ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online magazine for choral directors and music educators. The articles in each issue are gleaned from ACDA state and division newsletters and from submissions. ChorTeach is specifically designed for those who work with amateur singers and are looking for practical material to apply to classrooms and rehearsals.
Below is a preview of the articles in the current issue, available for download here. The annotated ChorTeach index has also been updated. Click here to view. Email editor Terry Barham at for submissions or questions.
“A New Normal: Choral Culture as a Catalyst for Change” by Sarah Graham
This article takes a look at the question: where and how do we learn empathy? The author suggests that the ensemble arts are a key place where performers and listeners alike can learn this most important character trait for today’s broken world.
“Past, Present, and Future: Today’s Choral Repertoire” by Lynne Gackle
The author of this article argues that with so much new music available, as wonderful as it may be, we still have a responsibility to include music from the past in our programs and “not lose sights of the intrinsic beauty and worth of works that have stood the test of time.”
“Hymns: A New/Old Resource for Teaching Choral Music” by Jody Blake
Explore a resource with nearly endless possibilities for enhancing the choral music curriculum that has been used for generations: the hymnal! “Whether it is an old, dusty Baptist hymnal or a brand-new Catholic hymnal, there is a treasure trove of musical examples for teaching musicianship, vocal techniques, and performance repertoire.”
“The Complexity of Singing” by Gabriela Hristova
Music is a complex art, but there remains a simplicity that makes the process enjoyable. The author of this article shares simple lessons she tries to communicate daily to her singers even as they approach the complexity of singing choral music.
“Preparation, Practice, Performance, and Pondering: A Different Approach to Score Preparation” by Thomas Blue
The author of this article shares a four-part approach to teaching MS/HS choral music, which involves the stages of preparation, practice, performance, and pondering.
Click here to read the latest ChorTeach!
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