Page 12 - voices-2021-07
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THOUGHTS FROM THE DIRECTOR’S STAND
Similarities
Eldred Brown, DTM - District Director
Recently, Phyllis informed me that, as the new Likewise in District leadership, I
District Director, I would have the option to name need to have a vision for what I want
my monthly Voices! column for the year. My our leadership team to achieve for the
mind started racing. What can I call my column? year. Compared to my role as a second music
Let me see. Not only am I your District Director director, I have more freedom as the District
for the year, but I’m also a music director at my Director to set the standards I want to set for our
church. It would be cool to make a connection team. I need to know the situation of our District,
between my two director roles in my column what is going well and where we can grow, who
title. When I lead the singers at my church, which we have working with me (as well as my strengths
I do when our chief music director needs to take and weaknesses), so I can know best what
a break, I lead from a music stand. We call that to lead our team to strive for.
stand the director’s stand. Why not use that in
my column title? Communication
For my first article this year, I think it will Leading our ensemble of singers, I need to
be fun to identify a few of the ways my role as communicate clearly what I want from them.
a Toastmasters District Director is like my role Some of this I state through words. “My tempo,
as a church music director. please.” “I need a bit more soprano and less
alto.” “Jane, would you please read this prayer?”
Vision I communicate a lot more of my direction
As a music director, I need to start with a clear through hand and arm signals: a clear beat,
vision of what I want our singers to sound like. hand movements to indicate volume, smooth
What standard of quality do I want to expect? gestures to elicit smooth singing, hard gestures
Before each service, I need to envision in my to emphasize rhythm and tempo.
mind what sound I want from our ensemble, Similarly, as a District Director, I need to
knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each communicate clearly what I want from the leaders
of our singers (and of my singing). on my team. “Please attend Division and Area
12 ONE COMMUNITY
