arrange • compose • conduct
In her wonderful, vital new book The Art of Gathering, Priya Parker writes, “Great hosts…understand that how you end things, like how you begin them, shapes people’s experience, sense of meaning, and memory.” Choir directors get to practice endings really often – and are generally pretty good at the big ones. We know […]
Being in a choir is more than singing together. It’s a family. It’s a community. It’s the best place I know to learn collaboration and trust. Being in a choir is more than singing together, but I just know that the first time we can all sing together again, I […]
What is the ethos of your choral institution? Merriam Webster defines ethos: The distinguishing character, sentiment, moral nature, or guiding beliefs of a person, group, or institution. Maybe there was a time when the ethos of a choral ensemble or institution needed no more specificity than “make music together as […]
I have been processing the cancellation of concerts, conferences, festivals, and an international trip planned for this summer. All that is tough to process–and the right call. But what is most important? What is most important is the loss of regular music-making. The daily or weekly growth, the human connection, […]
Priya Parker often says that the best gatherings have “a specific, disputable purpose.” That the purpose is disputable is essential to creating meaning, because an indisputable purpose is going to give rise to gatherings where little growth can occur among the participants. If everyone agrees, no one can grow. I […]
Choral educators are some of the hardest working educators people I know. Emotionally, physically, intellectually – they give so much. It’s at gatherings like the MSVMA conference I’m currently attending that we all remember why we work so hard. We’re reminded through the stories our colleagues share, through their earnest […]
“We can talk about making a difference, we can make a difference, or we can do both.” – Debbie Millman That’s the tagline that designer Debbie Millman uses to end her outstanding “Design Matters” podcast, and it’s a good reminder for all of us: particularly educators. Leadership comes in many […]
In this long political primary season, one of the regular topics of discussion is which candidate has momentum. And it’s true, having the sense of success can absolutely lead to people joining you, participating more, and committing to your movement. How do you generate momentum in your choir? How do you jumpstart a […]
In The Art of Asking, Amanda Palmer says there are three phases for an artist’s creative process: Collect When you gather new experiences or observations. Reading, listening, tasting. Connect When you literally connect the dots between what you’ve collected. This is when your art gets created. Share When you stop creating the art and […]