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ChorTeach Preview

ChorTeach Preview: Fall 2017

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ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online magazine for choral directors and music educators. The articles in each issue are gleaned from ACDA state and division newsletters and from submissions. ChorTeach is specifically designed for those who work with amateur singers and are looking for practical material to apply to classrooms and rehearsals.

Below is a preview of the articles in the Fall 2017 issue, available for download here. The annotated ChorTeach index has also been updated. Click here to view. Email editor Terry Barham at for submissions or questions.

Relationships: Their Power and Importance by Jason Sickel

The author of this article, named 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year, shares advice for how to build strong and lasting relationships with students and colleagues, including tools, ideas, and activities for the classroom.

Can We Really Sing Religious Music? by James Benjamin Kinchen, Jr

What is in your folder and why is it there? This article discusses guidelines for choosing music with both sacred and secular texts for use in the public school system. A list of resources for further reading is included.

Thinking about an International Tour? Plan Ahead! By Terry Barham

Find solid, easy-to-implement advice for international choir tour travel in this helpful article, including tips for bookkeeping, fund-raising projects, scheduling, and more.

Not Your Grandparents’ Choral Concert: Creating Engaging Programs for Today’s Singers and Audiences by Richard Schnipke

Conductors need to create programs that will keep singers and audiences excited and engaged. This article offers practical ideas to consider when planning your next concert.

Three Reasons Why Brain Research Should Guide Arts Scheduling in Schools by Anthony Mazzocchi

Brain studies conducted over the past two decades have revealed that arts education, and specifically the choral arts, has a profound impact on a child’s life. This article discusses three specific things choral music provides students in their school day.

Click here to read ChorTeach!

ChorTeach Preview: Winter 2017

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ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online magazine for choral directors and music educators. The articles in each issue are gleaned from ACDA state and division newsletters and from submissions. ChorTeach is specifically designed for those who work with amateur singers and are looking for practical material to apply to classrooms and rehearsals.

Below is a preview of the articles in the current issue, available for download here. The annotated ChorTeach index has also been updated. Click here to view. Email editor Terry Barham at for submissions or questions.

“A New Normal: Choral Culture as a Catalyst for Change” by Sarah Graham

This article takes a look at the question: where and how do we learn empathy? The author suggests that the ensemble arts are a key place where performers and listeners alike can learn this most important character trait for today’s broken world.

“Past, Present, and Future: Today’s Choral Repertoire” by Lynne Gackle

The author of this article argues that with so much new music available, as wonderful as it may be, we still have a responsibility to include music from the past in our programs and “not lose sights of the intrinsic beauty and worth of works that have stood the test of time.”

“Hymns: A New/Old Resource for Teaching Choral Music” by Jody Blake

Explore a resource with nearly endless possibilities for enhancing the choral music curriculum that has been used for generations: the hymnal! “Whether it is an old, dusty Baptist hymnal or a brand-new Catholic hymnal, there is a treasure trove of musical examples for teaching musicianship, vocal techniques, and performance repertoire.”

“The Complexity of Singing” by Gabriela Hristova

Music is a complex art, but there remains a simplicity that makes the process enjoyable. The author of this article shares simple lessons she tries to communicate daily to her singers even as they approach the complexity of singing choral music.

“Preparation, Practice, Performance, and Pondering: A Different Approach to Score Preparation” by Thomas Blue

The author of this article shares a four-part approach to teaching MS/HS choral music, which involves the stages of preparation, practice, performance, and pondering.

Click here to read the latest ChorTeach!

ChorTeach Preview: Spring 2017

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ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online magazine for choral directors and music educators. The articles in each issue are gleaned from ACDA state and division newsletters and from submissions. ChorTeach is specifically designed for those who work with amateur singers and are looking for practical material to apply to classrooms and rehearsals.

Below is a preview of the articles in the current issue, available for download here. The annotated ChorTeach index has also been updated. Click here to view. Email editor Terry Barham at for submissions or questions.

“End-of-the-Year Activities in the Music Classroom” by Andrew Bruhn

In this article the author offers ideas for keeping the end of the school year positive and successful for middle and high school students, keeping things fun while remaining musically focused.

 

“Singing in a Chorus—Do’s and Don’ts for Church or Community Chorus Members” by Stephanie A. Henry

This short article provides practical suggestions for singers who wish to be successful in their choirs.

 

“Changing the Expressionless Faces that Sing in Your Choirs” by Micah Bland

Many choirs are fulfilling to hear but uninspiring to watch. This article discusses the importance of visual expressiveness in musical performance citing recent research and offering movement exercises to incorporate into warm-ups and rehearsals.

 

“Moving Toward More Progressive Choral Music Teacher Education Programs” by Jeffrey A. Murdock

The author of this article provides a sample course of study for choral music educators of the twenty-first century that teaches musicianship and builds on teaching practices that will enhance future success of course graduates.

 

“Considering Choral Competition—Perspectives on Motivation” by David W. Langley and Shannon Jeffreys

For this article, three choral directors offer differing viewpoints on the topic of choral competition. Both benefits and negatives of attending adjudicated choral festivals and competitions are discussed in an effort to help directors refine their philosophy concerning choral competition.

