arrange • compose • conduct
I am decidedly introverted; however, my work and especially the projects I am creating require me to get out and talk to groups about what I’m working on. After a particularly busy weekend a couple years ago, presenting, presiding, and helping host a conference, I joked at the end of one session that […]
One of the most important keys to success in habit maintenance is the use of triggers. Find something you do that can act as a tripwire – and then force yourself to perform your habit immediately. For example: during the school year, I make a cup of tea every morning at 6am – after I’ve finished my […]
Choral teachers: as we reach the end of the summer and the beginning of the school year, it’s time for a “summer take-stock.” (I saw my school’s summer stock performance of Once on This Island on Friday…) I’m asking myself these questions; hope they are of value to you, too. What do […]
In our choral world, the possibility to thrive seems to grow more fraught every year. I don’t need to list the reasons why: anyone paying attention to the current states of education, music, and society knows why. Which is why we need the camaraderie that we get from a few days together in a workshop. The […]
Yesterday, as part of the MSVMA Summer Workshop, I gave a 15-minute talk on the value and obstacles of choirs participating in commissions. I am increasingly convinced that commissioning new works is a vital and neglected part of our duty as choral conductors. As part of that talk, I announced and launched a […]
This morning at the MSVMA Summer Workshop, Mandy shared a fabulous hour of insight into the use of mindfulness for the choral educator and in the choral classroom. I hope she continues to share it in other locations; in the meantime enjoy her session presentation here.
The other day I heard a pop song in a restaurant or in a store that was clearly reacting to the overproduced, slickly auto-tuned sound that is pervasive right now. Their reaction – sing without pitch correction. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. To my ear, they were intentionally singing out-of-tune as a sort of statement […]
Here’s a two-step plan for achieving the dreams you’re too busy to get to. 1. Acknowledge your Core Mission. Imagine you’re a Fortune 500 company – what is the bottom line, sine qua non of your professional life? 2. For every opportunity that comes your way, ask yourself: is that part of […]
On a boat, my son likes to shout “Starboard over port, I can hit you if I want!” He learned the idea during a sailing camp earlier this summer. It’s a standard rule of sailboat racing that right-of-way goes to the boat with the wind crossing over the starboard (right) side […]
“That just turned today into an Epic Day.” So we told our sons’ great aunt after she gave them a jet ski ride. A moment of pure joy that made their day special. What can you do to make today epic? Here are a few things you could do: Watch the […]