When I was in high school, I had a music teacher named Donald Hermance. Mr. Hermance was a great teacher, and I learned a lot about music during my four years in chorus. A chorus is like managing a team or organization. You have 4 parts soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. The goal is to get each team working well together and then we unify all four parts to create an amazing sound. This is the goal of most organizations, and the success of any business depends on each person or team doing their part.
I remember the first day of class and Mr. Hermance would hand out the music for our Christmas concert. He would start playing the first song on the piano and we would attempt to sight read our parts. It did not sound like music at that point. Within the chorus we had strong groups and we had groups that had to work a little harder. At my school, the sopranos were the strongest and the loudest and the tenors were the group that struggled the most. I was a tenor, and I was terrible at reading music. We were small in numbers, but we were an important part of the team.
Mr. Hermance had to spend extra time with the tenors but the amazing thing about him was he did not make us feel like we were the weakest link. He made us feel like we were an important part of this amazing sound he was trying to create. It was hard because I always felt I was holding the team back. I just could not get a handle on reading music. Mr. Hermance created an atmosphere where we would all help each other. He told us that to create the sound we wanted we had to work together and lift each other up. What we were able to do with some of the most challenging music I have ever sung was amazing. We were not just sopranos, altos, tenors. and basses. We were the Scituate High School Chorus. These were some of the happiest times of my childhood and my first experience of being treated with dignity and creating something magnificent with 60 other people.
I learned from my experience at Scituate High School that working as a team and giving everyone a voice and opportunity to contribute can create a solid foundation and beautiful music. I learn that all voices matter. We do not always have to agree but we must give everyone an opportunity to share their thoughts. As leaders we do have the responsibility to make the important decision but if we do not include all voices we will fail even if the plan is sound.
Dignity is about inclusion, acceptance, and recognition. We must continue to work hard in creating and building teams that have a purpose and that purpose is one team with a goal and focus that meets the mission and vision of your organization.
We had a vision of the Scituate High School Chorus and that was to create music and give people joy for those two hours and we were able to accomplish that every time because of teamwork and great leadership.
I leave you with this thought from a great leader:
“As a leader of a mass organization, one must listen to the people.” — Nelson Mandela
And a quote from the movie Drumline:
Dr. Lee: “One band, one sound. When one of us is late, we are all late. When one of us looks or sounds bad, we all look and sound bad. So, what’s the concept?”
The Band: “One band, one sound.”
Thank you
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 