Early on as a blogger, I posted “Living Your Namaste” in the wake of violence that escalated on a national level in late spring of 2020. It was a way to reflect on the moment and bring something from the yoga practice to inform our thinking so we might move toward a better life in […]
Others
Songs of (re)Imagining: Reena Esmail
In late Summer 2021, I was perusing music. Looking for music for my tenor/bass choir, I came across composer Reena Esmail. I put a couple of her works on my “maybe program” list, coming back to them later and ultimately deciding to program one (which I’ll dive into in a moment!). While attending the Midwestern […]
Enabling Transformative Experiences: Renewal
Often a title of a blog post comes easily. Today, I wrestled with a few other words starting with the letter R: Repair and Restoration. I find myself reflecting on these words after a profound concert presented by the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, the Viking Chorus of St. Olaf College, and the St. […]
The Science of Program Building with Dr. Seth Pendergast
Dr. Seth Pendergast of Colorado State University joins me to dig through the critical aspects of recruiting and retention. As we are (hopefully) coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, my sense is that many K-12 choral music educators are looking to grow or rebuild their choral programs. The pandemic often limited singing and many choral […]
The Conductor as Yogi: It’s Time for Savasana
The season and academic year are ending. The concerts will be finished. We feel a sense of accomplishment, relief, and celebration, colored with the bittersweet realization that it is still an imperfect world both in and out of our choral lives. Our limbs may feel heavy, our energy is drained, and our exhales are getting […]
Legislative Update and Actions We Can Take Now Based on the Recent National Arts Action Summit
Teachers. Choir director. Singer. Manager. Stage crew. These are just a few of the many hats we all learn to wear as choral educators. The thought of adding another task to our list often seems daunting, and a little intimidating, especially when it includes words like “legislation,” “Capitol Hill,” “lobbyist,” or other congressional lingo. In […]