choir but in their daily lives as well. The Color Personality Assessment is used to assist singers in understanding how their perspective affects relationships, how it affects communication and working with others.
There are many personality assessments out there today. The one I use is a combination of personality assessment that was presented at a teacher workshop I attended many years ago and a personality assessment called True Colors I found online posted by the Utah Education Network. Both use colors as a basis for the assessment. I combined and modified each to fit the age level I was working with.
You need about 35 to 45 minutes to complete the activity. You will explain the reason you are presenting this activity, give the “test” and then have the singers come up with ways they can use this new perspective information to work together. You will need to have a copy of the assessment booklet and a pencil for each singer. See the attachments for all documents for this endeavor.
Part 1: You will begin by leading discussion with singers about interpersonal communication. You can use questions like: What happens when you disagree with someone? Why do you disagree? Why do people see and/or view things differently. If you can find a perception picture ie. a picture that demonstrates two different views, it will help you make your point. Just type in ‘perception picture’ into Google. There are many pictures to choose from. Continue with director led discussion with the following statements: It depends on our perception. There is not a right or wrong. Discuss how perception affects all of our communication and relationships. Discuss what a difference it makes in how we look at things and there is always more than our perspective. If there is a problem with communication and relationships the only one you can change is yourself. Explain (using “History of True Colors” theory http://www.true-colors.com) how this theory can help with their relationships by understanding themselves and how they interact with others.
Part 2: Hand out the booklet and take the singers through the booklet follow the instructions listed above each section. Explain that individuals are a spectrum of colors and there are times they will use each color type, but they basically operate in one color.
Part 3: When you’ve completed the exercise, continue the activity by asking students what would happen if we didn’t have any greens, blues, golds, oranges. Discuss the following: how the choir would be different if one of the groups was missing; how we need every color type to enhance the choir; what would happen if the choir were made up of only one color, such as green.
Part 4: It is important that the singers come up with ways to work with each color personality. On the last page of the booklet is the leadership styles and “symptoms of a bad day”. Have the students read through each leadership style and the negative behavior. With this knowledge, lead the singers in a discussion of how to approach and work with each color’s strength and weaknesses. For example, using what they now know about color personalities, ask the singers how would they form small choir groups that could work effectively.
My singers always enjoy this activity. Personality assessment begins by being all about them…which we all know is where they are in their development but then challenges them to look beyond themselves for the good of the team. This is a great quote to end the activity with:
“If there is no harmony in your life, try changing your tune.” BullyMovie
Personality Assessment Color Pictures.pdf
