arrange • compose • conduct
The first time I saw The Real Group was March of 1996 – I was a freshman in college. A couple of non-music-major friends had planned to join me, but canceled at the last minute. I was so floored by this remarkable group that I ran to a PAY PHONE, called, […]
One of the important jobs a choir director owns is in creating singular experiences. Whether in travel, like my friend Greg heading to Europe in seven days, or connection, like singing for a visiting motivational speaker, as a group at my school did this morning. Most of all, we create singular musical experiences – which should involve […]
I heard from a client I regularly arrange for that they were struggling with some syncopations – specifically, eighth-note anticipations of the downbeat. In reflecting on how I teach in such situations, I discovered that the most frequent rhythmic noise I make in rehearsal is to strengthen this type of syncopation. Long after I […]
Today is the beginning of Arts Advocacy Day 2017. (For reasons unclear but welcome, it lasts for two days). I salute all of you taking the time to advocate for the arts today, whether through letters, calls, or trips to Washington, D.C. It makes a difference. What is the crux of arts advocacy? […]
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” goes the popular expression attributed to Laozi from the Tao Te Ching. Put another way, if you do a little bit every day, eventually you’ve done a lot. Yesterday my daily public writing crossed 200,000 words – roughly the length of Harry […]
Every piece of music you work on will have distinct musical elements that require distinct interpretation. However, accomplished musicians develop a set of “Factory Defaults” for musicality that enable them to play or sing with musicality, even when sight reading. As music educators, we can instill these Factory Defaults in our students – liken them to the […]
The inimitable Michael McGlynn celebrated the 30th anniversary of his vocal ensemble Anúna last night at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. It was attended by the Irish president – cheers to a country’s leader appreciating the fine arts! Michael has an impressive body of choral compositions and arrangements drawing on chant, Irish […]
I’m going on an imaginary trip to Orlando today. That’s roughly 1,000 miles. Here’s a couple of driving scenarios. I can drive exactly 55 miles per hour, the highway minimum, for the entire way. That will take about 18 1/4 hours. I can drive exactly 70 mph, the highway maximum, for […]
If only you had more unstructured time. I’m watching my sons create, design, and plan a scene in the basement – complete with foil props, improvised costumes, and who knows what else. It all resulted from a long unstructured afternoon. I don’t know many adults who have much unstructured time. I […]
There’s an argument to be made for preemptively canceling a rehearsal if you know it’s going to be less than ideal. Singers missing for other activities, illness (singers’ or conductor’s), general exhaustion from other commitments. The better argument is about defining who we are as an ensemble. We are the sum of […]