I am writing this post one year to the day since my last in-person, (unmasked) full choir rehearsal. I am not quite sure how I feel. Sort of unsettled and wondering why, I guess. We are receiving vaccines, seeing more re-openings, and taking steps toward the resumption of “normal” life. I so look forward to seeing my (also […]
Wellness
The Conductor as Yogi: Bank Accounts
In my last post, we talked about the importance of Buffer Time—those moments of space in our day that help us transition from one event to the next so we can have a clear mind and energized presence. Today’s post is related to Buffer Time: what we can think of as Bank Accounts. We are all […]
The Conductor as Yogi: It’s Buffer Time
Ramona M. Wis A few years ago, I became aware of how energy-draining it was to move directly from one rehearsal to the next, with the short in-between time filled with “quick” questions from students (they never are), “emergencies” of colleagues (they never are), and singers filing in as I am re-arranging chairs and figuring […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Teaching for Awareness
Ramona M. Wis Cloudiness on Groundhog Day is a good thing because, legend has it, this means the groundhog will not see its shadow and Voila! No more winter! We might be rooting for clouds today, but cloudiness of a different kind—lack of clarity or understanding—can obscure our best work. How frustrating to not be able to “see,” in any […]
The Conductor as Yogi: Healing
Ramona M. Wis I have become even more aware of the power of words, including the words of the pieces we study and prepare with our choirs. This past fall, we chose pieces that helped us to process the issues and challenges of our current world. The words of Kyle Pederson’s powerful work, “Can We Sing the […]
The Conductor as Yogi: The Eyes Have It
I received a new webcam from Santa this year (thanks, Santa!). My previous model worked fine but this one tracks my movements so whether I sit, stand, or go to my yoga mat, I can be seen fully by my students. Pretty cool, and certainly less distracting than constantly adjusting tech during rehearsal. But one thing a […]