“It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.” Charles Dickens I have to admit something; I am crazy about college basketball. And I came a bit late to the Big Dance. It wasn’t until […]
Choral Potpourri: Cinderella is Staying Home From the Ball
“He obliged Cinderella to sit down, and, putting the slipper to her little foot, he found it went on very easily, and fitted her as if it had been made of wax.” Charles Perrault I am not in Minnesota this week. I am here, in Chicago, doing a million and one things that somehow have […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Open Mouth, Insert Foot……and Baton!
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Mark Twain Jeremy* wrote to me a few weeks ago with an unusual problem. Or at least, he thinks it’s unusual. I don’t think it is. What’s the problem? He can’t […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Gossip for Good
“Gossip is the art of saying nothing in a way that leaves practically nothing unsaid.” Walter Winchell I hate gossip. In fact, I hate it so much when someone is spreading any ugly rumor; I refuse to acknowledge they’ve spoken. This doesn’t mean I don’t listen to gossip; I just refuse to join in the […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Politics for Our Time
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” Thomas Jefferson In the last two weeks, I have had five people contact me about politics. I don’t mean friends or family or acquaintances sharing Facebook stuff but CHORAL DIRECTORS wanting advice about how to […]
Choral Potpourri: Choral Ethics; Kindness Versus Honesty?
“Always be sincere, even if you don’t mean it.” Harry S. Truman Have you ever been in a situation where, if you are completely honest, you could offend someone? But if you are not honest, that person will think whatever he or she is doing is fine, even if clearly it is not. We are […]