“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” Theodore Roosevelt This is a Choral Ethics Blog post repeat from 2017-2018. I need to slow down during the summer as much as […]
Self Care
Choral Ethics: Cleaning House
“Life is denied by lack of attention, whether it be to cleaning windows or trying to write a masterpiece.” Nadia Boulanger The choral year has ended for most of us. The last concerts happened long ago, grades have been turned in and worship services requiring special music have occurred during the last few weeks. Unless […]
Choral Ethics: Divas I Have Known
“Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.” Aretha Franklin Two ChoralNetters recently have shared their Divas stories with me. I was raised […]
Choral Ethics: Ignore the Dependable at Your Peril
“Professionalism in art has this difficulty: To be professional is to be dependable, to be dependable is to be predictable, and predictability is esthetically boring – an anti-virtue in a field where we hope to be astonished and startled and at some deep level refreshed.” John Updike Maude* began last fall’s concert cycle the way […]
Choral Ethics: Overlooked
“You have a good many little gifts and virtues, but there is no need of parading them, for conceit spoils the finest genius. There is not much danger that real talent or goodness will be overlooked long, and the great charm of all power is modesty.” Louisa May Alcott Gwen*, we can all agree, is […]
Choral Ethics: Taking Stock and Making Resolutions
“It is always during a passing state of mind that we make lasting resolutions.” Marcel Proust Last week, I blogged about trying to remain calm as the end of the semester/choir year approached. This week, in the midst of all your busyness, I suggest you do some work in preparation for NEXT year. Have a […]