Latest Blog Posts

Going Beyond Words Show 2028 – Master Creations of Choral Greatness On this week’s broadcast of “Going Beyond Words” we will answer musically what choral greatness really is by listening to music by some of the most talented composers of history. Consider adding this to your explore list. For a look at the CD’s used […]

Rather than asking “what is creativity?”, Eric Weiner asks the question“where is creativity?” as he seeks the underlying conditions, often unexpected, that make a golden age shine. In a word, in his book Geography of Genius, he explores the question of whether a specific area or region can be an incubator for a culture of […]

The March 2015 issue of Choral Journal features a cover article written by coauthors David Rayl and Zebulon Highben titled “Masters in Miniature: Repertoire by Great Composers for Smaller Choirs.” In this article, the authors suggest that “almost every great composer has written at least one piece that is achievable by choirs with fewer singers […]

“Why won’t my middle school choir sing?” I saw the above comment a while back on a Facebook Music Group, and it reminded me of my early years of teaching this very unique age group. It’s frustrating, and I believe it’s quite commonly experienced in middle school choral classrooms across America. You ask yourself, “Why […]

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE! JOIN CHOIR NATION ON FACEBOOK Show Notes Traveling with your ensemble can be a mix of exciting and nail-biting. For me, it’s always been something to look forward to but I’ve known others who simply dread the idea of going on an extended trip with their ensemble. Currently, I work […]

“Comedy is not funny. Comedy is hard work and timing and lots and lots of rehearsals.” Larry Hagman It’s now been over a week since our spring concert. It was a lovely performance, for the most part, but some things happened during this concert cycle no one could have predicted. After losing a bass and […]

Going Beyond Words w/ Stan Schmidt Show 1902 – A Mendelssohn Surprise This week on “Going Beyond Words” you will hear a Mendelssohn Surprise. An unaccompanied mass for two four part choirs but Felix was now the composer. You need to hear this magnificent composition. For a look at the CD’s used and a complete […]

I think of innovation as adding poetry to life. To be POETIC requires the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm. This is what I call innovation in life. In the case of innovation, that distinctive style of living and working “poetically” means doing things differently. Using POETIC as […]

The March 2016 issue of Choral Journal was a Focus on Children and Community Youth, guest edited by Robyn Lana. This issue contains the following feature articles and is available to ACDA members to read and download here. On Our Way: Programming a Martin Luther King Jr. Concert for Youth Choir by Anthony Trecek-King There […]

   “Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.” Victor Hugo I am taking the week off (and wrote this several weeks ahead of the actual Blog posting). My concert was last Sunday, and I have […]