Description
“I can’t do this. I might as well give up. I’m so dumb.”
We’ve all been guilty of talking negatively towards ourselves, and it can be hard not to spiral down into shame when we make mistakes. But the truth is that we all make mistakes ~ it’s part of being human. What matters is how we treat ourselves after the mistake. Do we treat ourselves with the same kindness and grace that we would with people we love? We should. But this, like things, takes practice.
I’ve struggled with perfectionism all my life, and it’s a trait that has been passed on to my two kids. As a mother of adolescents, I have witnessed them succumb to negative self talk many times. It’s difficult to watch them be so hard on themselves.
At school, the choir classroom often becomes a safe place for students to be themselves, exploring art and song and the many emotions music evokes. They should be singing texts that relate to their experiences at that age, and that’s why I decided to compose “Self Talk.” Practicing positive self affirmations is a skill that everyone should practice throughout their lives. This piece gives teachers and students the opportunity to explore these ideas and learn how to improve their self confidence and empathy. This song gives them the gift of singing the words: “I am strong. I can do this.”
~ Jocelyn Hagen, 2023
(Performed by Johnston Middle School 9th Grade Vocal Music, directed by Kara Mather.)
Perusal Scores
Text
I will never be good enough
I can’t do that
I will never be strong enough
I have no fight left
That’s just negative self talk
Your thoughts are not who you are
You are not what that person thinks of you
You need to question your thoughts
to know what’s really true
You can choose how you respond to failure
how you respond to fear, stress
You are starlight, not the dark sky
You are hope
You are sunshine
You are joy
You are worthy of love
You are enough
I am worthy
I am hopeful
I am kind
I can do this
I am strong!
I am strong!
I am strong!
I can do this!
~ Jocelyn Hagen
About the Educational Slides
We’ve done some of the score prep for you! With over 50 slides, these student-centered visuals can help you teach efficiently and effectively. Each slide isolates key musical elements and incorporates social-emotional topics, making them a valuable resource for both SSA and mixed ensembles. These slides are broken down into FIVE COMPONENTS:
1. Text
2. Musical Excerpts
3. Putting It Together
4. All About That Bass – Three Part Mixed Score
5. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Talking Points
Elizabeth Egger (she/her) is a conductor and singer whose career is grounded in her mission to educate, create, and explore to help young singers develop their authentic voice. A passionate teaching artist, Beth incorporates playfulness with her students and always leaves room for exploration. Beth serves as the conductor of the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choir’s Concert Choir (ACYC) and as the choir director at Scott Highlands Middle School in Apple Valley, MN. With 18 years of experience, Beth has held teaching and conducting roles in various schools and churches across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Under Beth’s artistic leadership, her ensembles achieved notable recognition, performing at the MMEA Midwinter Convention in 2014 and featured as a clinic choir for the ACDA Fall Conference in both 2015 and 2022. Notably, Beth conducted ACYC singers during the 2018 Super Bowl LII performance and led a 25-member ensemble in the children’s chorus for Director Osmo Vänskä’s season finale of Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand in 2022. In the upcoming 2025 season, Beth is looking forward to directing the 7-8 SSA Honor Choir for ACDA of Minnesota, presenting sessions at MMEA and ACDA of Minnesota conferences, and directing the Children’s Chorus for Turandot with Minnesota Orchestra.
Beth is also a singer at heart, and has sung with several professional ensembles including The Singers – Minnesota Choral Artists, Milwaukee Choral Artists, Florentine Opera, and Skylight Music Theatre. She earned her MA in Music Education at the University of St. Thomas and BM summa cum laude in Vocal Performance and Music Education at the University of Minnesota. Follow her vibrant journey on Instagram: @choirsips.