In his Choral Journal article, “Performing Choral/Orchestral Works with the High School Choir,” Paul Cappers discusses the valuse of such a performance: “Performing a great work well with orchestra is an indescribable “high” for young musicians. Students feel a unique sense of accomplishment, and such a performance can bolster community support for the music […]
Stick Time: Yes, a Middle School Choir CAN
We all know that middle school is a challenging time for most young people. The physical, mental, and emotional challenges of that stage of life form a veritable witch’s brew (who among us doesn’t have a horror story from adolescence?). But the next time someone makes a disparaging remark about middle school choral singers, I […]
Learning from “The State of ACDA”
"He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient" (Constitution of the United States, Article II, Section 3). Today, Tim Sharp does the very same thing for ACDA in "The State of […]
Choral Caffeine: High Quality is NOT a Fantasy
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . . Except that it’s today. And it’s right here in the good ol’ U.S. o f A. Here, I’ll let Emily Ellsworth tell you in this excerpt from her article, “Where Imagination and Reality Meet.” “Imagine a school district where every elementary […]
CJ Replay: Composer & Conductor
“Composition has increased my ability to understand music in general. There is no pedagogical device quite so incisive as the primary creative process. When you learn how to make a fugue or a scherzo, you learn how a fugue or a scherzo should be performed. You begin to really understand the architecture of music and […]
Stick Time: Faces Matter
Sometimes choral singers look, well, dour. I’m not talking about the serious face that accompanies the singing of some profound work. No, I’m referring to the pasty-faced, dead-eyed, I’d-rather-be-getting-a-tooth-drilled look that some singers have. Not so with today’s choir. Look at their sunny expressions and the sparkle in their eyes. That’s the joy of singing. […]