“I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit.” John Steinbeck With the end of the school year, I have […]
Choral Culture
Choral Ethics: Truth to Tell
“Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction.” Lord Byron Writing this blog here on ChoralNet, I receive a good number of emails about Choral Ethics every week. Folks who contact me either want to thank me or to tell me their stories. And their stories are amazing. Some seem outlandish at the outset, but then […]
Choral Ethics: Rock Star
“I won’t be a rock star. I will be a legend.” Freddie Mercury My youngest brother is a conservatory trained percussionist…..which means he’s played for a LOT of rock bands. Classically trained, he liked playing for rock bands more than orchestras. Why? The atmosphere. According to him, most rock musicians are not the spoiled brats […]
Choral Ethics: Preaching to the Choir
“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” Francis of Assisi I receive quite a few emails with people’s thoughts about Choral Ethics. Some folks tell me they are not exactly sure what Choral Ethics is but know it when they see it. Some tell me what I am […]
Choral Ethics: Don’t Shoot the Piano Player
“It’s easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself.” J.S. Bach Lady C* contacted me a few years ago as I began to collect stories for this blog. She conducts a semi-professional chamber choir, much like mine, […]
Choral Ethics: Almost There
“Nothing is a greater impediment to being on good terms with others than being ill at ease with yourself.” Honore de Balzac We just finished another Lenten, Holy Week and Easter season. Church musicians rounded the corner, heading toward the end of the finish line of their busiest six weeks, exhausted and craving chocolate bunnies. […]