“Holding space” is the practice of allowing room for someone to release their thoughts, concerns, or fears without judging them or feeling the need to offer advice or fix the situation. This is a valuable skill in our professional and personal relationships, a way of honoring and showing compassion for others so they feel heard […]
Going Beyond Words
The Conductor as Yogi: Do One Thing
The beginning of the calendar year—ahhh! . . . Resolutions. Big plans. Massive change! And how long do those resolutions last? We know the statistics, that resolutions set on January 1st are often abandoned within the first month, depending on whose reporting you read. There are countless guides for determining and keeping resolutions to create […]
The Conductor as Yogi: May You Know
We’ve made it through another calendar year. Some combination of joyous, fatigued, inspired, bruised, cautious, or hopeful, on any given day. Stories to tell and plans still in the making. Intersections of work life and “real life” (can they be the same thing?). And though I have no idea how many read this blog, I […]
The Conductor as Yogi: The Spirit, the Brain, and the Choir
Sounds like the title of a new novel, but today’s post wraps up our fall exploration of brain health and how it intersects with our life as conductors and teachers. We started by looking at how our brain reacts to stress, then unpacked how we can mitigate stress in rehearsals with our breathing and movement […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Communication Without Words
“Music can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.” Leonard Bernstein Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics is re-running some of our December Blogs from years past. This is one that brings hope of what will happen when we can be together to make music again. MLGA We all know music’s ability to heal and sooth. We know […]
Beginning the 26th Year: It’s All in the Words
This week on GBW and ACDA Radio/ChoralNet host Stan Schmidt takes a moment to tell you how Going Beyond Words got started and how he goes about putting each show together. He then gives you an opportunity to listen to “A Song of Praise” by Beethoven conducted by Robert Shaw; “A Prayer by Padre Pio” […]