Latest Blog Posts

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 […]

In baseball, it’s, “Build it and they will come.”  Maybe in the performing arts we should say, “Play it and they will listen.”

I suspect every profession has it's own particular set of nightmares, and certainly the choral profession is no different.  Imagine how this colleague must have felt as the risers collapsed and her entire ensemble hit the ground.  What would you do at that moment? How would you react?  Have you pondered what you as a […]

More creativity from Carosaxone on Christmas Day:       A few days ago I found this wonderful poetic commentary on the Messiah by Mark Doty from Bob Eaton's ACDA Eastern Facebook page.  A few words from it:   "This music demonstrates what it claims: Glory shall be revealed. If art's acceptable evidence, mustn't what lies […]

ChoralNet user Johua Bronfman notified me of this – so scary:     Full story here.  I’m glad no one was hurt seriously.