It’s Saturday morning as I write this. A few days until a big concert with guest choirs and a full day of auditions and prospective student visits on the holiday sandwiched in between. My “little world” is busy but in the face of the challenges of the “bigger world,” I take a step back. I […]
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Choral Ethics: Ethics Should Matter
“We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don’t know.” W. H. Auden What does it mean to be an ethical choral conductor/director? Our own Choral Ethics code should be a model of behaviors for how we treat our singers, but shouldn’t it be a […]
The Conductor as Yogi: The Clearing
It wasn’t the first time that I heard powerful words while sitting on a yoga mat. Last week, as a prelude to the practice, my yoga teacher read this poem by Martha Postlewaite, called “The Clearing:” Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense […]
Between the Staves: Choral Questions, Candid Answers
Between the Staves: Choral Questions, Candid Answers, is fresh take on the classic advice column—this time for all things choral music! Modeled after the beloved “Dear Sally” format, this blog will answer your questions about choral music education, performance, and leadership. Whether you’re curious about vocal technique, rehearsal tips, repertoire selection, or the “other” side […]
The Conductor as Yogi: An Encouragement
As I sat down to write this last CAY blog post of the year, I contemplated various topics but kept coming back to an overriding sense that what we all need right now is Encouragement, capital E. At the root of the word “encourage” is the French “coeur” or heart. Encouragement is a way of […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Nuggets of Gratitude
“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.“ Jon Kabat-Zinn It’s easy to think about gratitude when the calendar tells us to. Thanksgiving Day is a traditional time to celebrate gratitude as we gather with others and eat a large meal (and fall asleep afterwards to the lulling sounds of the big football game). […]