Latest Blog Posts

The concept of impermanence is one of the foundational principles of Buddhism. The idea of impermanence can be summarized in the statement, “Everything changes, and nothing lasts forever.” Acceptance of this premise may lead one to enlightenment, while denying it is considered one of the primary causes of human suffering. In my academic career, for […]

The August 2022 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “‘There is sweet music here’: The Overlooked Part-song for Mixed Voices in the United Kingdom and United States 1850–1925″ by David Anderson . You can read it in its entirety at acda.org/choraljournal. Following is a portion from the introduction. _________________ In 1881, Charles […]

When it comes to sight-singing, rhythm is the least important skill. Sure, it matters, but not as much as every other skill that is required for sight singing. In fact, rhythm-labeling/performing is last in my Sight Singing Developmental Rubric for a reason. This new blog post explains the first 5 prerequisite skills but focuses specifically on rhythm. I explain how to assess it, AND why […]

True diversity is the varied life experiences and cultural upbringings that lead us to our widely disparate moral “palettes.” As we gather together in classrooms, ensembles, businesses and organizations we talk a good diversity game. But rarely do we attempt to measure these things in our diversity matrix. This episode is a “Choralosophy Book Club” […]

 I am taking a bit of a Choral Ethics break during the summer, and this is a Choral Ethics Blog repeat, taken from Choral Ethics blogs from 2018 through 2019. We will also have a guest blogger a time or two.  I will be working on the fall’s Blogs during the summer, so if you […]

Picture the eager undergrad. Just starting freshman year, a nervous excitement envelops them as they begin their first day of coursework. Ahead of them lies a colorful, four-year list of classes. Courses in conducting, teaching methods, and applied voice top the charts. The path to being a choir director is taking shape! Fast forward several […]

By Dr. William O. Baker In preparation for recent performances of Beethoven works, I read Jan Swafford’s magnificent biography of the composer: Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph.  If you enjoy reading about our musical heroes, I commend this book to you.  I also highly recommend Swafford’s earlier biography of Brahms. In Beethoven’s “middle period,” the composer […]

The October 2021 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “Breath, Body, and Being: A Yoga-Inspired Choral ‘Practice’” by Ramona Wis. You can read it in its entirety at acda.org/choraljournal. Following is a portion from the article. _________________ Don’t you know yet? It is your light that lights the world. —Rumi The triad of […]

When it comes to sight-singing, the ability to label notes on a staff is a skill that is often overlooked! In fact, note-labeling is one of six skills in total that singers need in order to be successful at sight-singing. This new blog post explains the other 5 but focuses specifically on note-labeling. Until your singers can labels their […]

Classrooms have become ground zero for the problem of political polarization. What is being taught, who is teaching it, how it’s being taught, how it is funded, etc. Are we teaching Critical Race Theory, or are we not? Should we be? These and many questions have become a toxic political football. The problem of this […]