Latest Blog Posts

I have a simple method to voice my students effectively and quickly. With this approach, you can voice new members in as quickly as 3 minutes or less. In addition to discovering a singer’s range, we must also take into account other factors, such as: their tessitura the needs of the ensemble their personal preference HERE […]

Choir is not my family, we aren’t adjusting choral curriculum sufficiently with the times, we don’t know how to get choirs to sing in tune and we don’t build “real” cultures in our classrooms. Geez! Is this a negative podcast?! Not. At. All. These four conversations do have an element of constructive criticism, but that […]

“No art is less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and the study of the great masters.” Edgar Degas This is a Choral Ethics Blog post repeat from several years ago. I need to slow down and plotting out the rest of the summer now seems like a smart idea. […]

The August 2024 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “Irish Choral Music: Problems and Possibilities” by Kevin Boushel. Following is a portion from the article’s introduction. _________________ Ireland features sparingly in the histories of choral music, and its choral music is not afforded much importance in histories of Irish music. This is […]

Before my first day of teaching high school, the person who hired me gave me some advice. He told me exactly what to do on the first day: “Just do what you did during your demo lesson, and the students will love you!”   Unfortunately, this advice nearly ruined my entire first year and jeopardized […]

“The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves.” William Penn This is a Choral Ethics Blog post repeat from several years ago. I need to slow down and plotting out the rest of the summer now seems like a smart idea. I try to be here, one way or another, every week […]

The August issue of Choral Journal is available online. 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 monthly Choral Journal! ____________ Features Irish Choral Music: Problems and Possibilities by […]

The Overlooked First Step to Building a Successful Choral Program The key to long-term success in a choral program is often overlooked, even by seasoned directors. This crucial first step is essential for sustained success and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a veteran, I encourage you to reflect on […]

Elizabeth Leon is an author and musician from Ashburn, Virginia. For more information, please visit www.msva.org or www.elizabethleon.org _ _ _ In August of 1999, I was the mother of an almost two-year-old daughter and was expecting a baby in December. After two years staying home with a toddler, I was desperate to regain some sense of who I […]

“You hear things about certain people. When you hear someone was mean to a limo driver or a wardrobe lady, or someone was rotten to a fan, somewhere in your brain it gets stuck.” Joan Rivers This is a Choral Ethics Blog post repeat from several years ago. I need to slow down and plotting […]