I have read the New York Times every morning for much of my adult life, although lately there have been mornings when I have put this activity off until later in the day…there just hasn’t been much good news. It’s difficult to find articles that aren’t directly or indirectly related to our current shared situation. […]
Off The Podium
Off The Podium: Silence
Emptiness at the Heart of Music So often when we speak or write about music – when we practice, when we listen or perform – the focus of our attention is on the notes being played or sung. These notes, their pitches and rhythmic accuracy, the articulation and tone with which they are produced, how […]
Off The Podium: Sumer Is Icumen In
When I was an elementary and middle school music teacher (1991 – 2007), I structured a lot of my curriculum – especially the songs I chose to teach my students – around the seasons. While it may seem like an obvious educational strategy, I think it is important to stress the value of this. Children in […]
Off The Podium: Good News! A Tresona Update
This post is a brief update on Tresona Multimedia, LLC v. Burbank High School Vocal Music Association, a copyright infringement litigation suit. Chances are good if you are a show choir director you know about this one. If you write arrangements of music that is not in the public domain, you need to know about […]
Off The Podium: BWV 106 “Actus Tragicus”
During the eleven-day period from March 21 – 31 it has been my practice for many years to spend some time each day reflecting on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, as I have written about here. Our friend Sebastian was born this time of year in 1685 – on March 21 or March 31, […]
Off The Podium: Making Music During the Pandemic
These are uncertain times. The current COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyone’s lives, and we are facing a period of time in which much of what we did regularly – our daily and weekly routines – has been impacted. For choral singers and choral directors, this means the cancelation of classes, rehearsals, performances, services, and the […]