Every day, students walk into the choir room, and Ms. Shayna Singer sets the tone with bright energy, and a deep love for music. She is a teacher who brings both skill and heart into her work, and her passion is reflected in every warm-up, rehearsal, and performance. Before choosing to teach, Ms. Singer explains she always wanted to pursue music, and chooses to teach because she realizes how valuable it is to have a meaningful music teacher to inspire and grow with students.
Growing up, music was an integral part of her life. She performed in various musicals, dances, operas, and even on television. When asked if she remembers a moment where she discovers her passion for music, she explains, “Honestly, no… it always seemed like it was what I loved.” She elaborates by telling us she has always known her life would be incomplete without music.
While she loves the music part, her favorite aspect of directing a choir is always the students. She enjoys choosing pieces that they could never imagine learning, and loves watching them grow from unsure beginners to confident performers who sing with joy, even in the hallways of the Fine Arts Building. She also finds joy in teaching her students how to read music so they can continue their learning outside of her classroom.
An event she is particularly excited for is this year’s fall concert. She shares that it will be especially memorable because of the amount of hard work, dedication, long hours, and immense growth the students have put into learning the pieces. Consisting of singers ranging from 5th to 12th grade, she sees so much heart and soul in the music they prepare.
Despite her success, teaching choir is not without challenges. Ms. Singer explains that people often don’t realize how hard it is to adapt to lessons for students with very different skill levels. Some have never read sheet music, while others compete at the state level. According to Ms. Singer, her goal as a choir director is to challenge, but not overwhelm, and to accomplish that it takes a lot of time and patience.
More than anything, Ms. Singer hopes that students leave her choir knowing that choir isn’t just about singing songs, but it’s also about the community, and unity students feel through the music they learn. She wants every student to feel that choir is a place they belong.
As she looks ahead, she dreams of taking the choir on an international trip and continuing to grow the program. She shares, “It’s such a joy to do what I do every day,” and once a student has experienced the atmosphere of her classroom, and her vibrant personality through her teachings, it’s easy to understand why.
