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In this episode of The Choral Director’s Toolbox, host Dr. William Baker addresses one of the most fundamental elements of choral excellence in Improving Your Choir’s Intonation. Using vivid analogies and decades of experience, he reframed tuning issues not as isolated problems, but as symptoms of deeper concerns in vocal placement, tension, and ensemble discipline. With a focus this week on “preventative medicine,” Dr. Baker offers practical strategies–from thoughtful auditioning and proper voice placement to disciplined listening and reduced reliance on the piano–that help build a consistently centered and resonant choral sound.
In today’s listener question, a director asks how long rehearsals should last. Dr. Baker provides clear and practical guidance, emphasizing pacing, efficiency, and respect for singers’ time as the keys to productive and engaging rehearsals.
Today’s inspiration is Alice Parker’s dynamic arrangement of the spiritual John Saw the Number, performed in 1958 by the famed Robert Shaw Chorale, a masterclass in precision, balance, vitality, and expressive control.
Join us for an insightful episode on tuning, technique, and the disciplined artistry that brings choral music to life.
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