I believe all students can learn to successfully sight-sing. The more ownership they take in honing this skill, the better they will become. The better they read, the quicker your choir reads….and the more effective your rehearsals become. This is why sight-singing homework is so important. This blog post explains exactly how I assign, grade, AND motivate the students […]
Choral Clarity
The Conductor as Yogi: Beginning . . . Again
“The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.” Steve Jobs What happens when we prepare to start a new job? We do the research, find ways to build trust […]
The 5 “ROUNDS” I Use in My Choral Program Every Year – And WHY!
I believe rounds can be a valuable part of all choral programs. While there are many rounds I’ve used over the years, there are 5 rounds that I use with my high school choir every year. This blog post shares these 5 rounds and WHY I believe they are so beneficial to my students. Here are: The 5 “ROUNDS” I […]
10 Teaching Tips for Navigating an Unpredictable School Year
We had one year end abruptly followed by another year of complete turmoil. What will this school year bring us? While we don’t know what to expect, we’ve had the experience of the past two years to become mentally prepared and physically equipped for just about any circumstance that comes our way. This blog […]
9 Ways to FIND Choral Repertoire for High School
Do you find it overwhelming to find new repertoire? Finding new repertoire is like surfing through endless television channels and finding nothing to watch. There’s so much repertoire out there, but how to do you find repertoire that works for YOUR group? I’m going to share 9 SIMPLE ways to sort through a lot of choral […]
8 Ideas to “Fill up” the Last Rehearsals of the Year
Let’s end the year on a high note! The final rehearsals don’t need to be a waste of time! (see 3 activities to avoid!) Instead, the FINAL REHEARSALS can: -be fun-be engaging-be productive-provide closure-create a sense of anticipation for next year The best part is that it doesn’t require tons of planning. Here are: 8 Ideas […]