When’s the last time you asked yourself why you chose this path? What makes you choose choir? Sitting in class last week we were diving into some of my favorite choral selections and the students were enamored – that look on their faces, that feeling I get when listening, the excitement that comes when the […]
Collaborations with Culture Bearers – An Advocacy and Collaboration Monthly Blog Post
I’m writing this blog on a, yet-again-warm, “fall” day in the south. The sun is shining, it’s nearly 90 degrees outside, and I’m happily glancing out a window with my office door open just in case a student wants to drop into office hours. Why all the random details? Well, if you have never lived […]
A&C Monthly Blog: Reclaiming Relevance (a focus on building audiences)
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 Building audiences. It is something we all must take time to do. It can be a little scary as we have to look honestly in the mirror and ask, what are we marketing and is it working? The great news, audience building is really a combination of advocating for your […]
A&C Monthly Blog: The Relevance of Choir
by: Alex Gartner Happy Back-to-School Season! 🍎 As choir directors return to classrooms and rehearsal halls, the concept of “choral community” might be top of mind. Many choral leaders liken choirs to families—we want every singer to feel like they belong and are celebrated through singing. Indeed, the choral community—the choral culture—is an important element […]
Share Your Story! – an Advocacy & Collaboration Monthly Blog Post
The National ACDA Standing Committees were established in 2017 as a way to serve ACDA members between the conferences. The idea was to create committees that could do some of the work needed to sustain members in the day-to-day. Each summer the Advocacy & Collaboration Committee gathers to set goals and create resources for the […]
A&C Monthly Blog: Encouraging Composers Within Your Ensemble
Guest Author: Dale Trumbore Let’s say you have a promising musician in your choir who’s interested in composing. As a conductor, how can you encourage them to write music? I don’t use the word “encourage” lightly. The most important thing for anyone new to composing, even more important than feedback or criticism, is encouragement […]