Latest Blog Posts

Although some of the movements of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater are more lighthearted than the text would suggest, what I’m really referring to is the comedy of errors in dealing with the orchestra parts.   It started a few weeks ago when I was marking up my full score with my preferred articulations, dynamics, bowings, etc., […]

Eric Whitacre talks about his TED experience: It’s difficult for me to describe, but I think my TED talk on Tuesday may have been one of the most profound experiences I’ve ever had. The audience – nearly 2,000 thinkers, inventors, artists, entrepreneurs and leaders – create this strange, tangible energy, an intoxicating blend of intellect, […]

Thanks, Eric, for representing us so well.   From the TEDx blog: All of the speakers in the Monumental session delivered tight, powerful talks, but most poignant for me was the juxtaposition of Eric Whitacre’s virtual choir with Wadah of Al Jazeera’s discussion. Whitacre demonstrated the amazing power of crowdsourcing and how the social media […]

Yesterday, we wondered about using YouTube to help rehearse a choir.   Chris Rowbury asks a more basic question – do you need sheet music in a rehearsal?   Here is his list of advantages/disadvantages.  What is he missing?   advantages of teaching by ear no looking at pieces of paper – singers can focus […]

As part of the ongoing move towards technology, ACDA is providing the 2011 National Conference Program book in PDF form for participants!   Download the book here and use it in Chicago.  (Note:  all conference participants will get a paper version of the Program book.)   It works great on an iPad!   LATE BREAKING TRAVEL […]

The American Choral Directors Association is pleased to announce a collaboration with J.W. Pepper that makes the choral literature from all thirteen of the choral reading sessions presented at the 2011 ACDA National Conference in Chicago available to all choral directors. This collaboration has created a resource that allows everyone to see and hear ACDA’s […]

A great idea.  Or is it?  Let me hear from you.    

I've never heard of World Voice Day before, an event created by voice doctors (initially in Brazil) to "raise awareness" of voice disorders. But in this morning's email I got a notice about a free voice screening for professional singers offered by a clinic in New York on this year's "World Voice Day".   The […]

Way to go, Eric – a standing "O" at TED:   Who knows what the sound of one hand clapping is, but a choir of hundreds of singers connected by nothing more than webcams and an internet connection sounds, surprisingly, pretty sublime. Classical composer and conductor Eric Whitacre unveiled a clip from his new virtual […]

I had the most fortunate opportunity to work with the choirs from Brigham Young University this past week.  It was a wonderful, maybe even life-changing, experience.      Ron Staheli easily ranks in the top tier of incredible collegiate choral conductors.  I've known of his outstanding musicianship through his recordings and reputation.  I was astounded, […]