arrange • compose • conduct
Posts specifically about choral music
This unsung hero of the choral program deserves a round of applause. I’ve written before about the value of good graphic design tools for choir directors. Many other tools are rightly recognized: pianos, pitch pipes, recording tools; even Spotify or Apple Music for sharing example recordings. But what of the […]
Ensembles go through many phases with a piece. “That sounds cool.” (while listening to a recording on YouTube) “I don’t like this piece.” (while slogging through sight reading) “That part is fun to sing.” “The rest of it, I’m not so sure.” “This is too hard.” “I’m kind of getting […]
I love premieres. As a composer and arranger, you would think it goes with the territory, but the truth is that developing my craft was focused so much on the work I do in my studio – selecting notes, rhythms, orchestration, voicings, etc. – that it took me years to […]
We work in interlocking skills in performing ensembles. What about discrete skills? Performing a piece requires to simultaneously focus on vowel, tone, pitch, balance, diction, phrasing, drama, and about a dozen other things. All of them. At once. These are interlocking skills if we want to be successful. But skills […]
If you think you’re only capable of one vocal style or technique, your minad is lying to you. Sure, you may have an affinity for one vocal tone, or even an aptitude for it. But our voices are infinitely flexible, and when I hear someone say, “I can only sing […]
A lot of my jobs involve me saying some version of this sentence. “End sustained notes with shadow vowels.” Yes, that’s usually true…but not in this moment/piece/style. “Keep your feet firmly planted.” Yes, that’s usually true…but not in jazz. “Look to the conductor for the sense of the beat.” Yes, […]
What’s the high-quality problem you spend the most time solving? My brother recently introduced me to the idea of “high-quality problems” and I’ve been thinking about how they might apply to musical situations. A high-quality problem is a problem, to be sure; it’s something that needs solving. But unlike a […]
Changing the quality of the beat can go a long way to helping choirs switch genres. Transitioning between traditional choral and more contemporary pop genres can stymie choirs, and one of the challenges is a difference in the quality of rhythm. I tend to think of rhythm in even the […]
There’s a moment with a young ensemble when they change gears. In the early gear, the singers approach each new piece as a separate mountain to climb, unconnected to what comes before or after. They change gears when they recognize, at least subconsciously, that the pieces only seem unconnected, and […]
The three facets I think most important in a performance worth giving: Focus. Stay in the moment, paying due attention to the many details required for excellence in music-making. Connect. Forge a connection between you and the people in your audience. Have Fun. Music-making should be a joyous activity. There […]