Latest Blog Posts

“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 […]

“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 […]

Determining a singer’s voice part is a common task in the life of a choral director. Each semester, new students must be appropriately placed in a section of the ensemble. The key word here being appropriately, as improper placement of a voice can lead to negative vocal outcomes for the student and ensemble. ChoralEd episode […]

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 […]

“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 […]

“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 […]

“With the coming of spring, I am calm again.” Gustav Mahler During the first part of my choral career, I was also a dancer, ballet teacher and choreographer. My ballet background, coupled with understanding and the ability to read complicated scores, made me a natural to choreograph musicals on all levels. I specialized in making […]

“We are what we repeatedly do.” Attributed to Will Durant, on the ideas of Aristotle  It is a bit of a fantasy to think summer will be free from professional responsibilities and busy schedules.  We still have young children, aging parents, summer camps and classes, travel planning, or conducting engagements. But summer is, in many […]

Mom in a production of “Martha,” probably around 1955/1956 “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” William Makepeace Thackeray This Sunday is Mother’s Day in the United States. I am a mother but am also a daughter, missing her mother this year. I think back eleven years ago, […]

In secondary music classrooms, ensemble auditions are often inherently part of a program’s organizational structure. Each year, students audition or re-audition for placement in various ensembles. The assessments utilized for these auditions vary among directors based on the musical elements they consider most important. The following are a few suggested assessments that directors may want […]