Latest Blog Posts
Why do we like music?
NEW YORK (AP) — Whether it’s the Beatles or Beethoven, people like music for the same reason they like eating or having sex: It makes the brain release a chemical that gives pleasure, a new study says. The brain substance is involved both in anticipating a particularly thrilling musical moment and in feeling the rush […]
Choral Music – right up there with “good food, money and s**”
We have a new recruiting tool! From the article: It may be the chorus of a pop song or the slow movement of a symphony… we all know that our favourite pieces of music make us feel good. But scientists have now unravelled how they do it. They say a best-loved aria or guitar […]
Favorite Christmas Presents
I know what you are thinking – Christmas was weeks ago. And I know that Christmas is all about giving . . . but I got some great presents. My wife and mother (two different people – Alabama isn't that backwards) each gave me a Keurig coffee maker. I just love those quick-clean-heatproducing […]
Snow Choir
It is a blessed time in my part of the world – our occasional two inches of snow/ice has shut down roads, schools, and airports. That, combined with the National Championship football game tonight, has really captured the state of Alabama. In honor of the weather event, I bring you the SFSU Women's Chorus […]
ACDA Priorities for A New Year
Do you remember playing hand games as a child? I still play them with my daughter when we are waiting on a flight, standing in line at a concert, or at other points of utter boredom. One of our routine hand games is "Scissors, Paper, Stone." Each player counts together, outloud, to three, each time […]
iPad A Cappella
Thank you, A Cappella News.
A little Josh Groban – Kanye West humor
Pretty funny YouTube video combining singing and Kanye West twitter posts.
Children’s formant
University researchers, always mindful of the next tenure review, are studying children’s voices: Choir boys, and more recently choir girls, have been enchanting congregations for centuries with their distinctive voices. Professor David Howard, from the University of York, thinks there is more to the choristers’ sound than meets the ear. Working with music trainer Jenevora […]
Important ACDA vote this month
An important vote for ACDA is coming up – keep reading. The American Choral Directors Association is holding a national election through the end of January for the position of National Chair of the Repertoire and Standards Committee (R&S). Members may vote by clicking on this link. The R&S Committee is one of […]
What is your sentence?
We all tend to make resolutions at the beginning of the year; we take stock of our lives and future as we begin a new calendar year. Dan Pink is an author and speaker I've quoted many times in this blog (a few are here, here, and here). He's got two questions that […]