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Why did we enter the choral profession?   We definitely did not earn a music education degree because it was “fun” – first-year theory class weeded out that crew.  Certainly “easy” is not a word any successful choral conductor would use to describe their day.  So, how about that paycheck?  Nope, no one gets rich […]

As ACDA continues to build its forthcoming mobile app, I thought it would be timely to share a recent study from StudyBlue that reveals students with access to smartphones study material for classes approximately 40 minutes more per week than students without access to a smartphone. This figure was tabulated from the combined data of […]

For choral conductors working in an academic setting, the winter break is a lot like halftime of a football game – our body may be in the locker room, but our brain is still on the field (at least it better be if we want to win).  Though we’re enjoying a bit of a breather […]

It’s December 21, four days until Christmas.  The performances are winding down, grades are done, and we are all hungry for a moment of rest during a much-deserved winter break.  Through the haze of fatigue, some among us might be wondering why one would stay in this nutty profession (and I admit to wondering if […]

Choral conductors are always thinking ahead – we don’t have a choice.  While, yes, the holidays are upon us, many a choral colleague is already investing energy in the pending spring musical.  Jacob Narverud, in his article “Preparing High School Musicals – A Beginning,” has a few thought to share in this regard.   “Directing […]

First, Mr. Bean conducts some Christmas carols:         More beauty for the season:      

An amazing number of men, nine hundred strong, singing at the University of Oklahoma’s football stadium.   This picture is from the event last week.  However, here are a few words from the organizers back in 2007:   “The purpose of the whole event is to encourage young men to sing, to show them that other […]

Today let’s look at a preparatory gesture and and an ictus.  In this short example, there is absolutely no doubt HOW colleague wants the entrance to occur; nor can there be the slightest ambiguity about WHERE the attack is supposed to occur.  Appropriately, the sound of the choir is every bit as assertive and muscular […]