Latest Blog Posts

Sight Reading Factory is a fantastic resource to use at home, especially for online/distance learning. When distance learning becomes necessary, Sight Reading Factory can be super effective. What could be even better than using Sight Reading Factory?  A FREE SIGHT READING FACTORY SUBSCRIPTION! In this blog, I will explain 2 simple, yet effective ways to […]

And other musings about my plans to take choir online. (More to come on this topic!) This is a strange time to be posting about choir in a Podcast right now. Considering that choirs are being sidelined all around the world. Of course, we might be the worst kind of activity right now. Sitting in […]

“Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.” Thomas Aquinas As I write this, the world has gone crazy. We are worried about COVID-19, about cancelling rehearsals, concerts and worship services. We are all frightened and angry and a bit lost. We worry about our loved ones, our own health and our profession. Many of us […]

What Would it Look Like? This was the heading of the activity I distributed to my SATB Concert Choir for the last period of the day, on Friday, March 13th.  Earlier that same day, we found out that due to the COVID-19 outbreak: The District Vocal Concert on Wednesday, 3/18 was postponed, The High School […]

These are uncertain times. The current COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyone’s lives, and we are facing a period of time in which much of what we did regularly – our daily and weekly routines – has been impacted. For choral singers and choral directors, this means the cancelation of classes, rehearsals, performances, services, and the […]

The February 2016 issue of Choral Journal features an article titled “Discovering Voices: Expanding Students’ Musical and Vocal Ideals in an Urban Community Children’s Choir” by Nicole Becker and Jeanne Goffi-Fynn. You can read it in its entirety online at acda.org/choraljournal. Click “Search Archives” and choose February 2016 from the dropdown menu. Below is an excerpt of the […]

Passing the Torch of Representation In this fourth and final installment of the first Choralosophy Miniseries, Dr. Christopher Harris and I discuss the potential influence of representation on the choral profession and the next generation of students. However, the conversations was quite wide ranging allow us to touch on other topics like cultural influences on […]

“It is not enough just to wish well; we must also do well.” Saint Ambrose Like people in all walks of life, I am often stretched thin by requests. From my spouse and children, from my choir and professional colleagues, from community and art organizations I support; I am often overwhelmed. No one thinks twice […]

“The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but seeing with new eyes”. Marcel Proust This past weekend here at Marcellus High School, we presented the musical KISS ME, KATE.  The cast, crew, and pit did an outstanding job – what a challenging book!  As we prepared for the Saturday matinee, the […]

Herring’s Head is a cumulative folksong that I taught to and sung with students of all ages at many schools over the course of my teaching career. It features humorous lyrics that deliver a conservation message about whole animal or “nose to tail” eating (mindful consumption). Herring’s Head‘s call-and-response structure, extroverted attitude, and whimsy made it […]