Latest Blog Posts

By Guest Contributor: Dr. Meredith Bowen Week 7: Friday, May 4, 2018 “Alma Redemptoris Mater” by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, ed. Meredith Y. Bowen Text: Marian Antiphon SA and continuo 17th-Century Italian convents were hotbeds of musical activity, housing internationally renowned composers, singers, and choruses. One of the thirteen known composers of early modern music, Chiara […]

“No person is important enough to make me angry.” Thomas Carlyle I have mentioned a few times in this blog I dislike whiners and tattletales. It’s the result of being the oldest of six children; the quickest way for me to tune out your story is to whine or tattle. I made sure my own […]

This week on Going Beyond Words, Host Stan Schmidt brings to ACDA Radio and ChoralNet, an exciting hour of choral greatness from Austria, England and South America featuring a very special Misa a Buenos Aires.   Performing groups are the Rias Kammerchor and Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin;   Then The Gesualdo Six directed by Owain Park, […]

The NEW Choir Election Ballot Before you choose your officers, check out this blog post and download the free voting ballot that I’ve provided! (fully editable) A better ballot will result in better officers! Introducing: The NEW Choir Election Ballot Introducing: The NEW Choir Election Ballot    

The May 2015 issue of Choral Journal contains an article from Hilary Apfelstadt titled “Taking Our Rehearsal Temperature.” Choral conductors and music educators always seem to be looking for more articles on rehearsal. In this article, the author provides a rubric for learning music with notation, although these tips can apply generally to any type of choral […]

Week 6: Friday, April 27, 2018 “Riu Riu Chiu” arr. Erica Phare-Bergh Traditional Spanish Christmas Carol, 16th century villancico SA, recorder, hand drum I know it is only April, but I’m jumping ahead to Christmas/holiday music for a week. This arrangement by Erica Phare-Bergh is a wonderful, accessible two-part addition to your holiday catalog. It […]

“The great leaders are like the best conductors – they reach beyond the notes to reach the magic in the players.” Blaine Lee A few weeks ago, I had lunch with an old friend, Jay*, who is a choir friend of mine. He teaches and directs in the city, so we don’t always have time […]

This week on Going Beyond Words, Host Stan Schmidt brings to ACDA Radio and ChoralNet, a bundle of womens voices from all over the globe;  from Slovenia to Norway, Iceland to Omaha Nebraska, & Stellenberg South Africa to England; plus sounds from two young female ensembles recorded live National at ACDA Conventions of 2013 in […]

Do you have lazy officers? Do your officers exhibit poor judgment? Are they just downright ineffective and unproductive? Would you like to have more productive, reliable, dedicated, and supportive officers who allow you to focus more on your teaching? If this is the time to choose choir officers for next year, MAKE SURE YOU READ THIS POST […]

The current issue of Choral Journal contains an article from Kyle Hanson titled “A Rehearsal Refresher.” I often hear from choral conductors and music educators that sometimes it feels as though they never have enough rehearsal time. In this article, the author provides “rehearsal refreshers” for reigniting our sense of purpose, joy, and beauty in […]