arrange • compose • conduct
‘Tis the season when 2 hours a week together just isn’t close to enough. The Rockford Aces rehearse for an hour on their own, too, which is a huge help. But not enough. The music is more challenging, and the expectations are much higher. Enter personal practice. As of last […]
Some people take the microphone because they have something to sell; some take it because they have something to give. Some people take the microphone because they love the sound of their voice. Some take it because they have something worth hearing. It’s easy to look at someone who always takes the mic and […]
You’re only as good as your last performance. Whether in singing, conducting, writing, teaching, composing, parenting, running, or any other action you complete regularly, it’s your consistency that matters more than a shining moment. The way to get to consistency is practice and focus. A great performance can happen once […]
Do you follow Postmodern Jukebox? They specialize in arrangements of current pop tunes in vintage styles (’40s jazz, Motown, Edith Piaf, etc.). This is my favorite cover, featuring Puddles The Sad Clown singing Royals. Recently they performed a ’20s version of Iggy Azalea’s Fancy. Recently on the BBC version of […]
In my attempt to evoke more expressive singing from my choirs, I’ve tried urging, I’ve had students try dramatic readings of the text, I’ve showed pictures to evoke the message, I’ve made the “ultra expressive” face while conducting. Last week, I tried a new activity: children’s books. I propose that […]
My sons practice piano almost every day, and they really enjoy it. It’s also virtually assured that one of them will weep when staring down a new piece each week. And almost without fail, two minutes of reminders to slow down, take it apart, figure it out results in a […]
Last week I talked about the doctoral-level arrange puzzle Anders Edenroth gave himself in his new piece, “Water.” Here’s a list of corners you can try painting yourself into. It’s a great way to refresh your writing on your next arrangement or if you’re just stuck on the next A […]
The conventional wisdom holds that responsible parents need to enroll their children in team sports. Our society says: Because collaboration and teamwork are so important in contemporary culture, it’s vital to start early in incorporating these skills in our lives. Team sports – often soccer now but traditionally baseball, or […]
I’m a nerd. Analytical, thorough, thoughtful. The way I think about music is heavily influenced by my understanding of harmony, theory, the compositional/arranging process. It’s taken me a long time to learn to be that on the podium, too. There are many different choral conductor archetypes, but one of the […]
Do you prefer watching a speech from a charismatic person? Or being taught by one? A teacher, conductor, leader with charisma can galvanize the people they’re leading, and help them to achieve amazing results. Think Steve Jobs, Steve Zegree, Gustavo Dudamel, Oprah Winfrey. When they’re talking, you can’t turn away. One mistake we […]