by Developing Voices contributing author Jennifer Berroth ~ You’re a month into teaching your choir students. You have established your classroom routine and are in the thick of learning concert music. You are encouraged by their progress, but you sense that your students are about to hit a late-September wall. So how do you keep […]
Others
Fall Tune-up, by Dr. Michael Murphy
The job of a choral music educator, while rewarding, is a complex one. Sometimes it seems that managing the choral music program has very little to do with music making and more to do with paperwork, parents, and politics. For many, time actually spent practicing the artistry of conducting represents a small percentage comparatively to […]
Professionalism, by William Baker
On the day I turned 40 years old I was a professional church music director. I held an advanced degree from a state school with an average music department, and I had 23 years of experience. My salary and goodies package approached $100,000 a year. On the day I turned 50 years old, I held […]
Sister Choruses ~ A Chinese / American Choral Exchange
See these sister youth choruses in China and the USA sing for each other in a live Skype choral exchange.
One from the Folder: Weekly Repertoire Thoughts for Women’s/Treble Choirs
Week 23: Friday, August 24, 2018 “Hidden Memories (Déjà Vu)” by Gordon Thornett Text by Linda Marcus SSA, a cappella Sweet, simple, innocent. Gordon Thornett’s setting of Linda Marcus’ text is all those and more. Based entirely on the pentatonic scale, the musical motifs are reminiscent of childhood songs and melodies, while the poetry recalls […]
Five Steps to Making Every Rehearsal Count
This article is submitted by Dr. William O. Baker, Special Contributor to DevelopingVoices.blog. The five steps to making every rehearsal count is designed to help create the mindset that each rehearsal is a special occasion, one that can be likened to a greatly anticipated dinner party. I don’t think this concept is a stretch at […]