Latest Blog Posts

Question: You had not heard of the late African-American composer Florence Price until you read a New Yorker article about her in February 2018. As Alex Ross, the author, wrote: “She is widely cited as one of the first African-American classical composers to win national attention, and she was unquestionably the first black woman to […]

“Autism is part of who I am.” Temple Grandin “Mrs. Amenta, we have to be kind to those poor parents. They have children with autism and have no hope.” For some reason, Dr. Marguerite’s* comment just ticked me off. This was about 18 years ago and I was the president of a local chapter of […]

This week on GBW and ACDA Radio/ChoralNet host Stan Schmidt brings you music called Reflections on Psalms 121,91, &128.  You will hear seven settings of Psalm 121, a Jewish Prayer or Kaddish and interpretations of Psalms 91, 128 and verses from Psalm 34, including musical suggestions from nine different composers and selections from Mendelssohn’s Oratorio […]

The newest issue of Choral Journal is available online. No foolin’! 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 […]

How many students drop choir before they even get to us? They’re currently singing in middle school, yet they  won’t appear in our class the very next year.  or They’re currently singing with the other teacher, but they are choosing to drop instead of joining our choir. Fortunately, there are things we can do to get those lost students back […]

#46: Friday, March 29, 2019
“8 Ways to Look at a Window” by Marjorie Halloran
Text by Francesca Myhrvold
SSAA, a cappella

“8 Ways to Look at a Window” is a collection of 8 miniatures – a set of character pieces by Marjorie Halloran, from poetry by Francesca Myhrvold. The story tells of a girl who gets to choose a new bedroom in their house, instead of sharing with her sister. She picks the smaller bedroom, with less closet space – but it has a window. Each movement tells a different bit of the view from the window.

“You can choose your friends but not your family.” Old Proverb There are times when I feel like Dear Abby or Ask Amy or even Miss Manners. Those ladies get all sorts of questions from folks wondering how they should react or handle a myriad of sticky situations. Many involve family and today’s Choral Ethics […]

This week on GBW and ACDA Radio/ChoralNet host Stan Schmidt brings you music by Robert White 1538-1574; Johann Christoph Bach; Franz Liszt; a classic by Sir Edward Elgar, and the great Robert Shaw recording of the Maurice Duruflé Requiem. The show begins with the well-known chant melody “Christ qui lux es it dies” (Christ Who […]

The April issue of Choral Journal is now available online! The cover article for this issue was written by Joy Hirokawa and titled “Choral Village: An Immersive Experience to Build Cultural Sensitivity and Empathy.” Below is an excerpt of the article, and you can read it in its entirety in the April 2019 issue! Go to acda.org/choraljournal and […]

Are you stressing about your choir enrollment numbers for next year? Are you constantly recruiting because so many students have chosen not to continue? A successful choral program is built upon the retention and continuation and of it’s members. In order for students to continue, we must figure out how to keep them from DROPPING OUT! Find out […]