Music Binders

In an earlier post, I wrote about choir robes. There is an even more essential item for the choir member: The music binder.

The binder is a plain, black 3-ring. I have the music sorted alphabetically by title, and separated by tabbed dividers. At the back of the binder is a pencil bag, which does contain several pencils -- but also paper clips, cough drops, and Kleenex. When one of the other basses noticed this stash of supplies, he asked if I had my lunch in the bag as well.

I have a separate binder for Lessons and Carols music. That one is arranged in order of performance rather than alphabetically – but with the name of each piece on the divider tabs, so I can turn to any of them quickly. Some of my colleagues in the choir look askance at this level of organization on my part. Perhaps they’re right, and I've overdone it a bit; but I must admit it is satisfying, when Rick says “turn to ‘The Truth from Above’", to have my binder open to the right page within two seconds, while those around me are riffling through stacks of music, saying “what does that one look like? Is it in the packet? Is it a Xerox?”

There’s one thing I don’t like about the binder: It’s hard to balance in one hand while turning pages. I have toyed with the idea of attaching some kind of strap to the binder, into which I can slip my left hand to get a secure grip. But if my divider tabs and Kleenex have been noticed by others, I can only imagine the kidding I would take if I were to customize my binder with a hand strap. So I will leave it to someone else to revolutionize the choir world with that invention.