arrange • compose • conduct
In a recent Facebook Q&A, James Taylor fielded this question from fellow choral director Abby Arenstam. Enjoy his response! (emphasis mine) I am a public school chorus teacher. If you had advice for my students who want to a pursue a career in music what would that advice be? Well, […]
Find the real world, give it endlessly away Grow rich, flinging gold to all who ask Live at the empty heart of Paradox I’ll dance there with you, cheek to cheek. -Rumi More and more, learn to live with uncertainty. Orient yourself to live in the places that require cognitive dissonance. […]
Steve Zegree often talked about his students leaving his care “changed at the molecular level.” That’s how I feel about last week’s one-on-one fellowship with Alice Parker. It was me, Mandy, and Alice, singing, talking, and most of all listening for three hours a day. I feel molecularly changed. I feel […]
In her book The Anatomy of Melody, Alice Parker describes a choir festival experience. “I once (never again) adjudicated at a high school festival where four choruses in sequence sang the same choral work to a group of judges scattered around a darkened auditorium. We were to judge only on the […]
On the Tony Awards this year, Fun Home was recognized with five awards, including Best Musical. It’s an unlikely winner, based on the graphic memoir of cartoonist Alison Bechdel. During the Awards telecast, the cast performed “Ring of Keys,” primarily a solo by an 11-year-old version of Bechdel. It stunningly […]
Accent is one of the most incredible vocal groups in the world right now. They’re incredible because of their story – six men in five countries, united by a love of rich harmony and a willingness to use technology to bridge their gaps. They’re incredible because of their blend – six utterly […]
“Having students afraid of you is a teaching win!” “Don’t smile till Christmas.” “It is better to be feared than loved.” There are lots of ways to say it: fear is a great motivator, and the proper wielding of power is an important part of success as a teacher. I […]
Can you believe the guts of president Obama? I get jittery singing in front of my students – and I’m a musician. He stood and sang “Amazing Grace” in front of the world last week. In her book The Anatomy of Melody, Alice Parker writes, When our ears and voices connect […]
James Taylor averaged a new original album every 16 months in the 1970s – not counting his 11X platinum Greatest Hits released in 1976. His album “Before This World“, released on June 16, is his first album of original music since 2002. James Taylor fans have been waiting – which is probably why it’s […]
There are lots of things that a good choral program does every year – a little Renaissance, a little Baroque, a little Lauridsen or Whitacre. Here are three ideas for revitalizing your programming with out-of-the-box ideas. Program Some Alice Parker – celebrating her 90th Birthday this year. Program Some Vocal Jazz – and not […]