arrange • compose • conduct
There’s something special about the bonds we form in choir. That’s true whether it’s the friends you return to, year after year, or the songs you can sing a quarter century later, in 4-part harmony, or in some special occasions, the couples who forget lifelong bonds in their choir. If […]
Dr. Brené Brown launched two podcasts in 2020, including the wonderful Unlocking Us. On the very first episode, she introduced us to her idea of FFTs (the FT stands for “First Time”). She outlines the various ways that dealing with a first-time experience can affect our lives, and gives great […]
Over the past year, I’ve developed a quick process for recording myself singing and playing more effectively. I’ve used it to make guide tracks for my students, to be a part of remote projects, and to make a family Christmas card. What I didn’t anticipate was that it would help […]
Every year for the last few years, music from 95 years previous has entered the public domain. 2021 is no exception, welcoming all music published in 1925. We are at the cusp of the peak years of the Great American Songbook. Early examples of the form enter the creative commons […]
I made a list this weekend (during my Singing Brook Day) of active projects in my life right now. It wasn’t a complete GTD Mind Sweep but it was a solid clearing out of my mental to-do list. I ended up with a full 4×6 card in tiny handwriting. So […]
Life’s worthwhile arcs often last a lifetime. There are deadlines, due dates, smaller projects that come and go – but the overall arc is never-ending. Contrast that with the impression we often give students over 13 years of compulsory schooling: that knowledge is discrete; that every unit comes with a […]
I woke up thinking about how much I like a nice spicy chai latte. The top layer is the most delicious foam – cinnamony and gingery with a hint of cardamom. It’s almost like tasting a pumpkin-spice cloud. But I wouldn’t enjoy a mug filled entirely with spiced foam. It […]
One last video for 2020 – or one first video for 2021. We invited students and music staff at Rockford High School to submit video/audio of the traditional canon Dona Nobis Pacem to a click track. Just once through the form. Then, through the magic of Pro Tools and Final […]
2020: Inconceivable. Unprecedented. Unpredictable. But not without work, not without growth, not without successes. (Let’s be clear: my 2020 was not without failures, disappointments, sadnesses, confusion, frustration, and more. This is just a snapshot of a very complex year.) Here’s an overview of my work year. Writing I published a […]
I published a post here every day in 2020. Here’s a favorite post from each month. January: Three Goals For RehearsalFebruary: DisputableMarch: Do The Right Thing & Permit Yourself to GrieveApril: The Best We Can…Is Pretty GoodMay: Form Goes DeepJune: SaltingJuly: Not For Me Right NowAugust: Don’t Be A Game ChangerSeptember: […]