“No man ever got very high by pulling other people down. The intelligent merchant does not knock his competitors. The sensible worker does not knock those who work with him. Don’t knock your friends. Don’t knock your enemies. Don’t knock yourself.” Alfred Lord Tennyson As you may recall, Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics is re-visiting some of […]
Church Choir
Choral Potpourri/ Choral Ethics: So This Is Christmas
“At Christmas play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.” Thomas Tusser Today is Christmas Eve. If you had told me how we would be celebrating in 2020 around this time last year, I would have thought you were crazy. No family get-togethers? RIDICULOUS! No caroling or singing in public of […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Storytime–One
“Women work harder. And women are more honest; they have less reasons to be corrupt.” Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Last week, I mentioned I’d be sharing sexist stories ChoralNetters have been emailing me since I began writing Choral Potpourri five years ago. Today I share a story not from a ChoralNetter, but a colleague I met […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Choral Music Will Survive Only If We All Help
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein I’ve been having an ongoing email dialogue with a friend and colleague since we aren’t able to see each other. We email each other once a week or so since our state’s “shelter-in-place” order went into effect in […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Busy Times
“He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day, and follows that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through a labyrinth of the most busy life.” Victor Hugo This was written and scheduled before COVID-19 changed our world. Please enjoy and hope we all are soon back to normal! I am sure […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: I Wish I Could
“It is not enough just to wish well; we must also do well.” Saint Ambrose Like people in all walks of life, I am often stretched thin by requests. From my spouse and children, from my choir and professional colleagues, from community and art organizations I support; I am often overwhelmed. No one thinks twice […]