Nov 08 2007
Choir Rules and Choirs Rule
Sometimes, I have a penchant for masochism. I know I’m busy this month with work and because of the looming Christmas season, choir practices. Yet I still joined nanowrimo and here I am like a crazed scribe trying to write 1,667 nonsensical words a day to reach 50,000 words for the month. But then, I also have a penchant for sadism… and that’s why I love choir practices so much. Mwahahahahahaha! The choir that I teach here in Cambodia, the Koro Filipino, has started rehearsals last month and I usually start by giving them my choir rules:
- Mukha akong mabait pero hinde. (I look like a nice person. But I’m not). *Then, I give them all my winning smile followed by my evil glare.
- Latecomers will be shot (or at least run the risk of running out of food).
- This is not a democracy. It’s a dictatorship. Your opinion on the music and its interpretation is irrelevant. What I say is the law… if I say sing softly, then sing softly. If I say sing loudly, sing loudly.
- Sing softly doesn’t mean that you ought to whisper and no one could hear what you’re murmuring about. And sing loudly doesn’t mean that you have to belt out like Sheryn Regis or Regine Velasquez. Do you know what instrument this is? (I gesture to my piano and they all answer “piano”). Yes, this is a piano… but the full name is pianoforte which means soft and loud – piano and forte. It was the first instrument that could play very softly and very loudly with a wide range of color. (I play a few chords softly and then a few chords loudly). Did you hear? When I play softly, you can still hear the notes. That’s the mark of a good singer… even when you’re singing piano, the people at the very back of the hall can still hear you. And when you’re singing forte, it doesn’t mean that you have to break the eardrums of your audience. It’s more a matter of color than a matter of volume.
- In relation to the above, don’t sing loudly only when you know your notes and then turn meek as a lamb when you don’t. If you have to make a mistake, do it now rather than during the performance. The worst thing that could happen is that I give you a nasty glare. Contrary to opinion, looks cannot kill. Though my scowl could come close.
- While your voice group is waiting for your turn, you can do anything… eat, watch teleserye (the TV in the lounge is usually turned on at a low volume during practice), chat, talk on the phone, etc.. But when I call your voice group, I want you at the piano a minute ago. Then, all I want you to do is listen and sing… no talking on the phone, texting, watching TV, chewing on gum. Heck, you’re not even allowed to scratch your nose.
- Know your part. All the other members in your voice group may develop a sore throat during the performance and you’re on your own.
- Blend with the group. I know that you are all karaoke kings and queens but reserve your birit (belting) voices in the karaoke lounge.. But in the choir, I don’t want to hear your individual voices… or else you’ll sound like the ASAP singers shrieking out at the same time during a production number. You should all sound the same… like angels. There is only one diva in the choir… and that’s the choir director.
- Don’t be absent. Know your priorities. Choir first before family and work (acheche… just joking… well, half).
So I wonder why no one quits after the first day of choir practice. Well actually, I know why. Every Filipino is guilty of star complex. And during the Christmas season, choirs are always the stars with their Caroling-lings and concerts. Yes, it’s true. During Christmas, CHOIRS RULE!!!
- Farewell Koro Filipino!
- The Choir in Kamuning
- Confessions of an Occasional and Breathless Flutist
- Pasko Na Naman and Jingle Bells
- WIG Bazaar
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yikes!
Toe you remind me of our Choir director in elementary. We call her Manang(Ate) Gina. She’s also very strict especially sa “singing softly and loudly” na yan. I think you’re familiar with my cousin Mariya…I mean I always mention her in my blog entries. Anyway pag kami may practice (kasi kami palagi ang kumakanta ng Pambansang Awit at ng Prayer everytime may program sa town namin)palaging nawawalan ng malay si Mariya especially pag The Lord’s Prayer na yung kinakanta kasi super takot sha kay Nang Gina hahahaha as in!
Kaya pag nasa stage na kami for the rehearsal, sasabihin ni Nang Gina “o ang nasa likod ni Mariya handa na kayo ha kasi baka bigla na lang matumba si Mariya…saluhin nyo kaagad” hahaha anyway sinasabi ko lang dito kasi di naman sha nagbabasa ng blog mo pero pag nalaman nya na nilaglag ko sha dito baka di ako kausapin ng isang taon nun hehehe
siguro sa ministry of word nalang ako, natakot naman ako kay toe
flus!
Kakatakot pala kung mag-join ang tao sa choir mo. hehe. But I guess it’s understandable since as choir director, you’re like a coach and you need to establish discipline so that the group will perform well. Also, if the choir doesn’t perform well, people will look to the director.
“There is only one diva in the choir… and that’s the choir director ” lol.. Right ON !
