Choir Practice

Well, tonight Tanner and I participated in our first choir practice. It's not easy getting everyone fed, diapered, dressed and out the door by 6:45. And it is even harder when you finally arrive at the church and are preparing to drop the kids off at the nursery so that they can play games, toys, watch movies and eat cupcakes AND that still isn't enough to distract them, so you end up with two crying kids on your hands while you're trying to not be late for choir practice.

It's moments like these that we have to pause and revel in the absolute neediness of our kids. I keep reminding myself that we only come this way once, and that it is all over way too soon, and in just a couple of years, my girls will be rolling their eyes and thinking PLEASE mom just go away!!!!

I almost gave up. I suggested that perhaps Tanner should go to practice, and I would just stay in the nursery with the kids, but he said, "With you, or no one." Sigh...sometimes I feel like I'm living in a Georgette Heyer romance novel, shades of The Nonesuch...so, we spent about 15 minutes watching the kids play, I fed Georgie and when everyone seemed distracted, we slipped out the door and headed for the choir room.

What a choir. It's been a long time since I've sung with a choir of more than 30 voices. I had forgotten how much fun it is. What makes it even better is the noticeable tenor and basso sections. I tend to think that there is an equal ratio of men to women in this choir of about 100 voices. I opted for second soprano since it's been a while since the last time I've done any singing, and I wasn't too sure if I could sing up in the rafters without a serious warm up. Anyway, I've always prefered the second soprano line, but have only had rare opportunities to sing it. Usually I hover between the sopranos and altos, but this choir is big enough to merit a true second soprano line. Tanner is in the baritone section, and there are actually other baritones.

Our vocal training has stood us in good stead, but I have to remember to breathe. I keep forgetting to take a breath at the end of phrases, so that when I hit a whole note, I end up petering out on the last beat. I hope that once the sight reading kicks into high gear, it will become second nature again.

I also found out that the woman who heads up the orchestra, also sings in the choir as an alto, so I think everything will work out fine as I juggle orchestra and choir.