arrange • compose • conduct
If you’re like me, you’re thinking a lot about what our gatherings will look like in the fall? Will it be “normal”? What will be different? And will the changes in your gatherings be because external forces cause changes (as they did in 2020 and 2021) or because the grand […]
It seems to me there are two mindsets in the choral classroom. You can be student-focused, or you can be music-focused. A student-focused choral educator will always prioritize the mental and emotional needs of their students. They create a safe space for student expression, teach leadership, collaboration, and trust as […]
I’ve dipped my feet into the waters of eCommerce, with a new Shop – available at the top of my website or here. I’ve so far introduced one chart available for purchase – the arrangement of “What’ll I Do?” that I did as my second Patreon project. I’ve also included […]
I have been blessed with some fabulous Patrons on Patreon supporting me in creating new vocal music every month. In April, my project was an a cappella SATB arrangement of “What’ll I Do?” – the classic Irving Berlin ballad that recently entered the public domain. Patreon supporters get free access […]
Sometimes we focus on mastering one tool for every case, when we’d be better served by using two tools with different strengths. I use two applications for when I want to write words down. Google Docs and Adobe InDesign. How do I choose? Easy: if I care how it will […]
There comes a time when we all have to become specialists. Time is maybe the biggest cause – there simply isn’t enough time for us to be generalists about everything. Also the demands of a specific job or career path tend to focus us into specialization. But I think it’s […]
“I don’t like their voice” is about the least compelling criticism I’ve ever heard. Almost any singer whose voice is distinctive from the average sound is going to receive this criticism. I’ve heard it recently about both Jacob Collier and Lin-Manuel Miranda. But I could have heard it said about […]
Please enjoy Shades of Blue’s virtual recording of “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” – out in virtual choir style now. It was the hardest chart we recorded remotely this year. Darmon Meader’s writing never disappoints, and this is a fun and silly song for him to play with. It […]
The RAMA Vocal Center (part of the Danish Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg) has become a world leader in contemporary music training. Recently, two of the staff leaders have released innovative new apps. Vocal Painting, developed by Jim Daus Hjernøe, teaches 75 interactive hand signs that enable an ensemble […]
It’s my end-of-school-year tradition to publish the repertoire my ensemble sang over the year. With my fourth year at GRCC in the books, here are the pieces Shades of Blue learned and performed. Shades of Blue had eight singers (2-2-2-2) in the fall semester and nine singers (2-2-3-2) in the […]