“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” Jean-Jacques Rousseau It is easy to forget we need to work regularly with others. Unless you are a soloist all the time, you must work with other musicians. Unless you conduct exactly the sort of ensemble you wish, with the musicians you wish, you must […]
Choral Culture
Choral Ethics: Amateur Versus Professional
“Every artist was first an amateur.” Ralph Waldo Emerson The word amateur is taken from Old French and means ‘lover’. Many definitions of the word speak of doing something for pleasure and most of us, I am sure, became choral conductors because we found pleasure in singing or leading singing. Is it the other definition […]
Choral Ethics: Shut up and Sing;Things I’d Like to Say to My Choirs, But Don’t
“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use.” Emily Post Today, I am revisiting a Choral Ethics matter I’ve been thinking about lately. I wonder how other Choral Professionals handle their Snarky Inner Voice in real life. In […]
Choral Ethics: Neighbors
“The more we can be in a relationship with those who might seem strange to us, the more we can feel like we’re neighbors and all members of the human family.” Fred Rogers It has been a difficult few weeks in some parts of our country. But there is one thing I know; we all […]
Choral Ethics: Make New Friends
“Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.” Saint Francis de Sales I had the privilege of participating in a “Lessons and Carols” service this past holiday season. My son, Dean of a local AGO chapter, got me the gig and both of us played and directed and […]
Choral Ethics: Ring Out the Old, Ring In the New…..
“Ring out the false, ring in the true.” Alfred Lord Tennyson This Holiday Season, I’ve rerun several Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Today will be the last of the reruns; all new blogs will begin again next Thursday. ~MLGA Happy New Year, ChoralNetters! It is 2025, can […]