Latest Blog Posts

The August 2022 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an interview with Duncan Tuomi, the winner of the 2021 Raymond W. Brock Memorial Student Composition Competition. You can read it in its entirety at acda.org/choraljournal. Following is a portion from the introduction. _________________ The Brock Competition is operated by ACDA’s Composition Initiatives Committee, and the […]

The process of purchasing choral sheet music is antiquated and in serious need of an overhaul. In fact, if you stop and think about how we order our sheet music, it would appear we are back in 1975. This blog post explains the 7 reasons why ordering most choral sheet music is ridiculous. It then provides […]

A Summer Refresher on Grading and Assessment at Alabama ACDA This episode is in many ways, the live presentation SEQUEL to Episode 21: Everyone Can Get an A. In music Education, we frequently lament cultural attitudes about music not being a “real class.” If we present courses without rigor, academic standards or measurable achievements, we are […]

I am taking a bit of a Choral Ethics break during the summer, and this is a Choral Ethics Blog repeat, taken from Choral Ethics blogs from 2018 through 2019. We will also have a guest blogger a time or two.  I will be working on the fall’s Blogs during the summer, so if you […]

According to Howard Swan in the book Choral Conducting: A Symposium, there are six unique schools of choral singing in America.  Between these six schools, and the personal preferences of choral directors, there are countless differing opinions about choral tone.  Ask any two conductors and you will likely notice differences in their approaches to vibrato, […]

The relationship between a student and teacher has a significant impact on a student’s success in the classroom.  As choral educators, we have a distinct advantage in the development of this relationship as we work with students for multiple years.  Unfortunately, at times, student-teacher relationships have been tainted by the inappropriate actions of educational professionals.  […]

The August 2022 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an overview of publications and resources related to K-12 choral conducting. You can read it in its entirety at acda.org/choraljournal. Following is a summary of this section. _________________ Those who conduct elementary, middle, and high school choirs have a special calling. From trying to start […]

LIVE at Alabama ACDA “Who am I being that my children’s eyes are not shining?” Benjamin Zander This week I had the honor and privilege visiting with ACDA members in Alabama at their state Conference. We must turn the mirror on ourselves to ensure that we are WORTHY to stand in front of our students. […]

“Sunflowers for Ukraine,” Russell Amenta, artist with autism I am taking a bit of a Choral Ethics break during the summer, and today we have a guest blogger.  I will be working on the fall’s Blogs during the summer, so if you have a Choral Ethics dilemma or query or comment, please email me: . […]

By Michael McGlynn I was brought up as a Roman Catholic. My parents endeavoured to give me every opportunity to be exposed to a vast range of music, strongly encouraging our explorations, be they rock or classical music. In school the main exposure to singing was musical drama in the form of Gilbert and Sullivan […]