In the past few blog posts, I’ve been talking about the process of choosing music for the choirs. Behind everything I’ve said, including all the stuff about working on our singing and learning and practising our singing skills, it still all comes down to this: it’s got to be fun. That’s why we’re so careful to balance the way we work in each rehearsal - some fun and some work and then maybe some more fun. We do have a view that singing well (that means with healthy technique that doesn’t hurt your voice but also sounds really good) makes people feel more confident. And if people feel more confident about their singing, they’re more likely to have fun. But the process of becoming confident has to be fun too.

Mixing up the repertoire choices is an important part of that, and we certainly do mix them up: folk songs from various British and European countries, classical choral pieces, very occasionally a modern choral piece, musical theatre (although very little of this because actually it doesn’t often translate well to choir singing), African and other world music, gospel, spirituals, waiata Māori, Pasifika songs, pop or rock arrangements, hymns, Sacred Harp, Taizé, sea shanties, jazz standards…

We’ve probably done something from every genre on that list at some time, and probably some more that I’ve forgotten. I must admit we’ve never done Danny Boy, but never say never. Some of you will be saying “no, don’t do that!” And some of you will be saying “Oooh, that would be lovely!” And some will just go with the flow either way. (If we ever do, sadly it won’t be with muppets.)

Because there’s no escaping the fact that we all have different musical taste and music tends to be something people have very strong views about. So we truly have no hope of pleasing all of the people all of the time! So what do you do if there’s something you really dislike…or can’t see the point of…or find too difficult (or too easy)…or just feel a bit meh about?

Here’s what: you take one for the team. You say nothing and you just give it your best effort. Well, that’s not fun, I know. But here’s why to do it:

You can be absolutely certain the song is there because it has something to offer the choir - some point of singing technique, or something to do with the way the choir produces sound together, or whatever, that we want to work on. and we think this song will provide a good vehicle for that.

Maybe it’s a really simple song that you nailed within 5 minutes. This is your moment to nurture and lead the singers around you who aren’t quite there yet. And to do what Steven suggested in rehearsal this week - take it to the next level and try to sing it more accurately or more beautifully - challenge yourself. Or maybe it’s a really complex one and you don’t know how you’re ever going to get to grips with it. It’s there for those who are a bit further on in their journey and need a challenge to keep them excited, and part of their job will be to lead and inspire you. So hang in there and see if you can follow along with them; that’s also part of being on the team.

But most of all, where it’s just a matter of taste, even if you don’t love a song, be a great team singer and let others enjoy it in happy oblivion, because they’ll be doing the same for you on some other song, some other time. And consider the possibility that the person next to you might be having a “moment” - suddenly finding meaning in the music, or the words, or hearing their voice in a new way and understanding that they can sing after all. Or they might just like this one, just because they do. If you complain about the song, maybe they’ll feel a bit foolish.

So you don’t have to love every song but we certainly hope you enjoy most of them and we work hard to make sure that happens. Over the years, we’ve found that sometimes the songs the choir complained about the most at the beginning are the ones they end up loving the most. We don’t always get it right, but trust us - we do (mostly) know what we’re doing.

And if you come up against something you really don’t like, my suggestion is that you enter into the experience of each song and see if it has something to offer you. And if you can’t find a way in, email me to ask - I can usually explain. Because every song really has been chosen with care. For fun!