Latest Blog Posts

Tim Sharp gives us a realistic look at the universality of music when it comes to literacy:   Like it or not, as we work in the 21st century, in every other way, music is NOT a universal language. Accepting that it simply “is” does not cut it any longer. On the subject of style […]

ChoralNet user Tom Lloyd sent me this great news about music returning to earthquake stricken Haiti:   “Amid the desperation and despair in earthquake-ravaged Port-au-prince, musicians from Haiti’s national chorus, jazz band and philharmonic gave their first post-quake concert. The musicians were able to rescue some instruments from the rubble, and they held the concert […]

The Choir Girl is accepted into a graduate program and realizes she won’t be able to make the summer choir tour.  Here is her reaction: I have to admit that when I received my acceptance call from the University, after the initial shock from that message died down, the FIRST thing that popped into my […]

ACDA has a new name for one of the R&S areas and they are talking about it.   Here is Robyn Lana, the National Chair for the newly named “Children’s and Youth Community Choirs” Repertoire and Standards Committee: The committee proposed the title change in an attempt to be inclusive and clearly indicate who is […]

If voice teachers are giving voice lessons via Skype and Eric Whitacre is awarding scholarships from auditions on YouTube, can online choir auditions be very far away?  I can think of “sightreading” as a possible downside, but that’s all.   What do you think?   Skype Voice Lessons:       Eric Whitacre Scholarship Winner: […]

Do you ever have the sense that your choir thinks you are talking about someone else when you make a correction during a rehearsal?  I do, and one of my students helped me come up with this pyramid yesterday.

My colleague told me this story about a recent happening in the “band” world that you may not have heard about:   Here is the outline of the story:   1.  On January 30, 2005, a parent wrote an article in the Washington Post that bemoaned instrumental music education in general and substandard literature in […]

It is another great technology development for ACDA:  the turnout for the most recent presidential election was the highest ever and Karen Fulmer was elected President.   First, congratulations to Karen.   Second, congratulations to ACDA!   Here are some of the details: Over 12% of active membership voted in the National election and bylaws. […]

We celebrate the great Franz Schubert:    

It’s true. The Recovering Choir Director brings us news of the attractive leading the way with chant.  Didn’t this happen in the 1980’s?