What about no 10 – don’t come to the practice when your stomach is full. hehe. I’ve been in ministry choirs before and believe me, the earlier you instill discipline and seriousness, the better the results would be
I had no idea you were so authoritarian! Yes lay down the law!
sarap sigurong me sinisindak ano?
hehe naalala ko tuloy kuya ko sampung taon na sa church choir at nagpapractice na rin sila for the christmas cantata ngayon. panay ang practice sa bahay lalo na yung choreography hwewhewhe
Hi Toe, katakot naman mag join ng choir nyo, he he.
Ay! di ako pwede sa choir mo, Tonette. Gusto ko ako ang star palagi, eh… mwehehehe.
Anyways, when is the performance going to be?
I always wanted to be in a choir again since it is the only way I can also practice singing.
this brings back images i have being a choir member long ago in my elementary days. The choir teacher (a nun) was a real terror.
Naku, ang bagsik pala ni ma’am toe.
I have never been on a choir. Baka kasi lumindol kapag kumanta ako. 
Hey, good luck on the nanowrimo. I thought of joining that a few years ago, but I knew I couldn’t keep up with the required words. Oh please do share it with us when you’re done.
di pala ako bagay dyan sa choir mo, toe.. sa rules palang, babagsak na cguro ako.. tsaka pang karaoke lang ang boses ko e..mwahahaha
Verns, I just texted both Mariya AND Manang Gina for them to read my blog.
Bryan, hehehe! As I said, I look nice but I’m not.
Wil, you’re right. And the choir still has a lot of fun. And they get a wonderful sense of satisfaction when their efforts are compensated and they sing beautifully.
BW, oh thank you… serious choir members understand. And they enjoy it because they really love to sing in the choir. It really gives a wonderful sense of satisfaction when you sing with a group.
Pinayhekmi, hehe… I enjoy the two to three-hour regular practice because I can release my masungit tendencies.
Carlotta, hehe… korekkajan!
Pero alaskado ako after practice. 
Hey good luck to your brother’s choir on their performances!
Rowena, oh not really. The choir people actually enjoy themselves and they develop great friendships. I just instilled discipline but they enjoy singing. And when we’re not singing, we’re all pretty cool and relaxed.
Snglguy, hehehe… korekkajan… I’m the only star in my choir.
December 2. I’ll try to post videos. 
Chase, oh yes… Filipinos really love to join choirs because most love to sing. I’ve heard your voice in your blog and it is very suave.
Rey, hindi naman talaga ako terror… if they follow my rules, they’re really nice.
And outside of practice, we’re all great friends. I know those nuns… I fought with four of them when I used to teach high school music in a private catholic school. 
Niceheart, I don’t know if I could finish either… but just trying and starting a novel is a lot of fun. Let’s do it together next year.
Ssssh, hehe… yeah I’m kind of strict. In fact, if I weren’t teaching the choir, I don’t know how I could follow all those rules.
you’re a choir teacher? wow! I’m your worst nightmare – a person who sings out of tune hahaha
natawa naman ako dun sa picture…nagtataka ako bakit maliwanag yung picture nung isa…kaya naman pala hahaha
i just said, yes madam, yes madam, and i stopped my hands from scratching my nose.
i.must.control.it.
i was a member of our glee club in high school (i don’t know how and why i become hehe), i was assigned to the group of tenors (!!!!!!), and after our first practice i was immediately transferred to base. bakit kaya? nyahahaha.
Know what? Even if I don’t sing, I like you already. Hehe. You inspire awe among mortals like us! Way to go, teacher.
Cyberpunk, if you can speak, you can sing in tune. I think I’m a good teacher… really… I can make people sing in tune. As you can see… talent isn’t even important to me… what I want is discipline.
Hehehe… that’s the only photoshop I know. 
Zherwin, all voices are equal naman. It just means that your range is lower.
You can scratch your nose… but only when I’m through with the basses. 
Thanks Abaniko.
But you’re only saying that because you’re not one of my choir members. 
please please say you whack them sullen choir members with your baton when they commit an error or when they so much as scratch their nose…
Eeeps you are so strict pala.
But you need to be firm naman talaga especially when dealing with Filipinos because we tend to get easily distracted with a million things and not concentrate on the task on hand. Discipline is the key!
Yung piano/voice teacher ni tin2 ngayon pag medyo sensitive ka di ka na babalik next meeting. Minsan kasi sasabihin nya, “ano ba yan ..bakit boses palaka.”
Wow! A bit scary… glad I can’t sing !
