Don't Take It Personally - Do Take It Seriously
One of the biggest challenges I face is getting students to understand the nature of individual feedback. Students sometimes feel “singled out” or “picked on” when they are given advice during class. I can understand that.
Let’s say that students are singing with their mouths barely open. If there are many students in that boat, “everybody drop your jaw” can be helpful and likely the most efficient course of action. But what if it’s just one or two students? Should we say “everybody drop your jaw” again? And again? I have found that at some point the reality sinks in - those students don’t realize it’s THEY who are included in the “everybody” statement.
The most efficient method of feedback would be targeted: “Julie, please drop your jaw more.” Will that embarrass Julie? Maybe. SHOULD IT? No. Before I get to this level of feedback, I often poll my athletes in front of the class like this:
ME: Does your coach say ‘everybody tuck the ball in tight to your body” or does coach say ‘Bob - keep the ball tucked in!’?”
STUDENT: “They just tell me to do it.”
ME: “Do you feel picked on when coach says that?”
STUDENT: “No.”
ME: “Why not?”
STUDENT: “Because I need to know how to do it right.”
ME: “Is that important to you?”
STUDENT: “Sure, I want to do well. I want to win.”
ME (TO CLASS): “Please understand - I want each of you to do well. I want you to win. I’m not picking on you or ‘calling you out.’ I’m helping you. You need feedback to make corrections, which help you improve. I will give feedback to the whole group, to sections, and sometimes to individual people. It’s just the most efficient way to help you get better. DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY - DO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.”
Choir Bites Interactive Slides can enhance online/hybrid lesson plans or be used as supplemental assignments. Your singers’ awareness will rise as they engage with these simple, “sticky” concepts! Click here to learn more!
Some of you may disagree. I’m OK with that. I’ve heard directors say they never offer individual feedback during class; they pull students aside after class. My position is that if we take individual feedback off the table, we are robbing ourselves of the best possible way to help students grow. Pulling aside every kid who needs a technique tip after class is impractical in my book. And let’s remember: we want students to develop personal responsibility. That means they’ll need personal feedback.
