arrange • compose • conduct
One of the most beautiful parts about including tight vocal jazz harmony in your curriculum is watching as students begin making friends with chords. At first, the complex chords can seem foreign to the eye and shocking to an ear accustomed to triadic harmony. But very quickly, with repetition, students begin […]
So much is swirling through your mind at any moment. The next rehearsal plan. Programming the next concert. Call time, concert attire, standing arrangements. Intonation strategies, vowels and consonants, layers of meaning in the text. Communicating musical elements with the accompanist, being ready for your next observation, and making eye […]
It’s my end-of-school-year tradition to publish the repertoire my ensemble sang over the year. With my first year at GRCC in the books, here are the pieces Shades of Blue learned and performed. For reference, in the Fall Semester Shades of Blue had one soprano, one alto, two tenors, and […]
Since every choir director I know lives somewhere on the spectrum of workaholism, I have a recommendation: Take a listen to Adam Grant’s WorkLife Podcast (sponsored by TED). In particular this episode, entitled When Work Takes Over Your Life. Maybe while you’re catching up on email or filing choral octavos. […]
Sometimes a performer or group gives a great performance but doesn’t receive the reception or accolades they might deserve. At that time, it might be worthwhile to use this great expression: “You were selling apples, but they were in the market for oranges.” You can have the most magnificent, fresh, […]
Your students likely have no perspective on the passage of time. Either because they haven’t had as many trips around the sun, or because they’re so caught up in their day-to-day work, they often aren’t aware of the 30,000-foot view of time. It’s the educator’s job, the parent’s job, the […]
“If you go to the dentist twice a year, but never brush your teeth, your teeth are all going to fall out.” – Simon Sinek It’s not big mistakes that cause us to fail, it’s little ones. It’s missing the daily 5-10 minutes of piano practice. It’s not writing your […]
Three great reasons to record your ensemble: Musicians learn new ways to listen and make music in the studio. Conductors expand their ears and learn their strengths and weaknesses as they produce recordings. You have a permanent memory for the ensemble to carry with them. Studio recordings are powerful educational […]
When to make next time better is right after you finish. Don’t wait, don’t postpone. Find time when it’s fresh in your mind to make as many notes as you can. Discuss ideas, admit errors, and celebrate successes. In a week or a month, you might have more time – […]
In the book La Bella Lingua, author Dianne Hales devotes a chapter to “Eating Italian” – the words surrounding Italian food. She describes, “one of my favorite Italian proverbs: Anche l’occhio vuole la sua parte (the eye too wants its part). In Italy food must be bello as well as buono.” Having just returned from a choir tour […]