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“We can hear the silent voice of the spiritual universe within our own hearts.” Ruth St. Denis It’s been a tough week, in several months’ worth of tough weeks. I’m exhausted, heart-sick and worried, and not necessarily in that order. I feel helpless and hopeless and a bit frightened. Today I had planned to write […]

Agile Marked by ready ability to move with quick, easy grace – an agile dancer. Having a quick resourceful and adaptable character – an agile mind. Agile Centered Instruction Identified by flexible and varied instruction – an agile educator. At the beginning of teaching online, I became acutely aware that my students were struggling due […]

This week on Off The Podium we will take a break from our regularly scheduled solfège episode once again. As protests erupt in cities across the country against police violence and inequity, I felt it was best to use this column to share something that may help further understanding, compassion, and hopefully – change. For […]

The newest issue of Choral Journal is available online. Following is a list of the articles you will find in this issue. ACDA members can log in with their username and password to view and download the newest edition. You can also read our electronic version. Below is a preview of the articles you will find in this […]

“The month of May was come, when every lusty heart beginneth to blossom, and to bring forth fruit.” Thomas Malory I had big plans for May 2020, BIG PLANS. On May 1, I was to be singing with my Alumni Chorus (along with the Kiddos in the Conservatory Chorus and Orchestra), performing my favorite large […]

continued from Solfège: Part 3: Teaching Music with Solfège   Solfège: Part 4 Teaching Modes with Solfège   Ecclesiastical (Church) Modes In addition, students in the advanced choirs (both which primarily sang early music) were required to be able to sing the modes on solfège syllables. Ionian Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Aeolian Ionian Mode is […]

The following is a poem submitted by Terry York. Terry is Professor of Christian Ministry and Church Music and George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University. The Choir I Hear The choir I hearIs composed of all the singersI have conducted,All the singers with whom I have sung,All the singers I have ever heard. The […]

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein I’ve been having an ongoing email dialogue with a friend and colleague since we aren’t able to see each other. We email each other once a week or so since our state’s “shelter-in-place” order went into effect in […]

In my last blog, Reimagining and Improving Instruction, I closed with a profound quote by Jerome Bruner in which he challenges our awareness and understanding of instruction and reminds us of our responsibility as educators: “Pedagogy is never innocent. It is a medium that carries its own message.” (Bruner,1997, p.63).  This quote made me stop […]

continued from Solfège: Part 2: The Legacy of Guido d’Arezzo   Solfège: Part 3 Teaching Music with Solfège   This is a simple but somewhat thorough description of the syllables for movable do solfège with la-based minor and how I applied them in my work as a teacher.  I do not claim this method as […]