finish the story I'm working on right now, I really just can't stop! :)
On the subject of sickness: I see your point when it comes to consideration. There's a fine line between being professional and reckless in that regard. I personally would still come to work, or the show, or school, barring life-threatening disease.
As a little add-on, a guy at my high school was honored at graduation for not missing a single day of school.../since kindergarten/.
@BeckyAnn (265)
• United States
9 Jul 11
Well, I'm glad I could bring something new to the discussion. :)
I've always heard that you should work through the pain so you can appreciate those days off a little more. Thinking in the now's not a bad thing, though: if it's too serious, sometimes you should forget the future for a moment and focus on your health.
@Graceekwenx (3160)
• Philippines
8 Jul 11
Hmm... I dont think that your teacher is crazy... I think she is a true artist and professional at that.
I am a member of a choir too and a choral director at that. In any performance, i would demand that all the members be present. If by some valid reason, a member cant come around, I would demand more from the remaining set of voices. If one soprano singing, I would ask the remaining sopranos to sing louder to compensate for the loss of the absentee. She is right, the show must go on.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
9 Jul 11
I don't think your teacher is crazy, but I do feel that if you are sick with the flu you need to stay home. What if you have the intestinal flu and what if you are singing and you start coughing on a high note and then crap yourself. I speak from experience. Not from singing, but I was not allowed to go home after getting sick at work. I vomited and had diarrhea so bad that I soiled my clothes and I nearly passed out. Finally after seeing how sick I was the supervisor let me go home and I puked and pooed myself right in my car on the way home. I couldn't help it. I didn't have time to get out. The retching caused me to go the other way at the same time. I wish I could have sued them.
The thing is that people don't really believe us when we say we are sick. They think we can tough it out, and sometimes we can and sometimes we can't. It's not even so much about other people catching what we have. Sometimes we are so sick that we cannot function, and until a teacher or employer gets that sick, they won't know what it is for them to endure it.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
10 Jul 11
Exactly. Only you know how sick you are. Evan a migraine, while it may not be deadly can be so painful and life altering for the time being that a person could faint on stage. Pain and sickness are subjective things. Others don't know what you feel. If you have a moderate headache, or a moderate stomach illness, you might be able to muddle through, but if you are seriously ill you may not be able to function, period. I think if that choir director was as sick as I was that day she wouldn't be able to function and the show would go on without her. Some things you just don't have control over.. and if you have to hurl, it might happen in someone else's lap if you are forced to continue.
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
9 Jul 11
Even after what the others above have said, I am still leaning towards this opinion. What if, as you said, you hurl right on stage in front of the audience? And it lands in a bad place? That could defiantly ruin the Chirstmas program - or at least lower the overall satisfaction audience and choir receive from it.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
17 Jul 11
I'm with the teacher.If you don;t love to sing So much that you Want to be at every concert regardless of your health , then why are you in the choir? The Show must go on! I remember back in my day , I was at a chorus practice and half of us had colds and we sang anyway. Our teacher stopped us and asked, How many have colds? And half the chorus raised their hands. I assume she Knew from our tone. Thankfully it was practice. But I'm with your teacher.Music/ Choir isn't like other classes, You can't just skip a performance and make it up later. You get only one chance, one performance. So what if you don't sound your best, you came and that's what is important. And like I said if you Strongly disagree, then transfer out of this class. It's not for you . And that's ok. It is better to transfer than stay and resent your teacher.
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
17 Jul 11
I hate to admit, but back then I was only in choir because it was the only elective available for that time slot at my small school. Still though, I can understand how for the true singers sacrifice is necessary. A test is a private affair on paper that can be retaken tomorrow. A performance is once, as you say. :)
1 person likes this
@nezavisima (7408)
• Bulgaria
8 Jul 11
only crazy not just a professional who wants everything is under control.
So for him it hurts your throat is not an excuse.
But I think better not sing because they do not know why it hurts your throat.
But if it is serious peeyte.
Have a nice day!
@nordqvist11 (118)
• Mexico
9 Jul 11
I think that if you feel sick you should be at home resting. Imagine if you were to go and then a week later all of the people in the choir are also sick? She is very irresponsible for saying that and is putting the health and safety or her students at serious risk. I think you should have a word with her and tell her than she is indeed very wrong.
