Latest Blog Posts

Last time I recommended that the young conductor (even while still an undergraduate) gain experience through conducting a church choir. For the conductor who is a bit more advanced (already teaching, for example, or working in a major church position), working with a community choir or similar ensemble can be a valuable addition. The first year […]

It’s been said that being involved in a sport doesn’t build character, it reveals it.  If that’s true, the young women in this excerpt are people of remarkable integrity and humanity.  Let us hope that our students are all such fine examples.  

Finally.  SPRING!  On this spring Saturday, here’s an abridged (and very dated!) verson of Peter and the Wolf, with more than a few artistic liberties.  

In a world where our government turns a blind eye toward the real needs of the people, our infrastructure is crumbling, and megalomaniacal corporate CEOs get rich from the efforts of others, it is starting to appear that all we have to count on is one another.  Here’s a small lesson and some laughter that […]

THE FINE LINE OF ASSIGNING VALUE, by Emily Pearce   We assess our singers. Whether our choirs are community or school-based, we assess our singers performance and effort, make a judgement, and provide feedback.    There is a fine line that exists, and your stance in relation to that line depends on your teaching philosophy […]

Those few who have been invited to perform at an ACDA divisional or national conference occupy a rarified strata of the choral world.  Our association is extremely discerning where the matter of issuing those precious performance slots is concerned.   The journey from application to performance is an arduous one.  The stakes are high, the […]

Had a concert last night, so this post is going up late. (it went well, thanks for asking).   My semi-pro choir rehearses for two weeks prior to a concert and then takes a 3-5 week break before we come back together for the next cycle. As we went through this cycle of rehearsals and performance, […]

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.)   A Widow’s Song (From “How To” […]

Tired of the piles of music that you collect after a reading session? Wish you could remember where to find a particular motet or chant? It sometimes seems like devising a personal system for organizing your scores and octavos is a rite of passage for choral directors, and there are myriad strategies and tools available. […]