We are busy people. We have full lives; we live at the center of a wheel that turns constantly, with professional, family, health, spiritual, and personal spokes of responsibilities, challenges, and joys. We bounce between feeling full and satisfied and just plain busy with lots of activities that don’t seem to be organized into anything […]
Choral Culture
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Do You Really Like IT?
“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” Mark Twain A few years ago, ‘way before the Pandemic, I decided to conduct a little experiment. I randomly thanked and complimented family, friends, and strangers during the month of November. Why November? Usually, we are encouraged to be consciously thankful l during the month […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Doing the Work
“Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.” Mark Twain Most of us are doing what we can, with what we can, during this strange transition time. Concerts? Well, I know I’m forgetting something for my own concert in ten days, I just am not sure what it is. […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Doing No Wrong
“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” William Shakespeare In one of my first church choir jobs, I had a strange experience I’d like to share. Perhaps those of you in leadership will be able to use it as a cautionary tale. Many of you may be able to relate or you can […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: What’s So Great?
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” William Shakespeare Early in the Pandemic, I wrote a blog about those of you who were overwhelmed by how “well” many of your friends and acquaintances were doing. Those “Virtue Signaling” and “Humble Bragging” folks who seemed to have it all […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Looking Inward
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” William Shakespeare Like many of you, during these past 20 months, I’ve done much self-reflection. I constantly questioned myself, hoping answers will lead me to understand myself. What kind of person and choral leader am I, or do I WANT to be? […]