How do I inspire and motivate a group of people?

Question

It would help if you are/were once a choir member!
I am the president of my school choir. The choir is in the dumps right now because we don't sing very well and our conductor scolds us a lot. As a result, a lot of the members felt that coming to practices is becoming a burden to them and they are unhappy. Their disciplin also slackens because they become bored of singing. I've tried to pep talk the members but it wasn't very effective. Though I am their leader, I am not perfect, so I need advices... What other ways are there for me to motivate them and make choir more fun and interesting for them?

Answer 1

Can you make them relate to the work they do?

Answer 2

Perhaps it would be good to redefine your goals, and maybe have a word with your conductor. Rather than sounding like a great choir, just focus on making small improvements. I suspect that the people in your choir think that singing well and sounding good is an unreachable goal and their focus wavers. So instead of saying "let's sound like school x because they are the best" or something like that, trying to focus on one issue and work on that, like keeping in time or whatever problem you may be having.

Your conductor needs to calm down... it's choir, not surgery. Unless someone is really passionate about being in choir, then they'll not appreciate that kind of treatment. Temper constructive criticism with positive reinforcement, so you identify the issues while praising what the choir is doing right.

As far as fun and interest goes, maybe you can make some of your practice time open, so your members can sing something they want to sing. That way, they'll feel involved and they'll be doing something they want to do.

Answer 3

If you were the director, you would have the authority to make changes. Unfortunately, you aren’t.

As choir president, as far as I see it, you have power to do two things: (1) Act as the spokesperson to your choir director, on behalf of your peers, and (2) Act as a “cheerleader,” to encourage your “team” to stick it out and persevere.

The first main step is approaching your director and letting him know about the choir’s dissatisfaction with what has been happening. You should make it clear that it is not an issue over who is right or wrong (since your director might say, “Well, hey, I know better, so we’ll do it my way and they need to suck it up”). Regardless of who is right, the choir is still demoralized and WILL quit if he does not modify his approach to things.

It IS a hard position for a teacher to be in: How do you push students so that they reach their potential, while not making things so hard that they are discouraged from trying? But making him aware of how serious the “mutiny” is should be your first step.

Let him know you want to help him find a good solution and will do your best to encourage the choir. You are not his enemy, you want things to work out for everyone.

One solution might be to dedicate one day a week or ten minutes of each practice to doing something fun/easy. Trying to teach my kids piano (I am a great musician, but have not taught before) has shown me I need to sometimes give them something fun and easy, to inspire them – maybe, “Try to figure out how to play a song you know, without music,” or “Here’s a fun popular Christmas tune, run with it.” I do have to push them to do the harder stuff, but I also need to meet them where they are at. Your teacher might have to slow his pace a bit.

I assume you were elected by your peers? Then they should at least think you’re cool and respect you. You do have some “fuzzy clout” with them. Again, let them know what you are trying to accomplish. Act as the go-between. Encourage them to stick through the hard times, let them know the positive things your teacher will enact. Arrange out-of-school practices to just hang out and have fun.

Start your own little group of singers in your spare time, to build a core of dedicated musicians who can encourage the rest. You will need help from the section leads to motivate their sections.

The actual solution really hinges on how responsive your director is. That will determine the tone for everything, and how much load you need to carry.

It will not be an easy task, but I'm encouraged that you are willing and want to try. Hang in there.

Answer 4

you need to give them some examples related to ur situation. First u need to be self confident and then make ur grp members feel that they are very ice at singing and can do even better if they try a little more. Just put ur as well as their mind and heart into the job and see the results

Answer 5

you have to indulge in self practice.practice very often on your own.train your voice,you may need a guard on this and make use of your friends if necesary

Answer 6

tell that will appeal to there heart rather than there intellect.
Then only u will Win.