Latest Blog Posts
Choral Caffeine: It’s All About People
Isn’t it delightful when former students “check in” to let you know how they are doing? I simply adore those calls! Recently a colleague-who-used-to-be-a-student (there has to be less cumbersome descriptor) contacted me to share that she had taken a new job as an assistant principal. Bless her heart, she was concerned that I […]
Choral Caffeine: Terrific Teacher Tech Tools
Communicating non-musical information to choir members can be . . . well . . . let’s be nice and just say it’s a challenge. Of course, the responsibility for following instructions and maintaining schedules rests squarely on the shoulders of the individual choir members. But ultimately, it is the director who has to deal […]
Choral Caffeine: Every Year is the First Year
At this moment, our newest colleagues are stepping into their classrooms for the first time. These freshly-credentialed professionals are joining our ranks brimming with ideas, enthusiasm, and energy. But if truth be told, many of these good people are also apprehensive about their new lives. To new colleagues . . . Welcome! We’re glad […]
ACDA’s Wall of Honor
ACDA’s Wall of Honor just went online:
No more men in choir
It seems that choir directors aren't the only ones that can't find enough men to build a program:
Real composers don’t write choral music
Allegra Martin blogged her answer to a question from the Massachusets ACDA convention a few weeks ago: “I don’t remember who it was, but someone raised a hand and made a sad comment about how all the “real composers” (not my words!) were not writing for chorus nowadays.” She has a fantastic two part answer. […]
Tweeting about Choral Music
What people around the world say about choral music on Twitter: "I adore choral music and I don't care who knows it." "I wish I could live in a world of ONLY good (choral) music." "I dunno what most teenagers blast when they're upset but […]
Voices in Harmony Choral Summit
Writing today from Patagonia, Argentina, at the 9th World Choral Music Symposium, I am pleased to announce that next July (2012), following the World Choir Games in Cincinnati, a World Choral Summit will take place in Beijing, China, and will bring together thirty choral leaders from throughout the world. I look forward to being a […]
Five Ways to Improve your Listening
Another great TED talk that informs the practice of choral music, because sound is our life: In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, “We are losing our listening.” In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening — to other people and […]
Kyrie for Norway
Kyrie for Norway – a musical expression dedicated in loving memory of all the people who passed away on July 22 in Oslo and Utoya. As the video below will tell you, the following piece of music was written and a choir was formed to perform and produce the work in 48 hours. Words […]