Charles Grass (Dad) left, and Bob Fosse, right. They were about 12 years old. “If you think you can do better, then do better. Don’t compete with anyone; just yourself.” Bob Fosse Today is my father’s 96th birthday. He is still with us, still as sharp as a tack, still very independent and still telling us what to do. We know […]
Old Ballet Dancer
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Perfectly Calm
“With the coming of spring, I am calm again.” Gustav Mahler During the first part of my choral career, I was also a dancer, ballet teacher and choreographer. My ballet background, coupled with understanding and the ability to read complicated scores, made me a natural to choreograph musicals on all levels. I specialized in making […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Last Man Standing
Dad (Charles Grass) and Bob Fosse, they were probably 12 years old “If you think you can do better, then do better. Don’t compete with anyone; just yourself.” Bob Fosse For the month of December, I’m rerunning some Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Two of my MOST REQUESTED December Blogs will […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Respect Yourself
“If we were all determined to play the first violin we should never have an ensemble. Therefore, respect every musician in his proper place.” Robert Schumann As we head toward the end of the choral year, it’s time to address a few Choral Ethics dilemmas. Today and next week, I’ll be sharing thoughts from a […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Why I’m a ChoralNet Blogger
“The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.” Robert Frost I became a regular ChoralNet Blogger in the fall of 2015. The year before, I had been asked to contribute an occasional guest blog for ChoralNet, the first time a week after my […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Dance Class
“My dance classes were open to anybody, my only stipulation was that they had to come to the class every day.” Merce Cunningham Last week, I blogged about my early training as a dancer; what it meant to me, how it has shaped and led me to the choral profession. My ballet-life and my choral-life […]