Latest Blog Posts

Just in case we have to take another lap…are you prepared? In the first year of the pandemic, the General Accounting Office posted results of their research in 2020-21, the first year of the pandemic (GAO, May 2022). They depicted the obstacles to learning – what we all experienced to some degree – like this: […]

The November/December 2022 issue of Choral Journal is online and features an article titled “(Trans)itioning Voices: Inclusivity through Line Recombination” by Stevie J. Hirner. Following is a portion from the introduction. _________________ n recent years, the inclusion of transgender and gender expansive (TGE) individuals has become a more visible and increasingly discussed topic in both national and […]

Are your students off-the-wall just before Thanksgiving each year? I LOVE the rehearsals before Thanksgiving break. In fact, the Pre-Thanksgiving rehearsal is my favorite rehearsal of the entire year. This one rehearsal has tremendous value and leaves a lasting impression on my students. This blog post is FILLED with ideas that can start TODAY and go straight through the holiday season!   Here […]

I am taking a bit of a Choral Ethics break during the next few weeks, and this is a Choral Ethics Blog repeat. My review of a new biography of Margaret Hillis will be on December 1. But if you have a Choral Ethics dilemma or query or comment in the mean time, please email […]

by Stuart Hunt The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines music as “the art of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.“1  To that is often added, something like the following: Sounds and silences organized in time. A pattern of regular or irregular pulses, some stronger some […]

I wear many musical hats: Choir Director, Singer, Pianist, and Handbell Ringer. From my perspective, in each of those roles, rhythm and tempo are fundamental. As a conductor, it’s a joy to unify pulse and rhythm. When that happens, the choir is able to listen better and make quicker adjustments with dynamics, intonation, vowels, and […]

The November/December issue of Choral Journal is available online. Following is a list of the articles you will find in this issue, which features a collection of articles on the voice. ACDA members can log in with their username and password to view and download the newest edition. You can also read our electronic version. If […]

  Should Choir Members Be Forced To Sing By Themselves? This age-old question is usually met with strong, opposing viewpoints. As I advocate for self-selected ensembles, ones where ANYONE can join, I have an opinion I would like to share. I hope this blog post presents some food for thought! Here is: Should Choir Members Be Forced To […]

Obvious: All humans need to feel connected and have a sense of belonging. Less obvious: Teacher’s have less power to actually achieve this with all students than we think. We can WELCOME all students. But belonging has to be mutual and organic. Hot take: not ALL students need this from their school or ALL of their […]

“It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Albert Einstein  Happy November everyone! In two more months, and we will be out of 2022, a very difficult year for most of us. It has been tough, but I have a tough question for you; did you stay with it?  […]