Latest Blog Posts

Depending on where you live, your 2023 – 24 program year/school year may have started already. Or perhaps you’re still preparing for rehearsals to restart. Here in Iowa City, schools will start in late August and ensembles will resume rehearsals after Labor Day. Planning worship services, choosing repertoire, and recruiting for ensembles are in full […]

The August 2023 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “Hidden Treasures from the Classical Era: Three Idiomatic and Accessible Settings of the Mass” by Paul von Kampen. Following is a portion from the article. _________________ How fortunate we are to live in an age where the world of choral literature seemingly continues to […]

Could it be that the new era of “the choral entrepreneur” is what we need to save Choral Music? After the pandemic, we have seen a resurgence of enthusiasm for Choral Music amongst the already initiated. But, program enrollments are down, concert attendance is down, positions have been cut, and conference attendance has not recovered. […]

 I believe in rules. Sure I do. If there weren’t any rules, how could you break them?” Leo Durocher 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, […]

In ChoralEd Episode 23, Jo Ann Antinone discusses the fixed-do sight-reading method.  The fixed-do approach is occasionally viewed by choral directors as intimidating and complex, but through sequential instruction, this method becomes very accessible to students.  According to Mrs. Antinone, the fixed-do instructional sequence should begin with the key of “F” for treble voices and […]

The August 2023 issue of Choral Journal is available online. This issue includes several articles on the topic of women in choral conducting 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 […]

Choralosophers Livestream on Burnout, Literacy Instruction and the Moral Injury of Educators This week’s episode is a fast paced conversation between myself and members of the “Choralosophers” Facebook page. Choralosophers is one of the most drama free choir director’s groups on the internet, and the desire of the members there to have interesting, and thoughtful […]

“Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.” George Carlin 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 June/July 2023 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “Vocal Technique and the Choral Warmup: First Steps” by Sean McCarther. Following is a portion from the article. _________________ Over the past few years, I have served as the applied voice instructor to several graduate choral conducting majors. Hoping to bridge the gap between their […]

This week, I am highlighting three conversations about the way our choral ecosystems, and by proximity, the education and performing arts ecosystems interact with the political landscape of our time. For many who have followed this show over the last 4 and a half years, you might notice that this mission is also the mission […]