“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” Jean-Jacques Rousseau It is easy to forget we need to work regularly with others. Unless you are a soloist all the time, you must work with other musicians. Unless you conduct exactly the sort of ensemble you wish, with the musicians you wish, you must […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Amateur Versus Professional
“Every artist was first an amateur.” Ralph Waldo Emerson The word amateur is taken from Old French and means ‘lover’. Many definitions of the word speak of doing something for pleasure and most of us, I am sure, became choral conductors because we found pleasure in singing or leading singing. Is it the other definition […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Songs My Mother Taught Me
In memory of Rose Marie Ditto Grass, November 24, 1927 to July 29, 2014 A few years ago, I decided I would write a book about something I now call “Choral Ethics.” A few things motivated me, including a rather unpleasant encounter at a community arts event with a choral colleague. Nothing seemed to provoke […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Audition Plan
“Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Alan Lakein The one thing I know for sure about holding auditions is this; you have to plan. If you are the one auditioning, it’s not always necessary for you to plan; you just show up on time and do what is asked of you. If you need […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Auditions! Auditions! Auditions!
“What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out.” Alfred Hitchcock Last week’s blog got responses on ChoralNet and off. Several ChoralNetters have contacted me with interesting opinions and situations about auditions (which will become future blogs) but one thing is clear; auditions strike a chord with everyone! This is the beginning week […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Choral Ethics in the News
“Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do.” Potter Stewart There have been two music/choral ethics incidents in the news in the last week or so. I will not name names or places but you can probably figure out who is who from the […]