Latest Blog Posts

Is it possible that removing gendered language from our choral rehearsals solves the problem of inclusion? Is it possible that it DOESN’T solve the problem? Is there room for nuance in the conversation? This week, I open up a dialogue with Theo Wren, a freelance musician, multi-instrumentalist, choral singer and Trans Baritone. So far on […]

“…A person can develop ‘la grippe.’” From Adelaide’s Lament It is mid-November in the Midwest and you know what that means. A few leaves still cling to branches after their brethren have made a truly lovely, colorful exit. Birds are gathering on trees and powerlines to migrate en masse as soon as it turns cold […]

The October and November 2015 issue of Choral Journal included a two-part article titled “Ten Keys to Unlocking Artistic Choral Performance” by Frank Eychaner. Following are short excerpts from Keys 1-3. You can read it in its entirety online at acda.org/choraljournal. Click “Search Archives” and choose October 2015 (part 1) or November 2015 (part 2) from the dropdown […]

Are your students off-the-wall on the final rehearsal before Thanksgiving? I LOVE the final rehearsal before Thanksgiving break. In fact, the Pre-Thanksgiving rehearsal is my favorite rehearsal of the entire year. This one rehearsal has tremendous value and leaves a lasting impression on my students.   Here is the latest blog post: The Final Rehearsal Before Thanksgiving: OUR BIG WIN!

I feel like this episode might be PHILOSOPHICALLY the most important episode I have published to date. Eric and I pick up right where I left off in Episode 18 when I claimed that students should lose the net when learning to sight read. The psychological principal at play is Nassim Taleb’s coined term, “Anti-Fragility” […]

“I look back on my life like a good day’s work, it was done and I am satisfied with it.” Grandma Moses Jethro* works hard. He is in a three year graduate program, has a church job as well and is spread thin most of the time. This is his second year in the program […]

By Stuart Hunt Beside accurate counting, looking ahead to “pre-hear” rhythms and pitch (audiating), singing accurately and in-tune is a primary skill for all vocalists. But is it typically taught, or just caught? Our instrumental colleagues have posters that read “Tune it or die !”, which presumably refers to effort, not impending doom.  Think about […]

The December 2019 issue of Choral Journal is now available online! Below is an excerpt of the interview article with the conductors of ACDA’s 2019 legacy directors chorus. You can read it in its entirety online at acda.org/choraljournal. Click “Search Archives” and choose December 2019 from the dropdown menu._____________________________ What do you think are the most striking changes […]

We all know SIGHT-SINGING is important, right? So which online sight-singing program is better: Sight Reading Factory or Smart Music? I use them both!   Besides sharing strengths and weaknesses of each program, I’m going to share EXACTLY how I use each program with my students! Here is: Sight Reading Factory vs  Smart Music? I NEED BOTH!

In this episode, I have the privilege of chatting with Charles Anthony Silvestri, noted lyricist, about the artistic magic that is possible when music and text are fused. He believes that this intersection is what makes our beloved art form special, and I whole heartedly agree. I pick his brain about his process from idea […]