arrange • compose • conduct
Posts specifically about choral music
One of my main criticisms of typical “acapop” arrangements comes down to this question: Would it sound better if those parts were being played by instruments? So much of pop a cappella consists of straight lifts from original band recordings, and minimal adaptation to vocal writing. The problem is, that […]
I read omnivorously, across many genres of fiction and non-fiction. If it’s well-written and engaging, I’m interested. But sometimes, when I’ve had a busy stretch of life with no space for reading, I find it difficult to get back into reading. I’m just a little out of practice. When I […]
It has been my great good fortune to spend some time with Alice Parker over the last few years: she is as remarkable as you think, and each opportunity to chat with her is a treasure to me. I’m offline this week and visiting once again with Alice; I highly […]
Reading the instructions is the worst way to learn a new game. Way better is when the game maker creates a 4 minute video that teaches the game to you: it’s more engaging, interactive, and concise. But better still is to learn it from a veteran who knows the game […]
When we differentiate between foreground, middleground, and background parts in vocal music, the shorthand tends to be about dynamics – volume. Louder for the foreground, quieter for the background. But there is more to differentiating these parts than just pure decibel change. Volume change. Naturally. Timbre change. Brighter, more core […]
Replayability (also known as Replay Value) is a measure of how much enjoyment people continue to have with a game that they have already spent time playing. Chess has a high level of replayability. Candyland has a low level of replayability, unless you’re five. It’s also one of the factors […]
Leaders aren’t the ones who are in charge. They’re the ones with the courage to go first. Simon Sinek, in A Bit of Optimism, Episode 6 Leadership is about the courage to go first. Asking the singers around you to quiet down in rehearsal is an act of leadership. Speaking […]
Would you program something that is “too hard” for your choir? I mean: too hard to sing flawlessly. Too hard to perform without the occasional tuning error. I don’t program music that is too hard in the sense of: requires professional tessitura or vocal control; requires advanced vocal techniques; is […]
There are many ways to celebrate success in video games. Beat your friends! Get the high score! (If I could have ever just gotten past the final Bowser on 8-4, I would have counted it as ultimate success…) One way of measuring success in recent years is speed running. A […]
It seems to me there are two mindsets in the choral classroom. You can be student-focused, or you can be music-focused. A student-focused choral educator will always prioritize the mental and emotional needs of their students. They create a safe space for student expression, teach leadership, collaboration, and trust as […]