Latest Blog Posts

The Overlooked First Step to Building a Successful Choral Program The key to long-term success in a choral program is often overlooked, even by seasoned directors. This crucial first step is essential for sustained success and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a veteran, I encourage you to reflect on […]

Elizabeth Leon is an author and musician from Ashburn, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.msva.org or www.elizabethleon.org _ _ _ In August of 1999, I was the mother of an almost two-year-old daughter and was expecting a baby in December. After two years staying home with a toddler, I was desperate to regain some sense of who I […]

“You hear things about certain people. When you hear someone was mean to a limo driver or a wardrobe lady, or someone was rotten to a fan, somewhere in your brain it gets stuck.” Joan Rivers This is a Choral Ethics Blog post repeat from several years ago. I need to slow down and plotting […]

Prior to introducing new repertoire to an ensemble, choral directors should carefully evaluate their selections for potential vocal challenges as they prepare for the rehearsal process. To identify potential vocal challenges choral directors should look at and sing through each voice part and consider the following questions. Where did I have trouble? Where will my […]

If you caught the last two month’s A&C blogs, you know over the last year that your Advocacy & Collaboration Standing Committee has been curating the most incredible A&C focus issue heading your way this fall (October to be specific)! To get everyone excited and ready for the new content coming, we’ve been highlighting some […]

The June/July 2024 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “A Unique Perspective: Directing Choirs at the Perkins School for the Blind” by Arnold Harris. Following is a portion from the article. _________________ The term “siloed” is often used to reflect the individual, and rather independent, work environment that chorus directors inhabit. It certainly is […]

For all my high school and middle school choir director colleagues kicking off the school year (I’m still a few weeks away myself!), I’ve written this blog to simplify your first day with three key tips. These might seem unconventional compared to what you’ve heard before or what you currently practice, but I’m confident they’ll […]

“Etiquette means behaving yourself a little better than is absolutely essential.” Will Cuppy   This is a Choral Ethics Blog post repeat from several years ago. I need to slow down and plotting out the rest of the summer now seems like a smart idea. I try to be here, one way or another, every […]

The June/July issue of Choral Journal is available online. ACDA members can log in with their username and password to view and download the newest edition. You can also read our electronic version. If you are not already a member of ACDA, join today to start receiving your monthly Choral Journal! Focus Articles Bruckner’s Mass in F Minor: Culmination of […]

You Can Teach INTRINSIC MOTIVATION To Your Students! Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are not the same. If we dangle candy and prizes in front of our students, we are motivating them for extrinsic reasons. But what if we could ignite a spark within our students? What if we taught them to become self-motivated, to set […]