Our first brisk fall morning. Do I really want to go for a walk when it’s 43 degrees? (Pause) Well, want isn’t the right word, but I know I’ll benefit so I dig out the thermal running gear and as Grandma Nike says, “just do it.” Cold air hits my face, my breath feels thankfully […]
Others
Stories of Healing and Reimagining with Dr. Anne Lyman
Dr. Anne Lyman wears many choir director hats: community choir, church, and community college choir. She is the past president of Washington ACDA, loves sharing the joys of early choral music, and is clearly a service-oriented conductor. During the first 10 days or so of March, things went from “normal” to unsettled to cancelled. At […]
Creating Transformative Experiences: Rest and Pause
Just a few years ago, December 25 was on a Sunday in 2016. At the church I served at the time, all were encouraged to wear their PJs to church, including staff. As it turns out, only staff dressed in that way, including me! I dressed in PJ bottoms, t-shirt with a fleece, and slippers. […]
Ask Me LITERALLY Anything. Volume 1
Brought to you by members of my Patreon, who have collaborated with me to create this episode. This is the first time I have done a MULTI topic show. I think you will enjoy it!Support the Show! Topics in this short episode include: How are you navigating the return to “normal” activities? Do you get flack […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Our Wellness Reset
Every moment is a fresh beginning. T.S. Eliot With my last CAY post (“Beginning . . . Again”), I began again as a blogger after a summer off for recalibration and for research on an article for this month’s Choral Journal focus issue on mental health. In Breath, Body, and Being: A Yoga-Inspired Choral “Practice,” […]
Chris Opens the Audience Mailbag- Listener Feedback!
In this episode, I read some recent reviews from the Apple Podcasts App, as well as some questions that came in through the website. Tune to hear the discussion. “How do I teach score marking?” “I am hearing some colleagues say that students are LESS excited about singing during the pandemic due to masks and […]

