arrange • compose • conduct
Posts specifically about choral music
What are your summer goals for your students? I like the message from my kids’ middle school ensemble teachers: only take out your instruments on rainy days. It’s the right level of occasional reengagement with music-making. I personally have these three goals for students between when I see them in […]
Overscheduled kids know one thing for certain: every minute is precious. They have so few! Every moment is committed to one event or another, a class project or a math test to study for, plus social commitments with their friends. That’s why, when I’m with my students, I try to […]
What would an alien know if they saw a group of people playing cards? And what does the answer tell us about teaching music? They wouldn’t know if the people were playing poker or canasta or euchre, and if you told them what the game was, the alien would assume […]
Do you tell your students what you plan to change for next year? I prefer to be tight lipped about what I’m planning for the future with my ensembles. Part because I like to process my own thoughts independently, and part because I know I’m a slow thinker and don’t […]
The early months of the pandemic included making a virtual choir from across the state of the Michigan Choral Commission Consortium performing Z. Randall Stroope’s “I Have Loved Hours at Sea” which we had commissioned that year. Since then, we’ve had multiple pushbacks, delays, and other problems. That’s why I’m […]
There is freedom and creativity found inside a concert planning formula. The first time I noticed a programming formula in practice was when I was in Gold Company in college. Steve Zegree would consistently program (1) An upbeat pop-centered opener, with choreography, followed without speaking by (2) and up-tempo accompanied […]
Do you know that you’re telling a joke? There is some funny music where “you” know you’re telling a joke. That is, the character you portray during the song is consciously being funny. Think Tom Lehrer. Other funny music gets funnier the more your character doesn’t show that they get […]
On my morning walks this week, there’s one piece on a loop in my head. It’s the cherry blossoms around every corner that call to mind the timeless A.E. Housman poem, “Loveliest of Trees.” And I love the version I was lucky enough to commission for the Rockford Aces from […]
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 […]