Latest Blog Posts
A 4th of July Virtual National Anthem Sing
Join me on July 4 along with the combined choirs of our US Military singing "The Star-Spangled Banner". Forward this video* to your singing friends, choir members, relatives….anyone that would like to sing along with our US national choral treasures, the Navy Sea Chanters, Army Chorus, Army Soldiers' Chorus, Air Force Singing Sergeants, and Washington […]
Celebrating Winter
It hit 104 in Alabama yesterday and I know it was hotter in other parts of the United States. So let’s think about something else – winter! A little Debussy to brighten our Sunday:
Planning for the Fall: Choral Composer anniversaries in 2012 and 2013
I'm getting ready to start the planning process again for my 2012-2013 literature. Most of you are probably ahead of me! I am looking at the composer anniversaries in 2012 to help guide my selection of literature for the fall. I consulted this list of the Top 5 Composer anniversaries in 2012 and […]
CJ Replay: Suggestions for the Publishing Industry
(From the Choral Journal article "Brickbats and Bouquets (or An Open Letter to Publishers)," by Maurice King) We congratulate and comment to purchasers, those publishers who DO include the following helpful features in their choral publications: 1. Stapling sheets together. 2. Avoiding loose (single) sheets when at all possible. (We have before us […]
Saturday Respite: Flight
Back in the 1930s, a scientist postulated that the bubblebee somehow defied the laws of aerodynamics. Based on what was known about flight 80 years ago, he was correct. The bumblebee doesn't fly like airplane, however, rather like a helicopter (a craft that wasn't understood at that time). Thus it is with this performance. How […]
Stick Time: National Conference Performance
It’s still nine months away, but SOME of us are already eagerly anticipating the next ACDA National Conference (Dallas Texas, March 13-16, 2013). Send your supervisor a note TODAY letting them know you’ll be in the Lone Star State that week. In the meantime, here’s a little taste from our last National Conference.
Stick Time: Divisional Performance
Here is a selection from the recent ACDA Central Division Conference.
CJ Replay: Expressive Singing
(From the Choral Journal article, "Expressive Resources of the Chorus," by Jack M. Jarrett) If the art of choral singing is to develop eventually to the virtuosity state that has been achieved by the modern symphony orchestra, a considerable amount of refinement in expressive techniques must be undertaken by conductors, singers and composers. […]
CJ Replay: Five Rules for Legato Singing
(From the Choral Journal article, “Five Basic Rules for Legato Singing,” by Van Christy) Following is a brief summary of the five basic rules for legato singing. If your choral group is weak on these basic requirements or you have been neglecting any of them, it is suggested that some warm-up time and […]