Head Voice Example

I am always on the lookout for examples of men using their head voice effectively. A well-developed head voice is one of the biggest keys to a vibrant and healthful TTBB choir sound. Students need to hear and assimilate this vocal technique. Which is why I’m so happy that Leslie Odom, Jr.’s star has […]

Wooden Wednesdays: Initiative

Note: this is the eigth of a series of posts investigating the leadership style of John Wooden and its applicability to choral music education. John Wooden’s third block in the second tier of his Pyramid of Success is INITIATIVE. Wooden says, “Failure to act is often the biggest failure of all. Initiative is the ability to act. Simple […]

What Would It Take?

With strongly held views, we are all liable to ignore evidence to the contrary. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to avoid this trap, and I think it comes down to one simple question. What would it take to make you change your mind? I ask myself the question often, and […]

Accept Any Role

There is often a box on an audition form that reads something like this: I will accept any role offered   YES [] NO [] (If no, please explain) I am firmly in the camp of accepting any role. Perhaps the opportunity being offered isn’t what you’d hoped for or believe […]

Musicality Beyond Music

Does your understanding of music extend beyond music? Do you appreciate, and encourage your students to appreciate, musical behavior in nonmusical situations? I love farce, particularly well-performed farce. The dialogue becomes music. The same is true of Aaron Sorkin’s beautiful dialogue. Today, I’ve been enjoying this epically brilliant duet – two very different instruments […]

A Third Done

This is the last day of first trimester finals at my school. Quick math…that means that the 2016-17 school year is 1/3 over. Yes, that’s right – the first third of your year is behind you. (Of course, December is still December, and choir teachers are permitted to count it twice, it’s so […]

Bullseye Thinking

When we ask someone, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, we’re not asking for a range of ideas. We want to know as specifically as possible. We want to know the bullseye they’re aiming for. I see in the eyes and hearts of many students the results of this bullseye […]