Meet Beth Watts Nelson of KC Metro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Watts Nelson

Hi Beth, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always knew, without a doubt, that music would be my job. I love it too much to do anything else! That love was fostered through singing and music classes with wonderful teachers in Olathe. Long live music education in public schools!!! I studied choral music at Kansas State University and also gained an appreciation for folk/bluegrass music with a group of friends around that same time. We started a band called Konza Swamp that still plays together today! After college, I went on to teach choir and added a masters degree in choral conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. People singing together is my passion!

After teaching in public schools for twenty years I was ready for a change. I put a post on social media asking if any of my friends would be interested in attending a free harmony singing workshop and it filled up almost immediately! That gave me the push I needed to start Notorious Chorus. I left my classroom in June of 2023 and started teaching people the joy of harmony singing in the back of a bar ever since! It’s been unbelievably fun and allows my schedule some flexibility to grow my own music career at the same time. Now, I’m basically running two new businesses – Notorious Chorus and Beth Watts Nelson Music – and having the time of my life!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have had to overcome many obstacles – both internal and external – since leaving my classroom. Fortunately, teaching prepares a person for just about anything! This past year and a half has been like building two planes while I’m flying them at the same time. Things like learning to build a website, navigating taxes and learning about music booking seem daunting but they just take effort and commitment to figure out. To learn, I try to find people more knowledgable than me in a particular area and ask them questions. More often than not, people are willing to help when you ask and, with time, you can figure things out step-by-step. It’s the internal struggles that are the biggest obstacles. Things like perfectionism, self-doubt and worrying too much about what other people think are not helpful companions for growth. But, the more I practice letting that stuff go, the easier it is to overcome.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a choir director on the loose bringing the benefits of group singing to the world outside the walls of churches, schools and concert halls. In times past, people gathered to make music as a regular part of life. In fact, group music-making has been a vital part of humanity since ancient times. It has always served as a tool for community building with the added benefit of improved overall health. Unfortunately, our modern society has relegated choral singing outside of church and school to the “experts”. I contend that choral singing is available to every person – young and old, black and white, republican and democrat – in any environment. I have spent over 25,000 hours in choir rehearsals over the course of my choral training and career in public schools and I have seen the simple act of singing together bring the benefits of community and positive mental health to thousands of people. In addition to four-week sessions in the back of a bar, Notorious Chorus has partnered with regional music festivals and conferences to lead harmony singing workshops. One of my favorite moments recently was working with a group of business leaders with little-to-no experience singing. Many were terrified of public singing and had been carrying trauma due to a learned perception of their singing voice. I carefully guided the group through gently moving their bodies, to breathing together, to humming, to full blown harmony singing. Several participants cried tears of joy at the new experience of making music together with their voices. What seems like a miracle reserved for only the best singers is really available to all of us. I believe, if you can breathe you can sing – and when you sing together you make a positive difference in yourself and the world around you.

My personal artistic practice grounds itself in singing too. I’m involved in several acoustic music groups in Kansas City and whenever I’m on stage there will be people singing together. If I’m alone, I’ll probably engage the audience in singing along at some point! Check out my local KC groups “Beth and Brandon”, “Little Miss Dynamite” and the “Konza Swamp Band” for harmonies galore!

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Letting go of fear of failure (still working on this…;)

Pricing:

• Notorious Chorus full four week session $145
• Notorious Chorus drop in one session $40
• Notorious Chorus Beatles session which begins March 5. Registration is open now at notoriouschorus.com
• Notorious Chorus harmony workshop for your business or group – variable – let’s talk!

Contact Info:

• Website: bethwattsnelson.com and bethandbrandonmusic.com