Reflections to My Younger Self: Gratitude for Choir
The Concert Choir tenors and basses Shanti Bhavan often express their gratitude for being part of the choir, and we’ve witnessed their growth and firsthand. But we wanted to dig deeper and understand what they truly feel they've gained from their time with BAE. So, we asked them to reflect and write letters to their younger selves.
Dear Simon,
My name is Simon, and it was the same five years ago. I wanted to tell you that my favorite part of SB is the choir because you can express all your emotions there, and everyone in the choir is really talented. You can learn a lot from the people in choir whose abilities I admire. The reason I love choir the most is because you can step out of your comfort zone and leap over obstacles you couldn’t overcome before.
Choir teaches me to be open, vulnerable, and free. My favorite memory in choir was going to the rocks, enjoying the serene nature, and spending time with my lovely friends. At arts camp, I enjoyed the Oreo face game the most, and playing games with water balloons and rockets with the other BAE teachers was a memory I will cherish forever. I usually don’t get to visit the rocks, so it was a nice experience, and I also talked to many friends and got to know them better. I also took many photos to remember these moments forever. I think about these on sad days, and it lifts my spirits and brings a smile to my face.
One thing I learned in choir was to be punctual and respect my commitments. This will help me in my future and teach me to be on time for rehearsals or any job I may have. I realized that being late is basically disrespecting your mentor or teacher and not valuing their time. This struck me hard when I was late for choir, and it changed the way I think about time.
The most exciting part of choir is that it is a family of singers and musicians who come together to share their talent and learn from one another. This space accepts mistakes, tears, smiles, joy, and lots of laughter. I consider this my favorite place to express all my emotions.
I really encourage you, young Simon, to join the choir because our BAE fellows spend a lot of time creating this opportunity and making donations for us. They want us to have something that others may not have in their lives. I hope this letter will support you in your decision to join the choir, and I hope you enjoyed reading it.
With confidence in your future,
Simon
Dear Nithish,
I know that you love to sing and go to choir every morning to relax, sing, and meet your friends.I also know that you are facing a hard time choosing between quitting choir or staying in choir for few reasons and I know that it is a huge burden on you. I would personally like you to stay in choir rather than quit because of the following reasons such as it would help you in communication between people and your friends, it'll boost your self confidence level, choir can also provide you with education on music and mainly reduce stress.
Firstly, communicating between people and friends. Communication is a main component in the outside world and developing it in such a friendly and fun environment will help you in the future. Many people face communication problems which causes them trouble and stress. Communication will help in building popularity and speaking skills.
Secondly, it boosts your self confidence level by motivating you to open up your self in front of many people you might or might not know. You will overcome stage fear as you slowly perform more and become a master in singing. I understand that you might not agree to me but trust me bro I’m not kidding performing on stages is a must do at school so practicing in choir is the best way to overcome it.
Thirdly, choir can also provide you with music education on music. Music is a vast topic and an enjoyable, fun topic. Learning about music through choir can develop your interest in singing and playing other instruments. Music can expose you to many cultures and traditions not only in India but also in other parts of the world. This will help you know more about other parts of the world and also experience a little feeling of the place you are learning about through these songs.
Lastly, reduces stress levels. In school you will be spending most of your time studying and this will cause a lot of stress. Spending time in choir would help you reduce stress levels and relax.I would like you to stay in choir because there is no other place to relax much due to the new rules that have come up in school.
I would like you to think about staying in choir or not. You know that I always do the best for you so think about it man. I know all of this and I’m telling you because I’m the elder version of you. Think Nithish think twice, thrice or however many times you want too but my last few words for you is asking you to stay in choir.
Bye bro!
Nithish
Dear Younger Me,
I hope this letter finds you well and full of curiosity. I know you have a hard choice to make and you are wondering whether to join the BAE choir program. I am not kidding, this is one of the best choices you will make in your life.
First of all, joining the choir will bring a whole new world filled with music and joy. You’ll discover the joy of singing together, the excitement of performing, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than your small world. Music has a way of bringing you out of stress and being in the choir will allow you to experience a calm and relaxed mind.
You’ll also see how people are willing to showcase their talents. Everyone in choir all have different experiences, and you’ll make friendships that will last a lifetime. These connections will provide a support system that will help you through tough times and also when you are feeling alone and lonely.
