I’ve spent most of the last couple of days in the company of over 140 middle school students.  That’s right, middle school students . . .  which under normal circumstances would be towards the top of my personal list of Things I Do Not Want To Do – right between “having a root canal” and “cleaning public toilets.”  It’s not that I haven’t known some absolutely wonderful middle school students-  I’ve known some who are absolutely amazing human beings.  But get a bunch of middle school students together and so often you have a riot on your hands- or ten simultaneous soap operas- or both.  It is such a turbulent period in most young people’s lives, when they are teetering right on the brink between childhood and young adulthood,  and for many of them the only way they can cope with all that uncertainty and bewilderment is to act out in the most outrageous ways.  And so many middle school youth see the normal events of everyday life as a complex Greek drama, which leaves the adults in their lives with the unenviable task of helping them grapple with whatever crisis has just reared its ugly head.   It’s why so many middle school teachers are so battle-scarred, so weary, and at their wit’s end- and and so deserving of our unceasing thanks for braving such a back-breakingly brutal gauntlet, day after day.

At least that’s what you hear.

That’s what we tend to believe.

That’s the standard line of thinking.

And to some extent it’s true.

But I have to say that the last two days have radically reshaped my notion of what middle school youth are all about.  And while I still have only the utmost respect for any teacher who willingly chooses middle school as their professional home,  I think I have a much better sense of why a teacher might do so.  It is that “teetering on the brink” quality of middle school students that can make them so maddening. . . but also so endearing and so exciting to know and to work with.

The occasion I’m talking about is the fall convention of the WCDA- the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association- and rehearsals for the all-state middle school honors choir, which this year was directed by Polly Amborn- who before taking over the choral program at Tremper High School was an exemplary teacher at Bullen Middle School.   My role was nothing more than piano accompanist,  so I was mostly just observing the proceedings.   And what I saw and heard truly astounded me.  Not that Polly was absolutely fantastic- that I fully expected.  But in my wildest dreams I never imagined that 140 middle age students could be so well-behaved, so mature, so responsible, so engaged.  And I never dreamt that they were capable of such superb singing. . . even the boys!

Of course, we’re talking about the cream skimmed off of the top –  the very finest middle school youth culled from schools across the state.   But still . . . I never imagined that the kids would be so impressive on every level –  well-behaved, balanced, centered, focused, mature -but also incredibly fun and vibrant.   It was a complete pleasure to be with them, and whether or not I get paid for this gig (I’m honestly not sure if payment is involved)  I’m just glad I could be a part of something so exciting and rewarding.

And of course, it was so cool to see my sister-in-law Polly hit a grand slam home run in this very first time directing an all- state chorus.  She did so many things just right, including (in no particular order). . .

Keeping it Moving –  This is one of the hallmarks of everything Polly does.   She is so incredibly quick, and her rehearsals move at such a pace that there are simply no dead spots- no patches where nothing happens- no chances to mentally check out.  Every second there is something happening.   And yet there is nothing frantic about a Polly Amborn rehearsal.   Everything has a wonderfully settled quality. . .  this sense that everything is going to be okay . . . and more importantly,  everything in fact does turn out okay. Actually, everything in fact turns out great.

Keeping it Personal – Polly was standing in front of a group of 140 singers,  and as far as I know she knew maybe two or three of them at the most.  Otherwise, she was standing in front of a group of complete strangers, but it didn’t feel like it. . . not for a second.  And by posing questions from time to time and having each answering student stand and briefly introduce themselves before answering the question at hand,  it helped us have a sense of knowing each other.

Keeping it Light –  There was so much work to do, and yet it didn’t feel all that much like work.  There was plenty of laughter, and also a sense of lightness in the room,  that this was above all an adventure meant to be enjoyed.   And we did.   (But Polly also did a masterful job of reining in the laughter, because there was a lot to do and really not quite enough time to do it.  So she never allowed the proceedings to deteriorate into unbridled laughter and chaos.  It was just the right amount of levity.)

Keep it Interesting – One of Polly’s most important gifts as a director is that she finds such intriguing ways to say whatever it is she has to say…. and as I watched those young people hanging on her every word, hour upon hour, it proved to be more true than ever.  Polly certainly has her favorite phrases which she uses a lot (some of them her own, some cobbled from others) – but for everything that amounts to a recurrent theme, there will be some engaging phrase she coins right on the spot….  and that’s why the students don’t let their attention wander for a second.  They don’t want to miss a thing!   And beyond the words themselves are the fun facial expressions, sound effects and comical voices that really seal the deal.

Keeping it Honest –  Some conductors in such situations and settings cloak themselves in a very thick facade – a persona of Great Guest Conductor that they think will make them the undisputed center of attention and the figure of greatness before whom all will bow.  I don’t know if Polly is that kind of actress or not,  but I’m pretty sure that even if she were good at that sort of thing,  she wouldn’t be interested in such fakery. I love how she is her own unmistakable, unique self up there on the podium- no artifice- no posing, etc.  Perhaps it’s because she knows full well how easily young people see right through those facades and refuses to be bothered by it.  How much better it is to be yourself.

Keeping it Joyous – These kind of situations can be rather grim, especially if the conductor comes in bearing a heavy burden of unreasonable expectations – or caught up in the stress of doing something impressive.  But for Polly, it’s about the kids . . . about the music . . . and about every kid walking out of there even more excited about singing than when they first walked into that first rehearsal.   And I have no doubt that this is exactly what happened with each and every student who was privileged to be part of this incredible experience.

And by the way,  at the concert at the Pabst Theater Saturday night,  Polly said something to the audience about how gratifying it was to have so many of the students come up to her to thank her … which led her, in turn, to thank them for making it all possible by them being there.  I was reminded that before all of her Tremper concerts, in those tense minutes right beforehand as she is warming up each of her choirs,  she always always always remembers to thank them for being there.   And I suspect that more than a few of her students have gone or will go out in the world a little more apt to say those two simple words:  thank you.  It may seem like a little thing, but in fact it’s bigger than anything.  Thank you, Polly, for teaching that vital lesson and many many more to your  students over the years, including these 140 middle schoolers who began as strangers to you and each other and left as friends.

pictured above:  Polly leads one of the first rehearsals of the middle school all-state honors choir.  If you look closely, you will see that almost every single student in the picture has their eyes squarely fixed on Polly, taking in every word that she’s saying.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that in addition to playing for the all-state middle school choir, I also played for the top treble choir from Lincoln Middle School in Kenosha, directed by Rita (Torcaso) Gentile, which was invited to sing for the convention and delivered a stunning performance Saturday morning.   Rita was given an award as outstanding young choral director, and this performance certainly showed everyone why.