arrange • compose • conduct
I often hear complaints about the “lack of creativity” in LEGO sets. Getting a LEGO set and building it precisely according to instructions stifles creativity, we are told. It reminds me of Michael Chabon’s essay on LEGO in Manhood for Amateurs, in which he says he resents “the authoritarian state of the […]
As far as I’m concerned, Tom Allen is the ideal classical radio host. He hosted CBC Radio 2’s Music & Company, a morning classical show, the entire time I taught in Grosse Pointe (it’s easy to pick up Canadian stations in the Detroit-area) and now hosts Shift, a “cross-genre” program […]
Sometimes, when my sons are going a little crazy in the evening, I have to remind myself that all they’re really doing is saying “see me.” Notice me, pay attention to who I am and what I’m feeling. Teaching is no different. Students want to be seen, want to be […]
Our eight-year-old finished his daily piano practice saying, “I know all my pieces – what am I supposed to work on tomorrow?” Answer: rhythm, consistency, phrase, dynamics, any number of other things. But more importantly, start learning another piece! You don’t have to wait for your teacher to give you […]
By my count, Chanticleer has released six Christmas albums and a DVD. Of them, my favorite is probably “Christmas with Chanticleer” featuring Dawn Upshaw. Today, however, I want to talk about their 2007 album “Let it Snow”. Over the years, Chanticleer has dabbled in vocal jazz – most memorably in their commissioned […]
It sometimes seems like everyone in the Aces wishes they were a different voice part. Basses wish they could sing higher; baritones regret the middle parts; you hear tenor 2’s trying so hard to sing a low G; and first tenors…well, no, they’re happy where they are. Until their voices change. I […]
December. It is an epic time for choir directors everywhere: concerts, gigs, caroling, tree-lightings, festival planning, and more. It’s simply the time of year everyone wants to hear a choir. In Rockford, we also have just cast the musical, so there are also 3-hour musical rehearsals every day after school. […]
A while back I fought through the haze of a cold to run my weekly Rockford Aces rehearsal. The previous week, I had a student come to rehearsal in a wheelchair, three days after knee surgery. It inspired me to recall the most epic story of being at rehearsal. In Gold Company […]
There are always multiple ways to notate something. One of the most important (and overlooked) parts of the composing/arranging process is choosing how to notate it. Forget theory or pretension – the only question you should ask is, “is this the easiest way to read this?” A few quick examples: […]