By Stuart Hunt We recognize that school closures and limited access to students will eventually conclude, and that we will be able to resume the wide range of activities that positively impact the lives of our students. For now, however, along with our regular/altered duties, perhaps we could consider this an “off-season,” just as those […]
Others
The Conductor as Yogi: It’s Buffer Time
Ramona M. Wis A few years ago, I became aware of how energy-draining it was to move directly from one rehearsal to the next, with the short in-between time filled with “quick” questions from students (they never are), “emergencies” of colleagues (they never are), and singers filing in as I am re-arranging chairs and figuring […]
The Impact of ACDA’s Genesis Prize Continues
By Dan Forrest The COVID pandemic has deeply affected composers of choral music. Our normal revenue streams have diminished or dried up, and the collaborative opportunities that normally provide encouragement, affirmation, and inspiration have been put on hold. Our national ACDA Composition Initiatives Committee met in mid-2020 to discuss ways to support choral composers through […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Getting Through Tough Times
“Tough times don’t last, tough people do, remember?” Gregory Peck We’ve made it to February, whoopee! And what a year 2021 has been so far. YIKES! There are days I just try to get through my everyday challenges. And there are other days when I worry for our country and the world and am not […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Teaching for Awareness
Ramona M. Wis Cloudiness on Groundhog Day is a good thing because, legend has it, this means the groundhog will not see its shadow and Voila! No more winter! We might be rooting for clouds today, but cloudiness of a different kind—lack of clarity or understanding—can obscure our best work. How frustrating to not be able to “see,” in any […]
Decision Time
By Hilary Apfelstadt, ACDA Interim Executive Director More Zooming? Do I really want to go to a virtual conference? Should I go to a virtual conference? Those two questions might have different answers: perhaps you think you cannot stand another virtual event of any kind, but should you? That is another matter. ACDA’s live conferences […]