Latest Blog Posts

“What is a weed? A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Today is the first Thursday of December. In normal times, I’d be reminding you to slow down and relax. Perhaps I’d be clever and suggest you stop and take time to smell the Christmas Cookies. In years past, I’d advise […]

Adapting Instruction and Managing Stress I am growing weary of being told that teaching virtual and hybrid vocal music is only “temporary.”  I emphatically disagree.  The virtual and hybrid vocal music model may be temporary, but its adverse effects on my music students and our program will be felt for years.  In response to the […]

In dulci jubilo is a famous medieval Christmas carol. It is a macaronic carol (i.e. the text is in a mixture of languages): the original text alternates between German and Latin. The words are attributed to the German mystic (and student of Meister Eckhart) Heinrich Seuse (1295 – 1366), and describes his vision of singing angels dancing with him. […]

The latest issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “His Light Still Shines:An Artistic Style for Moses Hogan Spirituals” by Loneka Wilkinson Battiste. You can read it in its entirety online at acda.org/choraljournal. Following is a portion from the introduction ___________________ The popularity of Moses Hogan’s music is likely connected to the ways in […]

Sometimes we need a last minute holiday piece to fill out or balance our program. This year, we may be searching for some piece that we can teach remotely, or scrape together for a last minute virtual choir video. We may have chosen a piece that was too difficult and need a last minute holiday […]

“To stimulate thinking you must ask questions. The instant you give YOUR philosophy, the thinking stops. What you want is for them to think for themselves.” Dr. Eph Ehly It’s difficult to describe the impact that Eph Ehly has had on the choral profession. In fact, it may be impossible to quantify. He has cultivated […]

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” Henry David Thoreau I always try to be grateful. In this very strange season of Thanksgiving for this year, I am still trying to be grateful. Our world is in upheaval but there is one thing I know for certain; there is […]

By Patricia Guth In my last blog, I wrote in detail about choosing a tour company and a destination that are right for the make-up of your non-auditioned choir. To review, things to consider include a company that truly understands your singing organization and plans for them accordingly, as well as a locale that is […]

Ramona M. Wis “By contentment, supreme joy is gained” Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra II.42 Writing about gratitude and contentment as we near Thanksgiving is not particularly original.  Yet, this year, it may be more challenging than ever to be grateful or content when so much of our lives has been upended. At the outset, let me say […]

ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online publication, designed for those who work with singers of all levels. A full annotated ChorTeach index is available online at acda.org/chorteach. Over 160 articles are organized into seventeen categories. For submission information, to view the index, or to read the latest issue, visit acda.org/chorteach. Following is a list of the articles in the Winter 2021 […]