Yay, I love singing but it would be a shame if you hear me sing
! Puedeng dancer mo na lang ako LOL 
!
toe, my daughter, S, is in the acapella choir group in Stanford U but she was thinking of quitting earlier because it was taking so much of her time. her sister convinced her to stick it through.
puwede kaya akong pumasa sa choir audition mo?
LOL – So many rules to follow in choir!
Very funny.
I also signed up for NanoWriMo and I’m soooo behind!
I just had to share this:
Circa 1999, our choirmaster, who moonlights as a debater, had to compete in an international debate competition. It so happenned that our law school choir had to sing for the graduation right about the same season.
So our debating choirmaster left us in the “care” of a law school alumna, who was the choirmaster of the choir group that preceded our batch. She was studying then for the Foreign Service Officer Exam. While we have seen her around during her law school days (she was three batches ahead of us), we only knew her by reputation, i.e., as someone who can gut you with her scowl.
we were so behaved during the practice sessions (i swear, you’d think our lives depended on hitting those sharps and flats!). No playing around, no texting, no smiling, no talking–we breathed only once in a while to keep from fainting.
she looked mabait indeed pero we were all scared of her. i think she knew this and took every opportunity to reinforce our fear.
but we learned a lot. And we did well during our performance.
All thanks to YOU, Ms. Toe. I see you’re still at it. hehehe.
ganda naman nung comments sa taas.^ engot na tanong Toe, if you are a choir teacher, automatic na din bang magaling kang kumanta? kase yung choir teacher ko hindi naman magaling kumanta. so no wonder hindi kami “star” sa school. hmmp.
“Mukha akong mabait pero hinde!” —> haha. parang madali na itong i-imagine ngayon. Pero ikaw naman yung tipo ng tao na yung “hinde” ay may dahilan. I look up to people who are “strict” by nature. Such strictness often results to something good. goodluck sa performance n’yo, I am sure kayo ang bida!
p.s. salamat sa spring role, sa chicken noodles at dun sa fish dish na di ko matandaan ang pangalan. salamat sa night trip. salamat sa kuwento. salamat sa lahat. sana makabawi ako pag-uwi mo…
I miss performing with you!
ganda ng picture mo ha. pose talaga. hahahaha.
and thanks for this post. kse parang tip on how to be a good singer
Naykupo, di na ko sasali sa choir! Kaya naman mananatiling hidden na lang talaga ang singing talent ko!
Terrorist ka pala. Mala Zeneida Amador.
Ambisyon ko yung kumanta. Someone told me everyone can be taught how to sing. I think he gave me false hopes. Do you agree?
Choir rules! Sa amin the baby rules!
Hahaha! You really rock, Toe!
Pag uwi nyo dito ni Honey mo, mag organize tayo ng bloggers choir!
Whew, you’re so strict I think my voice won’t even sound a whisper in an authoritarian regime like that.
It might be a squeak instead.
But you’re right actually—in a discipline like choir singing, constant practice is a must, otherwise the song renditions won’t be as good.
You’re strict pala Toe ha? Para naman sa kapakanan ng mga choir members. I’m sure they will not forget about you
Ma’am Toe, you are a terror but I see that this is trulyly a gift. I’m sure the choir members would agree. I want to join esp that therer is free food! lol…
“So I wonder why no one quits after the first day of choir practice.”
Siguro, sanay na ang mga pinoy sa ganitong mga style.
at saka, sabi mo first day of choir practice pa lang. ha ha ha.
Hey Toe! I’ve moved to my own domain. Could you please change your link from curiousvillager.blogspot.com to CURIOUSVILLAGER.COM ? Thanks! (I’ve got you linked over there, too!)
OH Toe, Toe, where art thou Toe?
Hope all is well.
happy weekend!
ei toe! pahinga muna sa practice.. it’s time for your update
wahh. TOE…hasan kah nah?! hehe. nakakamiss ang mga post mo. sana mabasa ko nanowrimo entry mo.
ika nga anyone can cook (from ratatouille) but not anyone can sing he he
talented ang toe!
hi toe, hope you’re doing ok. have something for you in my blog.
happy weekend!
Oi Tonette!!! come out come out wherever you are…
Jesse, haha… not really. I would want to but I don’t use a baton. I think batons are for orchestra and band conductors, not for choir.
Daphne, yes, you’re quite right. Mabait naman sila… I’m so proud of them because they discipline themselves.
Ann, nakakatakot naman teacher ni Tin-Tin. But I can’t insult my members… baka ako patalsikin sa puwesto ko. I just glare at them.
Sidney, hehe… that’s okay… you take fantastic photos.
Haze, ako naman… I can’t dance.
Belle, wow… your daughter is really good. Our choir sings only acapella too. Of course you’ll pass… I don’t audition my members. All Filipinos can join. But you have to live in Cambodia though.
