![Sing, Sing a Song!]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1762522248/hydeedu/ntxfxn0t0pvi2yiy8n1w/IMG_7756.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1762522248/hydeedu/ntxfxn0t0pvi2yiy8n1w/IMG_7756.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1762522248/hydeedu/ntxfxn0t0pvi2yiy8n1w/IMG_7756.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1762522248/hydeedu/ntxfxn0t0pvi2yiy8n1w/IMG_7756.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1762522248/hydeedu/ntxfxn0t0pvi2yiy8n1w/IMG_7756.png","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1762522248/hydeedu/ntxfxn0t0pvi2yiy8n1w/IMG_7756.png","width":2200}])
In the first Thursday school meeting after the holiday break, we discussed the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone in order to introduce a Hyde rite of passage: the Audition. Singing an audition has long been a tradition at our school. First-year students and faculty are all asked to sing a short solo without musical accompaniment. Veteran students and faculty can sing solos or choose to perform a duet or musical number. If a person stumbles over lyrics or forgets a tune, they can start again until they get it, or they can step away to try again at a later date.While this simple assignment can arouse anxiety in all of us, once we get started, something magical happens. We asked the veteran students and faculty to share what they have learned by taking on this simple but challenging exercise:
"I learned that if I can sing a song in front of the school, I can do anything!"
"I respect the person's courage for getting up there and feel more connected to them."
"I learned how to take a risk and not worry about how I appear."
Performing Arts Director Pam Bertschy then led the school through a warm-up exercise. She started with a simple song, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine," and got everyone singing, clapping, and snapping their fingers. Then she would point to someone, and they would need to sing a solo line from the song. After each person finished their solo line, the room would erupt in cheers. The tone was set.
Then we started with a few students and faculty volunteers, and each person who stood to perform their Audition knocked it out of the park. It didn't matter whether they had a strong or tentative voice or needed to restart. What mattered was that they stepped beyond their trepidation and nervousness to summon the courage to be in the first group. And the collected school supported them with their attention and great applause.
This set of Auditions provided a great lesson in how we are always stronger when we connect to the group, and they encourage us to try for our individual best. This lesson was also a powerful example of the theme of our winter term: Synergy, or the truth that together we can achieve more than the sum of our parts.
Laura D. Gauld '76