arrange • compose • conduct
Choral concert days are full of special moments. There are the special moments before the concert – warmups, final instructions, huddles and so on. There are the special moments during the concert – your favorite measure of your favorite piece, when you heart soars. Nailing the spot that gave you […]
This Saturday, the Rockford Choirs will be hosting a Silent Auction and Dinner to raise funds for our 2020 European Tour to France, Germany, and Belgium (including the 11th World Choir Games in Flanders). I’ve donated several items, and one is a commissioned composition or arrangement for the ensemble of […]
Choral educators often urge their singers not to show it on their faces when they mistake. The idea is that, if we don’t show that we made the error, most of the audience might not know. I think the truth is even better than that. I think that an audience […]
I needed to fill a slot in a four-piece set recently, and decided to hold a caucus to pick it. I thought it would be a good way for individuals to see their fellow singers’ preferences, and also to get a brief education about this peculiar political phenomenon. Just in […]
24/6 by Tiffany Shlain offers a very compelling model of not just why but how to give yourself freedom from 24/7 technology in an authentic, repeatable way. I came upon this book via the podcast Design Matters with Debbie Millman – a good place to start if you’re curious about […]
Do you prepare a list of Frequently Asked Questions for your ensembles? I’ve been working on preparing one, with the following headings: Attendance Behavior Calendar Dress/Attire Expectations The trick is that once it’s created, you must to always refer singers to the FAQ when they ask something on it. That […]
Unless someone like youcares a whole awful lot,nothing is going to get better.It’s not. From The Lorax by Dr. Seuss This is true for just about anything. If you want anything to get better, someone has to care a whole awful lot. Not a lot. Not an awful lot. a […]
If you are having trouble finding inspiration, consider this. As an educator, your job is to breathe out knowledge, ideas, and encouragement to your students. Inspiration is literally breathing in. Breathing out requires equal breathing in, and if you are feeling uninspired, it’s because you need to breathe in. If […]
Some educators say, “The right music is the music that I think will best educate you.” These educators might program the “chestnuts” – the same literature they’ve programmed their whole careers and that they sang in their own student days. Some educators say, “The right music is the music that […]
Continuing with yesterday’s thoughts about the ensemble’s voice, I want to draw attention to two competing demands for an ensemble – two boxes that need to be simultaneously delivered upon. An ensemble must be precise. They must accurately and uniformly perform the notes and rhythms as written or taught. An […]