Click here to read the latest ChorTeach!

ChorTeach Preview: Winter 2017

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ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online magazine for choral directors and music educators. The articles in each issue are gleaned from ACDA state and division newsletters and from submissions. ChorTeach is specifically designed for those who work with amateur singers and are looking for practical material to apply to classrooms and rehearsals.

Below is a preview of the articles in the current issue, available for download here. The annotated ChorTeach index has also been updated. Click here to view.
Email editor Terry Barham at for submissions or questions.

A New Normal: Choral Culture as a Catalyst for Change by Sarah J. Graham

Music has the unique power to speak to social issues in our world today. Conductors are more intentional with regard to programming, and composers are writing works that lead us away from fear and toward change. This article discusses composers and works that give voice to an important and timely event or theme.

Preparation, Practice, Performance, and Pondering: A Different Approach to Score Preparation by Thomas Blue

This article is based on the author’s interest session presented at the annual junior high/middle school fall conference. Discover teaching and rehearsal strategies and the author’s “thoughts along the way” based on his experiences inside and outside of the choral classroom.

Past, Present, and Future: Today’s Choral Repertoire by Lynne Gackle

Fresh concepts and new techniques are always exciting, but do we also have a responsibility to include classic music from the past in our programming? The author argues that we should not become too enamored of the “new” that we lose sight of the tried-and-true choral gems.

The Complexity of Singing by Gabriela Hristova

Teaching and making music with a choir is a complex process. The author of this article reflects on her years of training, teaching, and performing and shares ideas that she strives to communicate with her singers on a daily basis.

Hymns: A New/Old Resource for Teaching Choral Music by Jody Blake

Explore the endless possibilities of using hymns for teaching and performance in your choral classroom. This article provides practical strategies and suggestions for integrating hymns into the choral music curriculum.

Click here to read the latest ChorTeach!

ChorTeach Preview: Reflections on the Conductor’s Role and More!

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Conductor

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ChorTeach is ACDA’s online magazine for choral directors and music educators, designed for those who work with amateur singers at all levels. Topics are covered across the range of the choral art. Below are previews of four articles that have been featured in past issues of ChorTeach. You can read and download the full articles here.

Reflections on the Conductor’s Role by Joseph Flummerfelt (Vol. 5, Iss. 2; Winter 2013)

A conductor’s control of dynamics, tempo, and timing between sections and movements is crucial to a successful performance. But if we are not careful, a different type of control can creep in to our approach—control governed by our ego and our fear of being vulnerable with our singers and audiences. This article demonstrates why “conducting is more about connection and far less about controlling” and serves as a reminder to approach music with a composer-centered instead of a conductor-centered mind-set.

Church Choir Directors/Organists: Conducting Gesture and Active Listening in Rehearsals and Worship by Jason Thoms (Vol. 4, Iss. 3; Spring 2012)

Those who hold a position as both church choir director and organist no doubt understand the difficulties of simultaneously assuming these roles. This article offers suggestions for ways to improve conducting gesture while growing the choir as singers and musicians.

The Aging Voice: An Interview with Six Conductors by Mark Lawley (Vol. 2, Iss. 4; Summer 2010)

Written specifically for choral conductors who work with mature adult singers, this insightful article provides a glimpse into the mind of six conductors on topics such as characteristics of the aging voice, psychological effects on singers with a noticeably aging voice, and exercises recommended to improve vocal quality.

An Ear for an Eye: Learning from a Blind Conducting Student by Ian Loeppky (Vol. 2, Iss. 2; Winter 2010)

Proving that “music is first and foremost an auditory experience,” this fascinating article explores what happened when Ian Loeppky taught conducting to a blind student. Certainly the advantages of sight are inarguable, but there is much to be learned about conducting gestures, kinesthetic language, and “feeling” the music from one without this sense.

ChorTeach Preview, Spring 2016

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ChorTeach is ACDA’s quarterly online magazine for choral directors and music educators. The articles in each issue are gleaned from ACDA state and division newsletters and from submissions. ChorTeach is specifically designed for those who work with amateur singers and are looking for practical material to apply to classrooms and rehearsals.

Below is a preview of the articles in the current issue, available for download here. Email editor Terry Barham at for submissions or questions.

The Shy Non-Singer—Elementary Teachers, Take Note!
by Michele Hobizal

How do you encourage shy singers to develop strong singing voices? This article offers practical activities and suggestions for vocal exploration that will turn even the shyest singer into one who auditions for next year’s school musical.

Making the Connection between Music and Text
by Sandy Hinkley

This article provides teaching strategies you can utilize for helping singers at all levels with their music and literacy through techniques such as music and vocabulary, and strategies to use before, during, and after reading. A list of suggested resources is also available.

Just Intonation
by Paul French

Learn what the phrase “just intonation” means and how to apply it to your teaching. This explanation is based on a lecture-demonstration the author attended featuring Don Brinegar.

Why Every Conductor Should Teach Music Appreciation
by Daniel David Black

Music appreciation is often regarded by choral conductors as an undesirable course both for teachers and the students themselves. This article lists three reasons why teaching music appreciation can be interesting to students while actually helping your own program to grow and thrive.

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