Do This Not That When Programming Diversity into Your Repertoire

This post is for my musician friends and is inspired by the wonderful culture and repertoire I was exposed to during the International Music by Women Festival I recently attended. The vast majority of attendees were there to support and share music they loved that was written by women composers. The purity of that ideal, as opposed to a look-at-what-I-can-do culture that can take hold in some settings, was uplifting. In short, less ego, more love.

So here are three examples of how we can grow to program and perform repertoire that is more than diverse, repertoire that reflects inclusion and belonging…
 

Do This…
Do search out pieces by marginalized communities until you find something that resonates with you. Be excited to introduce the audience to these pieces that you love.

Not that…
Don't program a token work written by a minority that is a novelty piece. That sends the message that minorities don't create serious works.
 

Do this…
Do introduce the audience to the merits of your chosen repertoire through program notes or a verbal introduction.

Not that…
Don't focus on the merits of the traditional canon within your repertoire then only address biographical information on composers from marginalized communities. This sends the message that the pieces have been chosen because the composers are minorities, not because of the quality of their compositions.


Do this…
Do continue to seek out music that stretches your idea of good taste. Your taste is informed by your own culture. Get to know what other cultures and generations find appealing and why. 

Not that…
Don't settle on one or a few composers whose music makes you feel comfortable. Your audience deserves to see themselves reflected in the music as much as you do. At the very least, your audience deserves to know that there is a world of repertoire out there that may be different than they are used to, and that that's okay. Different isn't bad.


So there you have it. The world is a big, beautiful place with a myriad of voices who reflect their values in unexpected ways. You and your audience deserve to be exposed to these as much as these voices deserve to be heard. It's not about the extra work it may take to find pieces with which you're not familiar or styles that may not understand; it's a privilege and a joy to unearth the voices of like souls who may express themselves in unfamiliar ways but still speak to the core of our united humanity.


Dr. Nancy Williams is a musician, educator, and leadership coach who helps creatives overcome imposter syndrome and overwhelm so that they can live and work in cultures of joy and empowerment.

Leave a comment