Being Overwhelmed - It's OK!

It was only my second time conducting the choir when the hand went up for the third time in about as many minutes.  “Excuse me.”  Always so polite.  “I don’t think that harmony part is right.”  

I’m trying to teach all four vocal parts, play guitar and deal with standing in front of 30 strangers.  I stammer a reply, try to remember how that particular harmony goes as well as keeping the other three in my head.  I figure it out, teach it again, and the rehearsal continues.  But I’m thrown.  I’ve never directed an adults’ choir before and I’m nervous.  I have a plan for the rehearsal, and I’d feel much more comfortable if I could stick to it.  Not reteach a harmony line.

This was me a month ago.  And I’ve been teaching for EVER.  It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when you’re taking on something new, and you know what?  It’s ok.  Yes, it’s disconcerting when something doesn’t go according to your plan.  But with time, you’ll learn to cope.  The more you teach, the more confident you get when something goes off track.  And you know what else?  No-one actually even notices that you’re not feeling all that confident or are shaken by something unexpected happens.

One trick to help you out is to say to the disruptor “I can’t think of the right answer right now, but come talk to me after and I’ll see if I can help you” or something along those lines.