If there’s one thing that drive me crazy it’s seating charts! Every time a kid moves in, or voice changes from Soprano to Baritone (yes, it’s happened), I have to change and print a new seating chart so I can take attendance quickly.

Over the years I’ve finally landed on a quick(er) solution: Google Docs! I created a simple Google Doc with a customized table to represent the rows in my rehearsal room.

You do need to have a Google Account to use it. Now I do something odd. Well, and even, too. I have seats 1 and 2 in each row in the center. The numbers to my left are odd, and the numbers to my right are even. This way, when I’m making the seating chart, I can balance row lengths. Then, in performance, row A #1, is center, 1 and 2 split center in the second row, etc. So your windows are always between two adjacent numbers in front and behind you.

I also have stickers on each seat in my rehearsal space with the correct row and number. They come off easily, but I have a student aide who tapes them back on.

If you have any questions, let me know!

If you want to keep your great music in great shape, check out the rest of this site!

Garrett

Why didn’t I figure this out my first year of teaching? During the first week of school this year, there were many transitions with choir rosters with students transferring in and out of our district, students adding choir, etc. I found myself changing seating charts and taping new folder lists up daily.

I shortened one aspect of that mundane task by using a clear sheet protector to slip the folder list into! It works like a charm! Once I have a new Chorfolio and slot for them, I just print the sheet and slip it in! No more fussing with rolled masking tape and taking the time to make sure it’s level. Just slide it in and go!

Cut the edge off of a sheet protector and tape the three closed sides!

The steps are easy:

1. Take a sheet protector to a sharp paper cutter or a pair of scissors and cut off the three-ring tab.

2. Optional - cut out one side of the top side so you can easily grab the sheet once it’s in.

3. Tape three sides to your folder cabinet or wall.

4. Slip your folder list in!

Happy folder listing!

If you’re reading this, you’re probably a choir director, and hopefully you figured out much more quickly than I that simplicity is powerful. I conduct adults, high schoolers, and middle schoolers. The age difference between my oldest and youngest singer is nearly seventy years. I have finally figured out something incredibly profound: The more simple I can make my gesture, my explanation of a musical idea, or where we are beginning on my next downbeat, the more inspiration I can infuse in the rehearsal.

When I keep things simple, it’s puts the singer in the center of the story in rehearsal. They become the hero, I become the guide. They are the one on the journey, and I stand on the side and watch them grow.

That’s the powerful thing about the ChorFolio as well. It’s so simple. Singers have a place where their music doesn’t fall out, their pencil can always be found, and if they drop it in the snowy parking lots of Central Minnesota, no worries. Easy peasy. I love great music. I love it even more when it can stay in great shape.