arrange • compose • conduct
I’m always bringing back a few tips, tricks, or expressions from a conferences that I want to incorporate into my own teaching. A good warmup, a good mindset, a good new way of teaching a concept. This year, what I’m bringing back from the conference, more than anything else, is […]
One of the things I have missed most about in-person conferencing is that my ideas get to cross-pollinate. They get to mix and mingle with other ideas, and I come back with novel fruits to share with my students. It can happen in lecture sessions, in concert sessions, even in […]
One of the things I love about attending masterclasses and clinics from master musicians is that I can glean new words to put around musical ideas. Sometimes the words are harder than the ideas – I can grasp a concept, but not succinctly describe it. Hearing someone else’s words can […]
Are you swimming in reading packets? I know I am. They are a beautiful tool for discovering new repertoire, and an essential part of a choral conference (I know that when I helped organize a conference, the most consistent feedback we received was “more reading packets!”) And yet, they are […]
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 […]
I’ve had the time to digest my amazing experience in Chicago at my first ACDA National Convention. Here are a few of my impressions and favorite moments. (in no particular order) 1. Thrilling Singing Part 1 Latvian Youth Choir Kamer The first concert I was able to attend was the […]
Tomorrow I’m heading to my first national ACDA Conference. Wait…a choir director conference? How did I get here? A little background. I went to a show choir heavy high school where classical was “the stuff we learn a week before festival.” I spent my college career with Gold Company at […]