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(An excerpt from the interest session, "Yoga for Conductors and Singers," by Steven A. Russell. Presented during the 2013 ACDA National Conference.)          It’s 6:45 AM. Two people get out of the elevator on the 38th floor of the Sheraton in Downtown Dallas. One has a yoga mat rolled up under her arm. The other […]

(An excerpt from the panel session, “Conducting Women’s Choirs: Strategies for Success,” by Lynne Gackle. Presented during the 2013 ACDA National Conference.)   The following concepts are of particular importance for teachers and conductors to understand and employ when working with young female singers:   It is generally accepted that voice change is not complete […]

(An excerpt from the interest session, “The Cambiata Voice, Finding the Shoe that Fits,” by Alan McClung. Presented during the 2013 ACDA National Conference.)          When working with early adolescent male voices, choral music teachers are confronted with two primary musical challenges: The first challenge is identifying the vocal range of each student.  The […]

(An excerpt from the interest session, “Recruitment, Retention, and Repertoire for Two-Year College Choirs,” by Alice Cavanaugh. Presented during the 2013 ACDA National Conference.)   A great way to encourage camaraderie and to simultaneously support students who can’t read music is to create a seating chart that promotes collaborative learning. This is not the seating […]

(An excerpt from the interest session, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?  A New Education- Performing Polyphony: Developing Independence, Style, and Musicianship,” by Jameson Marvin; assisted by the Texas Tech University Concert Choir, Richard Bjella, conductor. Presented during the 2013 ACDA National Conference.)          When choral singers are offered the chance to sing lines […]

(An excerpt from the interest session, "Challenging the Children’s Choir Movement to Inclusionary Excellence" by Sarah Morrison and Carol Woodward Ratzlaff.  Presented during the 2013 National Conference)          Among the special needs community we find many complex and musically gifted young people who wish to sing, and who are willing to rehearse and persevere […]

(An excerpt from the interest session, “The Art of Successful Programming: Study, Selection, and Synthesis,” by Richard Bjella. Presented during the 2013 ACDA National Conference.)          All of us struggle with putting together an effective, efficient, and affective program. Almost always we are left only partially satisfied with the result, the response, the overall […]

First, thanks to Karen Fulmer, Tim Sharp, and the entire team of planners, volunteers and staff who made the convention possible. I thought it was a very strong conference and was so glad the weather cooperated (perfectly!) since one of the downsides of the Arts District is few restaurants and enough distance from hotels that […]

Last week’s 2013 ACDA National Conference may now be a memory, but the shouting is FAR from over.   Throughout this week and next, a number of ChoralNet commentators will give you a taste of the incredible energy that simply engulfed the Dallas Arts District during the ACDA invasion.  Beginning today and continuing every Monday […]

I’m lying in my hotel with the AC blasting. It has been quite a whirlwind past few days. I have seen and heard a lot. Too much to cover in one short blog post. For now, I think I will just give you some of my basic impressions, in no particular order. I love seeing old friends […]