Hi Tracy! How did you do with the nanowrimo? I finished the 50k but I didn’t win because I did it longhand and I couldn’t have my number of words validated. It feels great though.
Underling’s Seatmate, my gosh… you are soooooo funny! I almost fell off my chair the first time I read this.
Yes, I’m still at it but I’m enjoying it. I heard that GC (Grand Coyang) has found out about your secret identity. Hrhrhrhr! Lagot ka! 
I also heard that he also divulged my secret that I couldn’t sing. 
Rayts, shhhh… wag ka maingay… I can’t sing.
I enjoyed having you and Mariko… promise! Ang saya-saya ninyong dalawang kasama. 
Ces, oh me too! Dapat nag-c-concert na tayo at this time of the year.
Tin-Tin, haha… ang beauty ko sa picture no?
ZJ, sali ka na next year for Independence Day. It’s going to be my last stint.
Annamanila, of course I believe that. If you can speak with inflections, it means you can sing. You just need a teacher who encourages you.
Naku, kamusta na si Lola? 
Rhodora, naku ang saya niyan… sali ka ha.
Major Tom, yes, no democracy in a choir… kundi kanya-kanya ang kanta.
Momoftwo, I hope they won’t forget me. I’ve been teaching them for five years and this is my last year na.
Leah, I do have a suspicion that they come only for the food.
myepinoy, we had the performance na and so far, no one has quit.
I hope they come back next year for the national day celebrations. 
Hi Tracy. Thanks. I just changed my link.
Thanks Pinayhekmi. Mahirap kc magpalaki ng magulang e.
Hehe… was entertaining my Mom while she was visiting me here. 
Hi Carlotta! Thanks for dropping by on this delinquent blogger’s blog.
Snglguy, present!
Katakot ka naman maging teacher. pero you have a point and let me grab it and use when i get to teach again. Buti na lang we have RL that time. He was (and still is) the most patient teacher. Di ko nakita na nagalit.
I miss teaching choirs. Here sa Massachusetts nag pi prisinta ako pero parang ayaw nila. Takot din siguro sakin. hehehe. I know I can still read notes and inpret them ang problem ko whats it called? that comma and a dot.. that thing with a slide? hahaha.
Kent, hehe… mejo masungit nga ako.
Kuya Ray was so patient no? He really taught us well. I’m sure you could set up your own choir… the secret? Look for Filipinos… I’m sure they would love to set up a Filipino choir. 
Ma’am naalala ko po piang aral ako ng nanay ko ng piano nung summer 9 years old ako. nag recital po kami pero pagkatapos ng recital nakalimutan ko na hahahaha…kasi wala naman po kami piano sa bahay….hehehe…naalala ko po iyong turo ng music teacher ay numbers ang naka assign a note kaya na memorize ko lang iyong keyboard …ganun po ba iyong pagturo noon?
nice to know may nag22ro pa rin ng choir ng filipino kahit sa cambodia..conductor din ako ng choir pero naka base ako d2 sa pinas.music ministry director ako ng catholic church sa navotas.. matagal na rin ako nag22ro ng choir pero 2005 lang ako nagdecide mag aral ng formal educ sa music..4th year nk ngayon sa UP college of music..no comment sa way of teaching mo as long na maganda lagi ang outcome saka kanya kanyang style lang yan basta naiintindihan ka ng choir at enjoy ka lalo na sila.God Bless!
Jasmin, hehe… nakalimutan ko na rin lahat ng piano lessons ko dati. Yung by numbers yata yung mas modern na paraan ng pagturo.
Hi Jodict.
Basta may Filipino, may choir diba? But I’m going home soon and I hope that the choir continues even without me. Good luck in your music ministry and your music studies.
Hey papa told me to read your blog…its so funny!! Also many of them are the same as the ones that my choir teacher taught us. She doesn’t have rules exactly but we still have to follow her. When she says quiet … everyone is quiet, she says sing … we sing. She says jump … we’re in the air and asking how high!
My school choir is called ‘Koro Lasalyano’ Weird coincidence. Actually the year that the first batch of Koro was made we were all set on Awe Squids. One of the tenors wanted to call us the Squids then the Awe followed because our teacher always told us to pronounce our A as AWW. So Awe Squids…don’t ask me why…
I hope that our choir will be as good as yours right now or at least as good as the children’s choir at Sacred Heart.
Hey Daughter of Koyang! Hahaha… I like that… Awe Squids!
Oooh… hey, I wasn’t so strict with the kiddie choir in Kamuning. 
I’m sure you’re choir is wonderful.. good luck in your competition… I hope I get to watch! 