Our Music Selection Policy

1.Comprehensive Policy Purpose and Scope

The ATML Choir’s music selection policy is designed to ensure that every piece we perform supports our mission to combat loneliness through song. We are dedicated to creating a repertoire that is inclusive, diverse, and culturally sensitive, providing all members with music that is both artistically fulfilling and personally resonant. This comprehensive policy governs all aspects of our work, from rehearsals and public concerts to guest collaborations and digital media. We strive for a welcoming environment by emphasizing respectful and inclusive language in all our musical materials. Recognizing that music frequently addresses complex emotional landscapes, we provide thorough historical and thematic context for songs with challenging subjects before rehearsal begins. This ensures members understand the significance of the material, while our commitment to personal autonomy guarantees that participation in these specific pieces is always voluntary, allowing each individual to prioritize their own wellbeing.

2. Our Signature style: Medleys

We have a defined structure of how our songs will be rehearsed and performed. This is through medleys. Medleys are a combination of two or more songs into one. This signature approach allows the ATML Choir to weave together diverse musical narratives, creating a seamless journey that enhances the emotional impact of our mission to end loneliness. By blending modern genres like pop, gospel, and soul with traditional cultural music, our medleys provide a unique platform for cultural representation and artistic growth. These arrangements are meticulously crafted to be accessible for all vocal abilities, ensuring that every member can participate in the intricate transitions and collective harmony that define our performance style.

3.Strategic Objectives for Repertoire

  • Cultural Representation: We aim to reflect a broad spectrum of cultures, languages, and musical traditions, actively including music from underrepresented communities to ensure all members feel seen and valued.
  • Ethical Selection: Our process strictly avoids discriminatory, offensive, or exclusionary content. We are vigilant against cultural appropriation, ensuring all pieces are performed with the necessary context and respect.
  • Wellbeing and Emotional Safety: As a choir dedicated to connection, our music should promote joy, hope, and belonging. We remain sensitive to themes that may trigger distress, supporting emotional expression in a safe, controlled environment.

4.Accessibility and Musical Excellence

To foster an inclusive environment, music must be sing able for a diverse range of vocal abilities, from absolute beginners to advanced singers. Arrangements will be adaptable in key, tempo, and structure to accommodate different learning styles, utilizing sheet music, audio guides, and rote learning where appropriate. While prioritizing accessibility, we will maintain high musical standards by providing opportunities for skill development and balancing simpler pieces with more challenging repertoire to encourage growth.

5.Repertoire Balance

ATML Choir will aim for a balanced repertoire including:

  • Contemporary music (e.g., pop, gospel, soul): Modern genres that resonate with current audiences and promote energy.
  • Traditional and cultural music: Reflecting a broad spectrum of languages and musical traditions to ensure cultural representation.
  • Inspirational and community-focused songs: Pieces curated to highlight themes of resilience, hope, and unity.
  • Original compositions (where possible): Encouraging creativity through songwriting camps where members draw from lived experiences.

6.Our Collaborative Process for Selecting Songs

We use a structured, collective approach to build our repertoire, ensuring every member contributes to the music we sing together.

  • Proposing a Theme: We begin by suggesting a core artistic concept or theme to give the next project a clear, unified focus.
  • Research Phase: Members are given a set timeframe to look for and suggest songs that fit the chosen theme.
  • Building the Pool: All member suggestions are collected into a single, broad list for the group to review.
  • Group Selection: Through discussion, members work together to refine the pool and pick songs that best represent our collective vision.
  • Final selection: Songs submissions are made to the Music Director who will assess they fit into the criteria before inviting members to deliberate on approved submissions. The final selection is made by the leadership of the choir.
  • Preparing Lyrics: To allow for thorough practice, a formal set of lyrics is prepared and shared with everyone before rehearsals begin.
  • Arrangements: Led by the Music Director, song arrangements follow. The Music Director arranges the songs into medleys of two or more songs with music notes compiled, lead vocals and back up vocals selected.

7.Selection Criteria

To maintain the standards and values of the choir, songs may be rejected if they do not meet our selection criteria. Music submissions will be assessed against the following detailed parameters to ensure they align with the ATML Choir mission:

  • Relevance to Mission: Every song must foster connection, build community, and actively work toward reducing loneliness.
  • Inclusivity and Cultural Sensitivity: We prioritize repertoire that reflects diverse cultures and musical traditions while avoiding discriminatory or offensive content.
  • Vocal Suitability: Arrangements must be appropriate for the group’s current skill level, prioritizing vocal health and avoiding extreme ranges or overly complex structures that hinder participation.
  • Audience Engagement: For public performances, pieces are selected for their ability to resonate with and energize our audiences.
  • Message and Lyrical Content: Lyrics are vetted to promote joy, hope, and belonging, ensuring no exclusionary or harmful language is used.
  • Legal and Financial Considerations: Final selection is contingent upon securing copyright licenses (e.g., PRS/PPL) and ensuring costs remain within the choir’s budget.

8.Song Rejection and Vetting Policy

To maintain the integrity of our mission, ATML Choir reserves the right to reject song submissions. All repertoire undergoes a rigorous vetting process to ensure it meets our ethical and communal standards.

  • Non-Alignment with Core Values: Submissions must actively promote connection and combat loneliness. Songs that do not align with these fundamental principles will be excluded.
  • Reputational Integrity: We may reject songs if the original singer or owner has a criminal conviction or a public record that conflicts with the choir’s ethical standing.
  • Inappropriate Language: Any suggested music containing offensive language, profanity, or inappropriate slurs will be automatically rejected.
  • Harmful Content: We strictly prohibit songs that promote political agendas, hate speech, discrimination, violence, harm, or any form of social exclusion and stigma.

The leadership and Music Director will make final determinations on all rejections based on these criteria to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all members.

9.Copyright and Licensing

ATML Choir is committed to upholding the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct regarding musical intellectual property. We will strictly comply with UK copyright law by ensuring that all performances and rehearsals are covered by appropriate licenses, such as those obtained via PRS for Music and PPL. Our organization respects the intellectual property rights of composers, lyricists, and publishers, ensuring that only authorized sheet music and arrangements are utilized. This includes securing specific permissions for any custom arrangements or digital distributions to ensure creators are fairly recognized and compensated.

10.Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Alignment

This policy serves as a practical extension of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion commitments. We strive to promote equitable representation by actively seeking out repertoire from underrepresented communities and a broad spectrum of cultural traditions. By encouraging participation from members of all backgrounds and ensuring that no group feels excluded through specific repertoire choices, we foster a truly inclusive environment.

To ensure the ongoing effectiveness of these commitments, we will:

  • Regularly review repertoire diversity and its social impact on our community.
  • Gather structured feedback from both our members and audiences regarding the resonance and inclusivity of our selections.
  • Proactively adjust future selections to improve inclusivity, engagement, and alignment with our mission of ending loneliness.