Latest Blog Posts

“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 […]

“The only thing that could spoil a day was people. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” Ernest Hemingway One of my favorite seasonal celebrations is May Day. Today IS May Day and I hope it is lovely where you are. The history […]

“No person is important enough to make me angry.” Thomas Carlyle I have mentioned a few times in this blog I dislike whiners and tattletales. It’s the result of being the oldest of six children; the quickest way for me to tune out your story is to whine or tattle. I made sure my own […]

“Nothing is a greater impediment to being on good terms with others than being ill at ease with yourself.” Honore de Balzac We are almost finished with another Lenten, Holy Week and Easter season. Church musicians are rounding the corner, heading toward the end of the finish line of their busiest six weeks, exhausted and […]

Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom. Aristotle You may be peaking for a year-end concert or finalizing details for Easter services.  Or perhaps you just finished that massive collaboration that took months of planning.  Exhausted?  No doubt.  Exhilarated? Hopefully.  Still feeling the heat?  Yup.  Now is the best time for some self-study. The […]

“The great leaders are like the best conductors – they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.” Blaine Lee A few weeks ago, I had lunch with an old friend, Jay*, a choir friend of mine. He teaches and directs in the city, so we don’t always have time to actually […]

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 […]