arrange • compose • conduct
Children love non sequiturs. Silliness in picture books – even full on absurdism – is accepted and appreciated by five-year-olds. Not so much for kids in their second decade, generally. We generally tend to seek more “realism” in our literature as we age. A five-year-old doesn’t think that being silly […]
When a couple new people joined the ensemble, as they were working to get up to speed on a difficult piece, I pointed out that, “The fact that everyone else eventually got there is proof of concept. I know you can, too!” Proof of Concept is a real-world example that […]
I don’t think that you can overstate the legacy of Dr. Steve Zegree and the influence he had on the lives and careers of so many performers, writers, producers, and music educators. Now, nearly five years after his untimely death, I still feel like you would need four-inch-high letters to […]
The best outcomes often come when you balance personal initiative and collaboration. Many minds come up with better ideas than any individuals, that is clear. But many minds staring at a big problem might not find a good way in. At the very least, they won’t find it quickly. So […]
Choral concert days are full of special moments. There are the special moments before the concert – warmups, final instructions, huddles and so on. There are the special moments during the concert – your favorite measure of your favorite piece, when you heart soars. Nailing the spot that gave you […]
This Saturday, the Rockford Choirs will be hosting a Silent Auction and Dinner to raise funds for our 2020 European Tour to France, Germany, and Belgium (including the 11th World Choir Games in Flanders). I’ve donated several items, and one is a commissioned composition or arrangement for the ensemble of […]
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 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 […]