“We are in a zone, having let go of the outer world, and now experiencing a feeling of unity.” Nicolai Bachman In the final days before last week’s opening concert of the season, I reminded singers often: “Don’t miss the concert.” No, I wasn’t talking about forgetting to show up—I was making the point that […]
The Choral Life
Choral Ethics: Respect in the Rehearsal Hall
“Fine Manners need the support of fine manners in others.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Fine manners are really not about showing off but showing respect for others. When you are shown respect, you become respectful. My late mother used to tell us, having good manners was not showing off how ‘fancy’ you are but showing respect […]
Choral Ethics: A State of Grace
“The best effort of a fine person is felt after we have left their presence.” Ralph Waldo Emerson The term “choral ethics” has always confused me. Do we as choral conductors and directors have ethics? Do we need ethics? The Presbyterian Association of Musicians, as do other denominations musicians’ organizations, has a code of ethics. […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Intention
“Our intention creates our reality.” Wayne Dyer We sit or get grounded in a comfortable position. We begin to breathe. We acknowledge our busy minds, without judging or criticizing, and let the breath do its magic. Creating space for good with the inhale, letting go of what we no longer need with the exhale. A […]
Choral Ethics: Kindness in the Choir Room
“I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.” Khalil Gibran Why Kindness? Why write about kindness in the music profession? Is it really necessary to be kind? In order to be kind in all things, we must have been […]
Choral Ethics: Monstering
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” Friedrich Nietzsche Earlier this summer, I read a review of a book I thought might be interesting to review here on Choral […]