Latest Blog Posts
Creating a Positive Culture in your Choir – IV
One of the things that makes a huge difference in how much your choir accomplishes is what I’ll call the “density” of rehearsal. By that, I mean that the ratio of hard, focused work on those things that need it (versus the time that isn’t so productive). There are lot of things that go […]
Scholarly Abstractions: Path of Miracles
Angulo-Pizarro, Ignacio. An analysis of Joby Talbot’s “Path of Miracles.” Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Program Thesis. University of Delaware, 2012. This research provides an in-depth analysis of Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles, a four movement, hour-long work based on the pilgrimage of St. James to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Using aural and visual […]
Composition Spotlight: We Are The Music Makers
COMPOSITION SPOTLIGHT ~ by Jack Senzig (Each week we look at a piece of useful repertoire from the ChoralNet Community Composition Showcase. A variety of voicings and levels of difficulty will be presented. Enjoy!) We Are The Music Makers by Tom Council for SATB piano or brass (click for PDF and audio) Level: High School or higher Uses: General Concert Use Program Themes: The title […]
ChoralTech: Technology is not a Goal
There’s a set of rules that anything that was in the world when you were born is normal and natural. Anything invented between when you were 15 and 35 is new and revolutionary and exciting, and you’ll probably get a career in it. Anything invented after you’re 35 is against the natural order of […]
Stick Time: Vocal Jazz with a Community Choir
In today’s Choral Caffeine column, we briefly discuss an article by Stephanie Austin Leston that discusses some basic concepts to be considered when introducing a community choir to vocal jazz. To help the point along, consider this selection from the 2010 ACDA Central Division Conference. In addition to this chart, the ensemble also performed a […]
Choral Caffeine: Vocal Jazz 101
The hardest part of starting something is just Getting Started. “How do I begin?” is a question we’ve all asked one time or another. Thus it may be for the conductor of a community choir trying to approach vocal jazz. Though one has no data to support this, anecdotally it seems reasonable to assert […]
Creating a Positive Culture in your Choir – III
Last time I discussed Doug Lemov's 100% idea: "There's on acceptable percentage of students following a direction: 100 percent. Less, and your authority is subject to interpretation, situation, and motivation." So, what are his principles for getting to 100%? He says there are three principles to ensure "consistent follow-through and compliance in the […]