“To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.” Henry David Thoreau Throughout the month of October, I’d like to revisit some of the staple issues of Choral Ethics. I’ve written a BUNCH about each of these subjects during the […]
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A Practical Guide for Hosting Guest Artists
By Rebecca Lord Although we are unable to sing together freely during this perilous time, opportunities to collaborate virtually around the world are skyrocketing! The world is literally at our fingertips and there are extraordinary experiences to be had making new connections and building bridges across continents and cultures, as well as finding new treasures […]
The Conductor as Yogi: For the Future
By Ramona M. Wis Planting trees early in spring, we make a place for birds to sing in time to come. How do we know? They are singing here now. There is no other guarantee that singing will ever be. ~ Wendell Berry I recently came upon these words of Wendell Berry’s poem, “For the Future,” […]
Off The Podium: Inspiration, Part 2
Continued from Inspiration, Part 1 Breathing Life Into Your Work The heart of the matter is that you can’t inspire your students if you aren’t inspired yourself. It is your responsibility, if you teach music, to find ways to remain inspired by what you do – to continue your own engagement in making music for […]
Beauty from Ashes: Celebrating Choral Victories
By Rebecca Lord As conductors urge each other on during these perilous times, one phrase is repeated time and again: “think outside of the box!” Creative minds are taking on the challenge, and the potential life-and-death consequences of “normal” choral singing have spurred conductors toward innovations that will forever change the face of choral music. […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Between Earth and Sky
By Ramona M. Wis Earth and Sky. Two deeply embedded experiences in our lives, embedded since we took our first breaths. Images, sensibilities, metaphors, and even the gravitational pull of Earth and Sky show up in our everyday life: in our speech, our actions (or lack of action), and our sense of felt wellness, of “being […]