Latest Blog Posts

“Whoever degrades another degrades me, and whatever is done or said returns at last to me.”Walt Whitman This will be my last blog on uncomfortable subjects for a while. Over the summer, I had many ChoralNetters contact me about “Choral-Conductors-Behaving-Badly” and thought to address those emails first thing this fall. I had plenty of the […]

“Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” Mark Twain Many of my ChoralNetter correspondents have Choral Ethics queries I know they KNOW the answer to. I wrote a blog a few years ago about knowing what the right thing to do is but being unsure–or uncomfortable–actually doing it. Folks […]

“Five guys on the court working together can achieve more than five talented individuals who come and go as individuals.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar I have lived in the South Suburbs of Chicago for over thirty years. We are a scrappy bunch and should not be counted out in any circumstance. Recently, our scrappiness and ability to […]

It doesn’t matter how long I have taught.  How many fall semesters I have started as a conductor, teacher, leader, administrator.  Human.  There is always a mix of excitement, curiosity, trepidation, and exhaustion, even before we begin.  Welcome to our life. It was Monday morning, the first day of fall classes.  I had been preparing in some sense for […]

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” George Eliot Happy anniversary to US! It is hard to believe, but I have been writing the Choral Ethics blog every week since the Fall of 2015 when Scott Dorsey […]

In choral music, honor choir auditions are a common feature. However, students often prepare for these auditions by rehearsing extensively with others or utilizing a recorded track that features their part being sung or played. While these musical aids are beneficial in helping the student learn their part, overreliance on these resources can lead to […]

“Let me give you a definition of ethics: It is good to maintain and further life, it is bad to damage and destroy life.” Albert Schweitzer I am re-running four Choral Ethics Blogs which I feel are topical and important for the month of August. I am taking a bit of a break but will […]

“The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.” Edmund Burke I am re-running four Choral Ethics Blogs which I feel are topical and important for the month of August. I am taking a bit of a break but will be back in September with new blogs. MLGA WARNING: Could be a trigger for some. […]

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 […]

“An Englishman thinks he is moral when he is only uncomfortable.” George Bernard Shaw I am re-running four Choral Ethics Blogs which I feel are topical and important for the month of August. I am taking a bit of a break but will be back in September with new blogs. MLGA WARNING: Could be a […]