Being in the choir will teach you valuable skills. You’ll learn about teamwork, how to be on time, discipline, and the importance of practice. These lessons will help you well in your life, from school to future careers.
I know it might seem difficult at first. You might worry about not being good enough or fear standing out. But trust me, everyone starts and feels the same way , and the choir is a comfortable place where you can grow and improve. I too felt the same way before. Your confidence will rise as you see your progress and hear your voice blend beautifully with others.
So, you have a huge choice to make. Join the choir. ENJOY AND FEEL the music, the people, and the experiences. You will look back in life AND I AM NOT KIDDING U WILL NOT REGRET THIS CHOICE.
With LOTS OF LOVE,
Your Future Self😄😉🥹
SURYA
Dear Ganesh,
You must be thinking who is it? Well I am you but in a bigger, cooler and more handsome way. Ok let me come to the point what I want to tell you is I hope this letter finds you well and full of excitement for your on coming journey. Now let me get to the actual point…….that is CHOIR!!!I know, you are like what? What is so cool about it? Let me tell you everything i wrote to you is going to change your life.
First of all let me tell you that joining choir is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make (and don’t Quit!!!). It will seem little bit funny at first (especially when you and your friends have to sing in front of the visitors). You will be very nervous at first but I am telling you it is worth it.
Sincerely,
Ganesh
Dear 6th Grade Yogesh,
I know you love soccer but also you’re good at singing and one day you’re going to join choir. You will not regret this opportunity of joining the choir. I agree with you timeliness is a big problem you can face, but I am telling you. Joining the choir will teach you that being on time is more than just a habit, it’s like being a role model to your fellow singers and a pleasure to be part of something beautiful and harmonious. This decision which you are making isn’t just about singing it’s about showing who you truly are.
It might feel that it is a hard decision, but trust me it is going to be one of the best decisions you have ever made. I am sure you have heard of the saying “Practice makes Perfect”, so each rehearsal you attend it’s like you are getting better and better. The more you practice the more confident you become when you are on the stage. Imagine the moment when your voice joins others, creating a beautiful noise. you will learn to respect others and yourself. Singing in front of so many people is quite scary, but don’t worry you will get a hang of it.
When there are problems you are facing don’t be nervous at all, take a deep breadth and solve your problems one by one. There are times when you feel like quitting, but at that time you should not give up. Fight that problem until it is off your problem list.
So, I am hoping this letter will help you.
Sincerely,
Yogesh
Dear 6th Grade Aakash Jr,
Do you remember 3rd grade music with Miss Brittany when you were too cool to participate? Yeah, right you would have so much fun that time would feel jealous and fly faster.
I know that you are currently in a situation where you have to chose if you want to join choir or not. Let me tell you something before you make your mind: choir is not a place where you only sing and have fun; it’s a place where u discover your inner talents and you create a stronger community. Joining choir will be amongst the best decisions in your life.
Choir can also bridge the gap between different age groups. The younger ones and older ones could share their experiences with one another. This way the younger ones become smarter than they usually are.
Choir also makes you and your ideas creative. People in choir sing songs from all over the world and sometimes they mix one song with another and create more beautiful and sweet sounding music. It also gives rise to new genres of music for the younger generation to learn and love.
Also, choir can give you a sense of timeliness and it will also teach you to improve your punctuality skills. As your older self, I advise you to take punctuality seriously because when I was younger I used to get into a lot of trouble mainly because I was late but when I joined choir the tables turned. I started to get more punctual and also I got in less trouble.
So join Choir Junior and enjoy your life and also learn these cool things. All these cool stuff you learn will benefit you in all wild ways
You Older Self,
Aakash
Dear Kanishgar,
Do you remember classes in 3rd grade with Ms. Brittany? Well one day she is going to convince you to join the choir. You're probably thinking if joining the choir with Broadway for Arts Education is the right choice, trust me it is the right choice, it will change your life in the future.
First let’s talk about being on time, being on time is not about following rules, it’s about learning how to be prepared and not depending on others to remind you that you have choir. Being on time shows respect to music and your music teacher.
Choir will become like a second family to you, where you can share your feelings to everyone else by singing. It's about making connections with people you don't know and getting to know about them. I know you don't have many friends right now but in the future if you join choir you will have many friends.
