Latest Blog Posts

The newest issue of Choral Journal is available online. 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 in […]

In this episode, I read some recent reviews from the Apple Podcasts App, as well as some questions that came in through the website. Tune to hear the discussion. “How do I teach score marking?” “I am hearing some colleagues say that students are LESS excited about singing during the pandemic due to masks and […]

“No man can taste the fruits of autumn while he is delighting his scent with the flowers of spring.” Samuel Johnson Today we’ve made it through our second Pandemic September—-YIPPEE! Things are both better and worse than they were last September, depending on how you look at it. But we’ve made it through, which is […]

By Karen Bruno What is advocacy? Advocacy is an opportunity to share with other people, many of whom are decisionmakers in some way, why choral music matters—to us, to our singers, and to the world. Advocacy should not be a term that frightens us. It should be a term that inspires us to explain to […]

Now that we are well into the program year, my guess is that many of you might be thinking ahead to events in December. Before the pandemic, many of us may have hosted a concert or special worship service celebrating the Advent and Christmas seasons where we crammed singers into the Chancel or onto a […]

The October 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 introduction. _________________ I recently found a paper on motivation that I wrote as an undergrad in a Psychology of Coaching […]

I believe all students can learn to successfully sight-sing. The more ownership they take in honing this skill, the better they will become. The better they read, the quicker your choir reads….and the more effective your rehearsals become. This is why sight-singing homework is so important. This blog post explains exactly how I assign, grade, AND motivate the students […]

That’s it. That’s the Blog. (More thoughts on the Podcast Feed) Just kidding. There’s more. On the Choralosophy Podcast over the last several years, I have presented my thoughts on choral music curriculum in several episodes. From grading policies, to literacy instruction, as well a the philosophy of grading on growth rather than arbitrary standards […]

“I trust in nature for the stable laws of beauty and utility. Spring shall plant and autumn garner to the end of time.” Robert Browning  I was finally able to see my dear friend, Denise, * in person a few weeks ago. I’ve written about her before but can’t remember what I’ve used as her […]

This was a remarkably invigorating, inspiring, and humbling conversation with Dr. Ahmed Anzaldúa, Founder and Artistic Director of Border CrosSing, and Director of Music Ministries at Unity Church in St. Paul, a congregation with a robust music program including four adult choirs, children’s choir, and an annual musical.   In the initial months of COVID, […]