Latest Blog Posts
The Performance Practice of African Choral Music with Chukwuebuka Ezeakacha
The quest for diversity in Western art music has led to the influx of ‘Westernized’ African music into the choral canon, albeit tagged as ‘world music’. This approach to the inclusion of diverse repertoire has led to the homogenization of indigenousAfrican folk tunes by non-indigenous composers, thus creating Western-sounding African music. In this episode, we […]
Choral Ethics: Ring Out the Old, Ring In the New…….
“Ring out the false, ring in the true.” Alfred Lord Tennyson This Holiday Season, I’ve rerun several Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Today will be the last of the reruns; all new blogs will begin again next Thursday. ~MLGA Happy New Year, ChoralNetters! It is 2024, can you […]
ChoralEd: The Boy’s Changing Voice, Part 1 – The Voice Change
The boy’s changing voice is challenging to navigate for both teacher and student. In this three-part series, Dr. Terry J. Barham discusses strategies for working with adolescent boys during the voice change process. In Part 1, Dr. Barham discusses the developmental vocal changes that occur during adolescence and encourages open communication with students about their […]
January Choral Journal Preview
The January issue of Choral Journal is available online. This issue is a preview of the 2024 six region conferences. 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 […]
2023 Year End Special: What The Heck is Going on With Choir People?
Over the last few weeks I have noticed a storm after the calm in choral music circles. We saw a boil over in Texas when a clinician withdrew from a conference based on a letter from two members that made her feel unwelcome, and a downstream fallout stemming from how the organization handled the issue. […]
Choral Ethics: Let There Be Peace on Earth
“This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” Leonard Bernstein For the month of December, I’m rerunning some Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Today’s is THE MOST REQUESTED December Blog or ANY Blog. It is especially appropriate […]
The Conductor as Yogi: No More “Less Than”
Sometimes, I divide our large mixed choir into separate treble and bass ensembles to give them a different experience singing SSAA or TTBB repertoire. Great for programming and for variety in rehearsal, and for listening in a different way for blend and balance and color. When I resumed this practice a couple of years ago […]
Fostering Belonging in Choral Contexts
The November/December 2023 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “Fostering Belonging in Choral Contexts” by Elizabeth Cassidy Parker. Following is a portion from the article. _________________ Belonging has made an impactful resurgence in schools, universities, community music spaces, national organizations, and corporate America.1 As amplified by “A Place of Belonging,” ACDA’s 2023 National […]
Choral Ethics: Christmastime Is Here
“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” Winston Churchill I’m rerunning some Choral Ethics blogs from years past with a few modifications where needed. Two of my MOST REQUESTED December Blogs will also be making their yearly appearances. In a few days, it will be Christmas Eve. Your plans have been […]
Advocacy & Collaboration Committee Monthly Blog: Burnout – tricks and tips (and research)
Featuring Dr. Peter Steenblik When you read the word “burnout” what comes to mind? Is it a feeling? A time of year? Is someone you know experiencing it, maybe even you? We’ve been hearing from folks that the season and the schedule are ramping up to pre-pandemic standards (and beyond) and the burn is starting […]