I've been singing in the UC Berkeley Gospel Chorus for just over 2 years now. Someone recently asked me, what keeps me coming back?
When we learn a new song, it's a kinda frustrating (sometimes painful) process. One by one, each section has to learn their part...and some parts are less intuitive than you might think. So we spend a lot of time repeating phrases over and over, seeing how it all fits together, making mistakes, correcting mistakes...all the while thinking about the song.
But there comes a point when it all clicks, and we really know the song. We've learned it not just in our minds, but we've also internalized it, dare I say, in our hearts. We no longer have to think about the song because the words and harmonies just flow out...it feels like "learning" the song was really just uncovering what was always a part of us.
When that happens, when it clicks, I lose myself. I'm still aware of everything else in the world...but it just doesn't matter. I feel like whatever happens to me after this, I will always have this moment.
And so there's nothing left for me to do but close my eyes and keep singing as if the song will never end...
