arrange • compose • conduct
Posts specifically about choral music
Choral educators often urge their singers not to show it on their faces when they mistake. The idea is that, if we don’t show that we made the error, most of the audience might not know. I think the truth is even better than that. I think that an audience […]
I am sitting in rehearsal watching 19 outstanding high school singers from across Michigan on system, working hard through a multiple-divisi arrangement by Tim Buchholz, in preparation for their concert Friday night at the Michigan Music Conference. I am sitting in rehearsal watching 19 outstanding high school singers from across […]
Some singers never learn the joy of getting beyond the notes and rhythms. It’s obvious when they aren’t in a hurry to get past learning of the notes. If they knew the joy that awaited, they’d want to hurry up and get there! Alice Parker says that she can only […]
I desperately, passionately, unreservedly do not want to conduct my ensembles through compliance leadership. I am not, and refuse to be, a chair-throwing, yelling, lap-demanding leader. Part of that is temperament–that type of behavior would fit me exceedingly poorly. But a much bigger part has to do with my aspirations […]
Choir directors suffer from long-term project overload. Think about it: every one of your projects is a delayed-gratification project. Concert days are eight weeks in the making. You start planning and prepping your musical months before it opens. Even your educational goals can be years in the making – giving […]
It’s easy to get traction starting around a week before a concert, give or take. Suddenly, the looming public performance helps your students get into gear and make big leaps forward. The challenge is to get traction further ahead of the concert. If you can gain traction when the concert […]
A recent online discussion centered around vocal jazz ensemble singers losing track of their rhythmic accuracy when their rhythm section joined them. Assuming that the rhythm section is playing well in time, and that the singers have rehearsed thoroughly and are capable of the accuracy, here’s the most likely culprit. […]
I sometimes think about a really compelling moment in a student recital from grad school. The grad student a year ahead of me composed original music and conducted a concert of a 10-piece jazz ensemble. In the moment in question, he held soundlessly a chord on the piano, and a […]
Want more music? Want harder music? Want more interesting music? No problem… Master what you’ve got. The music you’ve got, you’ve got for a reason. It’s chosen to teach important lessons, to build important skills, to develop your ensemble. And once you’ve done those things, we’ll move on – to […]
Here’s the rest of my Top 10 list from ACDA Chicago, still in no particular order. 6. Thrilling Singing Part 2: Gene Puerling back in Chicago. The Singers Unlimited If you don’t know who Gene Puerling is, you’re missing an important piece of 20th century vocal music. As the arranger […]