arrange • compose • conduct
In my attempt to evoke more expressive singing from my choirs, I’ve tried urging, I’ve had students try dramatic readings of the text, I’ve showed pictures to evoke the message, I’ve made the “ultra expressive” face while conducting. Last week, I tried a new activity: children’s books. I propose that […]
My sons practice piano almost every day, and they really enjoy it. It’s also virtually assured that one of them will weep when staring down a new piece each week. And almost without fail, two minutes of reminders to slow down, take it apart, figure it out results in a […]
Last week I talked about the doctoral-level arrange puzzle Anders Edenroth gave himself in his new piece, “Water.” Here’s a list of corners you can try painting yourself into. It’s a great way to refresh your writing on your next arrangement or if you’re just stuck on the next A […]
The conventional wisdom holds that responsible parents need to enroll their children in team sports. Our society says: Because collaboration and teamwork are so important in contemporary culture, it’s vital to start early in incorporating these skills in our lives. Team sports – often soccer now but traditionally baseball, or […]
I’m a nerd. Analytical, thorough, thoughtful. The way I think about music is heavily influenced by my understanding of harmony, theory, the compositional/arranging process. It’s taken me a long time to learn to be that on the podium, too. There are many different choral conductor archetypes, but one of the […]
Do you prefer watching a speech from a charismatic person? Or being taught by one? A teacher, conductor, leader with charisma can galvanize the people they’re leading, and help them to achieve amazing results. Think Steve Jobs, Steve Zegree, Gustavo Dudamel, Oprah Winfrey. When they’re talking, you can’t turn away. One mistake we […]
I’ve been at home, watching friends on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram share their transcendent experiences at the ACDA 2015 National Conference. Of course I’m disappointed not to be with them, however I’ve been pleasantly surprised not to be feeling envy or bitterness at their posts. Quite the opposite. Mudita is defined in […]
Seth Godin said this in a recent live Q&A for his new book What To Do When It’s Your Turn. Markets tend to overpay for things that are short-term and easily measured. And just because the market decided to pay for it today doesn’t mean it’s important. […] Vincent Van Gogh basically sold no art […]
When was the last time you watched someone teach? Great teaching relies on a huge number of skills honed over years of practice. And whether you are a first-year teacher or a master collegiate conductor, you can get better. But almost no one gets to see other experts practice their art. We are all […]
I started writing an #ACDA2015 must-see list: what I would absolutely not miss if I were at the ACDA National Conference in Salt Lake City. I tried to limit it to four, then five. OK, six. That worked for the first day of the conference. By the second day, I was already […]