[NAGDU] Leading Music with a Guide Dog

[S L Johnson]

Hi Julie:

    I have done this before but fortunately my dogs have all stayed quietly 
under the chair where I was sitting before time to lead the music.  I have 
also had my dog in a down stay in front of my feet if I needed them to guide 
me up to the stage or platform.  This would allow Bill to be with you but 
with him in front of you or behind you movement will still be possible.  If 
you are worried about him wondering around step on his leash or make a long 
leash and keep it looped over your arm.
    A funny story, I recently sang for my nephews wedding and during the 
rehearsal Eva decided she should sing along with me making my solos duets. 
Fortunately the next day she was perfectly behaved.  It just goes to show 
that sometimes the rehearsal with the dog gets a bit nuts but the 
performance goes off without a problem.  Good luck to you and let us know 
how it goes.

Sandra and Eva
SLJohnson25 at comcast.netHopefully Bill will get used to you being close to 
him with someone else.  The problem is that you do not have much time so 
gradual practice will not help.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Julie McGinnity via NAGDU
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2018 6:17 PM
To: NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users
Cc: Julie McGinnity
Subject: [NAGDU] Leading Music with a Guide Dog

Hi friends,

This week I'm filling in for our music director at church.  It's such
a great experience, but my dog and I need to find a way that will
allow me to conduct the choir comfortably that works for him as well.
Since I think I may want to do this as a career, I want to have a
method in place that makes me and Bill happy.

My dog doesn't react well when he can see me but not get to me.
Putting him on tie-down, for example, while I go across the room and
rehearse with a group makes him a little crazy.  It got to the point
at which I had to keep him in my professor's office while I rehearsed
with my opera class in grad school.  He used to bark and do everything
and anything so that I would return to him.  Now, he has gotten a lot
better over the years.  Last night at rehearsal, I put him under a
chair right next to my friend who held the leash for me.  He was in
the first row, maybe five feet from where I stood conducting.  He did
well enough, and my friend had no problem with him, until about
half-way through the rehearsal when he got up and decided he would
come back to me.

So, you can understand why I may not feel comfortable putting him with
someone else or on tie-down.  On the other hand, I don't want to be
stepping on his leash either.  I don't feel as free to move when I am
on the dog's leash.

Have any of you ever directed choirs or other musical groups?  What
did you do with your dog?  What would you do?  Would you take the risk
and leave the dog with the friend under the chair?  I have a
hands-free leash, but it's too large for my waste.  I would have to
fix it up a little to fit me, and I'm afraid I would look ridiculous
up there with a leash around my waste.  Hopefully, I can buy a
hands-free leash that is as unabtrussive as possible and fits a very
small waste size.  :)

Thanks for any ideas you might have!

O, and Billy Bob appreciates this too!



-- 
Julie A. McGinnity
President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division,
First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri
"For we walk by faith, not by sight"
2 Cor. 7

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