Latest Blog Posts

THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’, by Sundra Flansburg   Our ACDA student members have been on my mind of late.   That’s partly because we saw tremendous success with student members during our fall membership drive, when states added almost 1,000 new student members in two months. It is also because of all of our […]

NEW TEACHERS: I LOVE TO HEAR YOU SING, by Emily Hackethorn          Have you read the “Six Words You Should Say,” circling around with parents and educators on social media?  It started with this article.  The gist: the most important words you can say to your child aren’t, “good job” or “I am proud […]

WHO ARE YOUR FEET? by Lucy Hudson Stembridge          We’ve all heard of the statue of gold, who had the feet of clay. It’s supposed to be a heroic figure that we admire, perhaps emulate, but are disappointed in, after finding a serious flaw. No, I’m not about to chastise us for flaws! Almost […]

In an earlier post I mentioned getting experience as a conductor. This is one of the big challenges for a young conductor and I’m a believer in making your own opportunities.   The first and best option for most young conductors (even undergraduates) is to find a position as church choir conductor (I've known other […]

We lost another of influential member of the Swedish Choral Miracle at the end of last year. Lars Edlund, who wrote some phenominal choral music, including his Gloria, one of my all time favorites, passed away in December. I can’t find a recording of the Gloria online to share, but it was recorded by Eric Ericson on the […]

(commons.wikimedia.org)   When setting up for the concert, we are often faced with trying to set up microphones and a sound system as well as the risers or stage. You flip the switch on the board, and either the high squeal or low rumble of feedback fills the room. What is wrong? Often, whether due […]

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.)   O Danny Boy arr. […]

Conducting.  It’s nothing more than down-left-right-up, telling singers which notes they missed, and preening on stage, right?   Wrong.  Oh, so very wrong.  When done correctly, the successful choral conductor melds musicianship, leadership, artistry, and a special intangible something that inspires singers to follow their conductor into the heart of musical and poetic vulnerably.  In […]

One of the more recognizable pop voices of the late 20th century, Michael McDonald is a participant in this soulful R&B version of "Row-Row-Row Your Boat."