Forests of Song: Building Environmental Stewardship through Choral Singing

In this article, Petty reminds us of the beauty of creating music in an ensemble and how beauty can impact the listener and the singer. The same feeling of relaxation and comfort a hiker can receive when walking a trail, a singer or audience member can receive the same when participating in or listening to a performance. Petty provides the reader with five ways to help choirs connect with the earth - place, poetry, listening, service, and creating music.

Place - “Folk songs tell local stories that root us in communities and place. Performing these songs help develop a cultural identity woven around natural areas that feel like home.”

Poetry - “Thoughtfully selected texts can help choirs connect to nature and capture its energy.”

Listening - “Learning how to actively listen to natural areas can foster deeper care for and understanding of our surroundings.”

Service - “Service builds compassion for one another and empathy for those we serve.”

Creating Music - “Creating music together is one of the most empowering and unifying experiences a group of people can have.”

I decided to share some quotes from the article under the consideration section of this riff related to the five ways to help choirs connect with the earth provided by Petty, as these quotes can serve as a reminder of why we do what we do. Often, we immediately think about creating music but forget about the importance of where we are (the place), what we say or the words we use (poetry), the importance of just being a (listening) ear, or how we can give back (service). As you prepare for your next performance, rehearsal, or classroom session, consider these things and see how they may impact what you do.