Latest Blog Posts
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Autism Awareness Month
“Autism is part of who I am.” Temple Grandin This was written and scheduled before COVID-19 changed our world. Please enjoy and hope we all are soon back to normal soon! “Mrs. Amenta, we have to be kind to those poor parents. They have children with autism and have no hope.” For some reason, Dr. […]
Leading Voices: Distance Learning and the Experiential Learning Cycle
Below is an assignment I posted on Google Classroom for my 9-12 Concert Choir last week: “Good morning, Folks! For our next concert, each choir will learn a song on their own. The catch is, we will not rehearse the song as a choir. The first time we will sing the song together will be […]
Off The Podium: Good News! A Tresona Update
This post is a brief update on Tresona Multimedia, LLC v. Burbank High School Vocal Music Association, a copyright infringement litigation suit. Chances are good if you are a show choir director you know about this one. If you write arrangements of music that is not in the public domain, you need to know about […]
End-of-the-Year Activities in the Music Classroom
ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly publication for choral conductors and teachers at all levels. It is published online, and each issue contains four practical articles. If you are not already a member of ACDA, you can join and receive access to ChorTeach online. Below is an excerpt from an article written by Andrew Bruhn in the Spring 2017 issue._____________________________________ You have […]
Choosing the RIGHT Distance Learning Option!
This is a time like no other. Most of our schools are closed indefinitely as we are grieving the loss of our choral year. Now we are left finding a brand new way to do our job while living our personal life in crisis/survival mode. How do we navigate this ever-changing world, living with instability […]
It’s Ok to Suck at Being an Online Choir Teacher
Just a short note of encouragement to those of you colleagues putting a lot of pressure on yourself right now. Stop it! Do your best, but stop it. 🙂
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Appearing to Get Along
“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.” Francis of Assisi This was written and scheduled before COVID-19 changed our world. Please enjoy and hope we all are soon back to normal! If you’ve been reading my Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics blogs for any length […]
Leading Voices: Tune to your Trios
“There is no feeling in a human heart which exists in that heart alone – which is not, in some form or degree, in every heart”. George MacDonald I first heard ” Tune to your Trios” during an Onondaga County Music Educators Association (OCMEA) High School Music Festival many years ago. The guest director asked […]
Off The Podium: BWV 106 “Actus Tragicus”
During the eleven-day period from March 21 – 31 it has been my practice for many years to spend some time each day reflecting on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, as I have written about here. Our friend Sebastian was born this time of year in 1685 – on March 21 or March 31, […]
CJ Replay: Igniting Senior Voices in Multigenerational Choirs
The February 2017 issue of Choral Journal features an article titled “Passing the Torch: Igniting Senior Voices in Multigenerational Choirs” by Victoria Meredith. You can read it in its entirety online at acda.org/choraljournal. Click “Search Archives” and choose February 2017 from the dropdown menu._____________________________ A multigenerational choir provides an opportunity for singers of all ages to learn with, […]