Over the past two years (basically since the murder of George Floyd in the city where I live) I have begun talking to my students about the PURPOSE of singing.

It can be easy in teaching settings to focus on the “how”” of singing and forget to focus on the “why.” Why do you want to sing?

This week had me thinking about my own answers to that question. Wednesday (Day 17) is my long/late teaching day (i.e I was tired) and Friday (Day 19) was when I learned about the Rittenhouse verdict (I was sick and tired). And it was challenging to care about this project in those moments.

But here’s the thing … singing (music-making) changes how I feel. Sometimes it makes me feel markedly better, sometimes it moves me deeper into sadness and grief, and other times, it simply allows me to begin to process or name what I am feeling. Singing every day this week helped me do all of these things (even on the days when I didn’t wanna 😉).

More Bloggity Goodness

• Working with the Broken Pieces
• Songtaneous – 02/17/24
• Songtaneous – 01/20/24