uh, please don't correct me - it sickens me

There's this guy in my ward choir, Leatherjacket McKnowitall. He likes to make announcements such as, "There's a rest right there," or, "We're supposed to be singing in unison on page three." Thank goodness for that guy.

Yesterday at choir practice, he semi-barked to the accompanist, "There's a ritard right there," and so I was given the challenge of keeping quiet and not even mumbling, "You're the ritard."

Also at that practice, when I brought something to the choir director's attention, this guy butted in and was wrong. Friends, I do not speak up in a choir setting to point something out about the music unless I am absolutely sure of it. Be assured: I was correct in my point about this music. It's not debatable; music is like math (I know I'm not good with math, but I am with music) - it is what it is, written clearly on the page, not up for discussion or opinion. I don't mean an interpretation, as in, the director wants us to do it this way, and that's how it will be done. I mean, look, we're having trouble learning this piece, this particular measure, so let's take it apart and learn it...ahh, that's how it's written.

Poor Choir Director is a sweet, timid lady who will avoid conflict at all costs, so we ended up singing it WRONG because - who wants to fight that loud guy? After all, it's clear from the sheer volume of his voice that he knows what he's talking about, right?

Grrrr...