arrange • compose • conduct
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’m a good proofreader – I fairly reliably can open a program and book and find the one error that the publication process missed. And yet, I am unreliable at catching typos or errors in my own writing – both words and music. I think it’s the old problem of […]
Four remarkable singers recently joined forces to create a new ensemble; their first performance was this past week at the JEN Conference. Säje – Sarah Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, Erin Bentlage – is exploring new territory in group harmony singing, with an emphasis on connected, emotionally grounded, deeply individual […]
If you’re thinking about decluttering or attempting minimalism or just simplifying your possessions, a good question to ask is, “If I were moving tomorrow, would I move this?” It’s a way to quickly separate the things you really want to have from the things that are there just because they’re […]
I used to think linearly in my writing–work on one project until it’s done, and then start the next one. More recently, I’ve found two big benefits from having multiple current projects at once. First, it enables me to stay more consistently creative. Knowing that I have several things to […]
If I drip a little honey on the side of the bottle as I’m making a cup of tea, I’m liable to wipe it with my finger and taste it. It makes the first half of the teacup taste bitter. Of course, the tea doesn’t get any more bitter, but […]
Nat “King” Cole would be 100 years old, almost 101, if he hadn’t died so young–at 45, from lung cancer. For me, Nat represents the epitome of sophisticated phrasing. He sounds like a perfectly tailored suit – not a single stitch out of place. Nat is among the artists that […]
I’d rather have no chocolate than bad chocolate. (For me, that means no Hershey’s bars, but you can draw your own line! Throughout this piece, I’m using bad as a shorthand meaning “not for me.”) I’d rather watch no television than bad television. I’d rather listen to no music than […]
I had a long first rehearsal with members of the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus tonight, preparing for a “live to projection” performance of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Walking in, I had three main goals for the 2-1/2 hour rehearsal. Get through the whole score. We’re looking at long […]
A lot of students are feeling their anxiety rise tonight. Teachers too! It doesn’t take long away from a familiar schedule to make it feel unfamiliar. A typical two-week break is enough to raise stress, anxiety, and a certain voice whispering, “You don’t know how to do this anymore.” Repeat […]