arrange • compose • conduct
I needed to fill a slot in a four-piece set recently, and decided to hold a caucus to pick it. I thought it would be a good way for individuals to see their fellow singers’ preferences, and also to get a brief education about this peculiar political phenomenon. Just in […]
24/6 by Tiffany Shlain offers a very compelling model of not just why but how to give yourself freedom from 24/7 technology in an authentic, repeatable way. I came upon this book via the podcast Design Matters with Debbie Millman – a good place to start if you’re curious about […]
Do you prepare a list of Frequently Asked Questions for your ensembles? I’ve been working on preparing one, with the following headings: Attendance Behavior Calendar Dress/Attire Expectations The trick is that once it’s created, you must to always refer singers to the FAQ when they ask something on it. That […]
Unless someone like youcares a whole awful lot,nothing is going to get better.It’s not. From The Lorax by Dr. Seuss This is true for just about anything. If you want anything to get better, someone has to care a whole awful lot. Not a lot. Not an awful lot. a […]
If you are having trouble finding inspiration, consider this. As an educator, your job is to breathe out knowledge, ideas, and encouragement to your students. Inspiration is literally breathing in. Breathing out requires equal breathing in, and if you are feeling uninspired, it’s because you need to breathe in. If […]
Some educators say, “The right music is the music that I think will best educate you.” These educators might program the “chestnuts” – the same literature they’ve programmed their whole careers and that they sang in their own student days. Some educators say, “The right music is the music that […]
Continuing with yesterday’s thoughts about the ensemble’s voice, I want to draw attention to two competing demands for an ensemble – two boxes that need to be simultaneously delivered upon. An ensemble must be precise. They must accurately and uniformly perform the notes and rhythms as written or taught. An […]
When I hear a great ensemble perform, I can often hear individual voices, but I can hear an additional voice that those individuals create together. It is as clear as hearing a solo singer a cappella. The ensemble has a voice. When I hear a good ensemble, I hear a […]
For most music you’re ever going to compose, a good melody is essential. But for most musicians I know, the construction of a good melody is utterly overlooked. The standard 4-semester theory sequence tends to overlook melody in favor of harmony. Counterpoint classes tend to focus on the rules of […]
Recently I’ve seen a psychological finding in several different contexts, stating that roughly 30% of humans have an authoritarian streak – meaning that: 1) a high degree of submission to the established, legitimate authorities in their society; 2) high levels of aggression in the name of their authorities; and 3) a […]