Latest Blog Posts
“Five from the Folder: Mixed Voices” by Craig Zamer
FIVE FROM THE FOLDER: MIXED VOICES by Craig Zamer 1. “Komm, Jesu Komm.” J.S. Bach. BWV 229 cpdl #04012 Funeral Motet for double SATB choir. Can be performed a cappella, with colla parte instruments, or just continuo. Concludes with a four part chorale. 2. “Il Carnevale di Venezia.” Giacochino Rossini. cpdl #24368 Lively […]
Composition Spotlight: “They That Sow in Tears”
COMPOSITION SPOTLIGHT ~ by Jack Senzig (Each week we look at one or two of the best choral works posted in the Composition Showcase here on ChoralNet. This is where we store a treasure trove of works that your choirs will love to sing and your audiences will love to hear.) They that sow in tears by […]
GUEST BLOG: “My Summer with ACDA: a Treasure Revealed,” by Lucas B. Ensign
MY SUMMER WITH ACDA: A TREASURE REVEALED, by Lucas B. Ensign As I was walking to the vending machine at the University of Wisconsin Platteville before my Choral Literature course, I was stopped by Dr. Bob Demaree about a potential great opportunity. He said something to the effect of “How would you like […]
Stick Time: Defying Expectations
Watching choirs succeed is just a bucket-full of fun! That’s why attending an ACDA conference is such a joy. We have the chance to not simply hear wonderful concerts but to celebrate the months (or years!) of incredible effort that landed a choir on that distinguished stage. These choirs didn’t buy their way into […]
Books worth your time I
Welcome back, everyone! The new year is beginning for most of us, whether school, church, community, or professional choir, and it's time for auditions (for some!) and getting ready for first rehearsals. It's an exciting time! I'll begin the year with a series on books I think are worthwhile. Not all will be for […]
Speaking of Voice: “Breathing in the Warm-up,” by by Bonnie Borshay Sneed
(This vocal pedagogy commentary is excerpted from the Choral Journal article, “Teaching Good Breath Technique: It Starts in the Warmup,” by Bonnie Borshay Sneed. Share YOUR vocal expertise by writing a future installment of “Speaking of Voice.” Contact Scott Dorsey, .) Choral directors regularly endeavor to find efficient ways to teach voice in the […]
Speaking of Voice: “Using the Hum,” by Margaret H. Daniel
(Excerpted from the Choral Journal article, “Using the Hum and the Trill in Vocal and Choral Development,” by Margaret H. Daniel.) Whether working with voice students individually, in a small class, or in a large choral setting, voice teachers and choir directors are challenged to find creative techniques to release the vocal potential […]
Speaking of Voice: “The Changing Voice” by Kenneth H. Phillips
(Excerpted from the Choral Journal article, “The Changing Voice: An Albatross?” by Kenneth H. Phillips) Healthy vocal production in the junior high and middle school years requires a good understanding of how vocal registers impact on vocal range. Girls who sing only the alto part often develop a one-register quality-chest voice. Some girls […]
Welcome Back
The new year is fast approaching for many of us. Those of you at the collegiate level on trimester, who don’t start until the end of September (SZ!), well I’m just not talking to you (besides, you didn’t finish until like, two weeks before the Fourth of July). So for the rest of you, I […]
There’s No Code to Crack: Increasing Your ACDA Involvement
Recently, a colleague wrote indicating that he “had an itch” to have a greater involvement within the profession. He was curious about how one finds their way into an area of professional responsibility and service within ACDA. It’s not an unreasonable query. Spend even just a short while reading the Choral Journal […]