Latest Blog Posts
Stuff Conductors say
And they do! I’ve heard a lot of these. (Sorry, I didn’t title this video.) For the embedded-impaired: http://youtu.be/DF5gTF0oZ_E
Choices in a Choral Rehearsal
Every music teacher must answer the questions: what should be taught? how should something be taught? to whom should something be taught? and why should something be taught? When responding to these questions, individualized assessment can play a key role in determining the answers. What? Every choral teacher must decide what musical skills are […]
Checklist for Commissioning a New Work
CHECKLIST FOR COMMISSIONING NEW CHORAL MUSIC by Kirke Mechem The process of commissioning a new choral work is an exciting time for a choir and its conductor. The opportunity to explore a new work produced specifically for a particular event or a specific choir creates a sense of being a part of history, […]
Miracle–Community Becomes Art
Turning a community into an art form is for me, a miracle. This miracle is taking place throughout the world, every day. In New York City, a community of lawyers, judges, and clerks, under the direction of miracle-worker Kathryn Schneider, formed the City Bar Chorus. And not to be outdone, in Northern Ireland the […]
Developing Musicianship in the Digital Age
We can use technology to develop artistry, engage the imagination of singers, enhance the process of music making, and help our singers to become independent musicians (these were the focal points of the “Beyond the Notes” conference). Music education – and choral music education – has the opportunity to seamlessly and painlessly adapt current instructional […]
Brilliance of Forrest and Allred
Dan Forrest and Brady Allred and the Salt Lake Vocal Artists show us how it is done: A fabulous work of beauty and passion, Dan. Brilliant interpretation and musicianship, Brady. Choir – you are remarkable and worthy of the highest praise.
Bulgarian Choral Music
(From the interest session, "Exploration of Bulgarian Culture Through Choral Music." by Madlen Batchvarova. Presented during the 2012 Central Division Conference) When we talk about Bulgaria, we must know that in this small country, located on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe, live brave, intelligent and spiritual people who have had a long […]