Latest Blog Posts
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Take a Chance
“Necessity is the mother of taking chances.” Mark Twain August is winding down; September is almost here and summer is over. During most of August, we here at Choral Potpourri Blog have tried to get you thinking of ways to hit the ground running this fall. Today, the last Thursday of the month, we’d like […]
Women of Valor: Jewish Oratorio About Women of the Old Testament
On this broadcast of Going Beyond Words and ACDA Radio, host Stan Schmidt invites you to be part of a very special edition. You will hear the oratorio Women of Valor based on important Jewish women of the Old Testament. The composer is Andrea Clearfield. It is scored for two soprano soloists, narrator, and orchestra. […]
CJ Replay: Foundations of Music Literacy
The August 2018 issue of Choral Journal one year ago featured an article from Carol Krueger and Jill Wilson titled “Foundations of Music Literacy: Jerome Bruner’s Contributions to Choral Music Education.” Below is an excerpt of the article, and you can read it in its entirety in the August 2018 issue! Go to acda.org/choraljournal and click “Search Archives.” Choose […]
Ditch your Choir “Rules”, lose the “Consequences”
“Rules” are Rigid “Consequences” are for Criminals What if we ditched the antiquated “Rules” and “Consequences” and adapted a modernized way to establish classroom culture? Choral Clarity Blog presents: Ditch your Choir “Rules” and lose the “Consequences”
Beyond Elijah Rock: The music of non-idiomatically black composers with Dr. Marques Garrett
In this episode Marques and I discuss importance of the music of black composers that do NOT fit into categories of idiomatically black music like Gospel, Jazz and Spirituals. The conversation ranges from the social aspects at play in spreading the word about this music, all the way to what it’s like to be minority […]
Choral Potpourri/Choral Ethics: Changing OUR Behavior
“Nothing so needs reforming as other people’s habits.” Mark Twain During the last two weeks, Choral Potpourri Blog focused on what you need and what you do. Today we’ll be thinking about our behavior inside of rehearsal. It’s easier to be objective when not actively in the midst of rehearsals or the academic year. While […]
The Composer’s Prodigious Pen
This week on Going Beyond Words and ACDA Radio, host Stan Schmidt echoes a show he created in January 26, 2014. The Composer’s Prodigious Pen will help you recall some marvelous choral works by such composers like Heinrich Schütz, Greg Smith, England’s Cecilia McDowall, Stephen Chatman from Canada, Johann Christoph Bach, Pierre Villette of France […]
ChorTeach Preview: Singing Seniors
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 Nicole Aldrich appearing in the Summer 2019 issue._____________________________________ Older adults […]
“BE RESPECTFUL” is STILL A Bad Rehearsal Rule!
10 THINGS THAT TAKE O TALENT, BUT WILL GET YOU 100% RESPECT Being on Time Work Ethic Effort Body Language Energy Attitude Passion Being Coachable Doing Extra Being Prepared This is an awesome list floating around the internet! Do you want your students to Be Respectful? I know I do? I want them to respect each other, and […]
Back to School: Growing the Choral Pie with Beth Philemon
Greetings colleagues and welcome back to school! My hope is to create a conversation culture that is focused on openness, good faith, benefit of the doubt, and a desire to “grow the pie” for our profession and for our singers. More choirs and #morepeoplesinging In this episode, I had a blast chatting with Beth Philemon […]