You'll face challenges, but you will learn something good from it. Sometimes you will doubt yourself or feel nervous for performing something in front of the school, but this will help you in the future for public speaking skills. So join the choir with Broadway for Arts Education.
From Your Older Self,
Kanishgar
Dear Nithin,
I, Nithin, think that I should not quit choir as I am the accompanist and it is very important for me to know what the choir wants to sing. Being the piano player for choir I think that it is very important to also know the right way to follow the choir. Before joining the choir I thought that it is the choir that has to follow the instrumentalist all the way throughout the song.
I also remember the lessons with my music teachers and the fun that I had with them starting with Mrs Elizabeth, Dr Chris, to Miss Brittany. First, Mrs. Elizabeth, my first piano teacher, I remember that every day after classes at 4 pm I had to attend Mrs Elizabeth’s class for an hour.I still remember the first class where I learned the basics of the piano. I also remember the her teaching me the C major scale which was the easiest “of all” she often told me that it is very important to have a good body posture while playing the piano. I remember the stories that she told me about her experience playing the harp.
Dr. Chris along with Mrs. Elizabeth took piano classes for me after games every alternate day. The first song that Dr. Chris taught me was “The Indian National Anthem.” I had lots of fun in all of the classes that I had with Dr. Chris. I still remember the last day when I for the first time I played the National anthem and made Dr. Chris very happy and he wanted me to play it for him once more and wanted to sing along with my classmates. As we came to the end of the song he instead of singing “Jay hi Jay hi” he thought that it was “Run away Run away,” and sang “run away” so loudly that all my classmates stopped singing and started laughing. Mrs. Elizabeth told him that it was wrong and he sang it one more time with the correct words.
With Miss Brittany, my 5th grade music teacher I never wanted to even attend her classes and never signed up for any and nobody did sign up. I continued to have my music lessons with Mrs Elizabeth. But one day Mrs Elizabeth did not come for my lessons as she was in a meeting and I had to attend music lessons with Miss Brittany. I was really scared to attend her class but after the first class we had. I found that her class was very fun and I signed up for every slot on the signup sheet and did take all the lessons with her and we had lots and lots of fun.
I joined the choir to be a better accompanist so I do not want to leave and I will continue to audition for choir for every time until I graduate from Shanti Bhavan.
Thank you,
Nithin
Dear Sixth Grade Anwesh,
I hope you are doing alright naughty boy. It is me, your future self and I have tons to talk to you about. First of all, why did you ever quit your piano lessons? Young boy, are you out of your mind? Ok, I won't just yell at you for the things I did, but I'll tell you some interesting things I did.
Guess what? I joined the CHOIR!! I can just hear you laughing at me because I know I said I would never join. But trust me, it's one of my best decisions and I know that I will never regret it. Man….simply put, choir is AMAZING!!!. It's like a small family inside our big Shanti Bhavan family. At first I was really shy, nervous and afraid to sing. But, the choir family was really warm, welcoming and encouraging.
My choir instructors (Ms. Manu, Ms. Brittany) are soooo cool. They nurture, not just my voice and potential, but everyones with professionalism, tons of joy and perseverance. Joining the choir has been an incredible journey and has allowed me to freely express myself and also connect with my peers through the power of music!. I don't mean to make you regret what we did…..because I have only half a year left in choir. But it's better late than never and you'll find yourself having the happiest time of your life. Oooh, I'm going to tell you a secret. Your favourite song to sing with the choir is……….RISE!!!.
To conclude, I'm really grateful for joining the choir and the music program. The experiences, lessons I've learnt are invaluable.
Sincerely,
Anwesh
Dear junior me;
I want you to listen carefully, join the choir! It is the best thing in the world. Listen, I am having the best time of my life. I am learning a lot of new things and a hundred different songs. You will get a lot of chocolate from Miss Britany also. Guess what, today I just got our favorite chocolate, Toblerone.
Ok bud, let's get to the main part. Now I am facing a lot of tough problems and I want you to be a good boy and not get into any trouble and get into any trouble that will get you kicked out of choir. Take advantage of the BAE group because this will help us and it will help fulfill our sister’s dreams. They will teach you a lot of life lessons like how to love unconditionally, no matter the background.
Let me tell you why it is important to love unconditionally, no matter the background. When I was little I was very scared about everything, even music. But one day I saw how free happy and not scared they were about life.
