When Do You Conform?
Lisa Silver - Cantorial Soloist
I have always considered myself to be a non-conformist. For a nice Jewish girl from the suburbs of Detroit, I did not conform to a typical path. I played the violin, joined a country band, dropped out of music school, and moved to Nashville at the age of 20 - without a job, car, or long term plan. I drove a bright red moped to recording sessions for years. I adopted a baby as a single parent when I was 39.
I like to dance to the beat of my own drum (actually I’m not much of a dancer, but that’s beside the point). I was a freelance musician for 30 years before I became the Cantorial Soloist/Music Director at Congregation Micah, and, more recently, the music teacher at Micah Children’s Academy.
I do think there are times when conforming is the most appropriate and best thing to do, especially when choosing music for our congregation and school. I am for fortunate to work with open minded Rabbis and educators at Micah, who encourage creativity and innovation. I appreciate how our congregation enjoys original melodies and new settings of prayers. But there are times when I think it best to conform to the traditional melodies that are still being used in congregations all over the world, especially during the Torah service on Shabbat. There are new melodies, and I’m sure they are interesting and lovely, but the old melodies are expected. They are comfortable to our members and make visitors feel at home.
In the Micah Children’s Academy, I’m always trying out wacky new songs with the kids. But I also choose music that conforms to the expected educational standards set by the state. That is the appropriate and best thing to do for the kids and the school. To borrow, loosely, from the words of Ecclesiastes - to everything there is a season. A time to stand out, a time to conform. A time to think outside the box, a time to color inside the lines. And I hope I continue to be wise enough to know the difference.