So from that day on I decided no matter how hard things get in life I have to join those amazing sets of people with those lovely voices. After years of waiting patiently I was given the chance to join the school choir . I immediately told myself “Bro, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity LET'S GRAB IT .” Choir was scary at the beginning but things got much more exciting when I was the one doing all the fun things .
If I have to tell you everything it may take me a year to finish, so just experience it for yourself. But the main part is that everyone in choir has experienced something different and they know how it feels to not be loved. Therefore these people will love you without any condition. You will learn this soon or later bud but if you want the best experience just JOIN CHOIR!!!!
The older you,
Pooh
Dear Sixth-grade Meiyappa,
I am you in 12th grade. Sixth grade is so much better than 12th grade. 12th grade is a busy year and there are not so many fun things that I can do.
Right now the most fun thing is Choir. I wish you had joined the choir when Arasu joined the choir in 5th grade and took your piano class with Arasu seriously. You saw how much fun Arasu had in the choir. Why did you not join the choir then? If you had joined the choir, you would be a pro in singing, playing the piano, and maybe in drums or any instrument.
I am happy I finally joined the choir because I can play the piano, sing, and not be afraid of coming on stage. Playing the piano gives me so much joy and it also makes me happy. Playing the piano makes me feel important as I can play for visitors and in jam sessions. Playing the piano makes me form many connections with my juniors and keeps me close with my friends.
Lastly, being in the choir is the best decision I have made which has changed my life so much. Without choir, I think my life would be so boring with very little fun.
Enjoy your sixth-grade year as there is nothing better than being in sixth grade.
Meiyappa
(Twelfth grade)
Dear Tiny Prem,
How are you bro?????????????????? It's been a long time…huh??? It's nostalgic bro, talking to you…
Those times…you remember when we went for auditions for choir?? We were so nervous!!
Do you remember the time when we had to do a duet with Chevy?? I have the videos of us performing and we were so tiny (obviously). We sang, "Here with me’’ by Halsey, Dr. Chris was our “Boss,” and we were so in the groove…. and nervous … and happy.. I miss those times… Life was so fun and carefree… Oh Oh!! And do you remember the time when we made a tiny band with Thiru, Yoga and Chevy… and we sang “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi….
How’s school going ??? I hope everything’s going well. I know It’s a difficult time in life for you now, but just know it’s okay to talk to others about your problems. That unbreakable shell is only going to end up hurting you, so let people love you, and know there’s nothing to be afraid of. Let some of the music in, don't be afraid of mistakes, and love yourself.
I know music plays an important role in our life. Embrace it. Don’t care what others say about you. Yo probably will feel like giving up on music with all the tension and trouble but what I’ve learnt is that in the end it’ll be worth it. BAE has taught me to be persistent and to look on the positive side… always try.
Yours…the most coolest,
Prem
Dear Sam,
My name is Samuel writing to the younger version of myself. I am currently in the eleventh grade studying in the business sector. (I am your future self bro!!)
Talking about choir when I was in fifth grade ‘ dude it was awesome ’. By the way “don't even think about quitting choir!” if you are thinking of quitting choir you are not the young me(note it down into your head….. You understand me!!!)
Five years ago when I was in the seventh grade, I wanted to try out something new like…..dancing, learning a instrument and last but not the least, joining the choir…
Guess what, I actually didn't regret learning to dance, playing an instrument and joining the choir.
Joining the choir has given me many opportunities and transformative experiences. I learnt not only to sing but also to share my feelings and thoughts regarding any situation. Choir has helped me make a lot of social connections by sharing my passion for music. Regular rehearsals and performances have taught me the importance of dedication and time management(....still kind of working on time management…..). Balancing practice with other responsibilities has strengthened my ethic. Singing in choir allows me to release my emotions. Turns out, that, it is a powerful way to convey feelings and connect with both the music and the audience.
In conclusion, joining choir has been a profoundly enriching experience that has not only enhanced my musician abilities but also fostered valuable life skills. The friendships, discipline, and emotional expression I’v gained are irreplaceable. Through teamwork and exposure to diverse culture, I’v grown both in person and artistically. Choir has truly become a vital part of my life, and I am grateful for the countless benefits it has brought me.
It seems that I have given you a 10% of my experience in choir. The remaining 90% is your job to find out as you keep growing.
Sincerely,
Sam
