arrange • compose • conduct
If you wonder whether it is really that important to have a fully engaged face when singing, consider the McGurk Effect. According to Wikipedia, The illusion occurs when the auditory component of one sound is paired with the visual component of another sound, leading to the perception of a third […]
I realize I memorialized Gene Puerling only last week, but today would be his 86th birthday. I don’t need a special day to celebrate the creative genius of Puerling, but I will take advantage of it every time I can. Today, let’s turn to a wonderful live recording from 1978. […]
What a joy it is to have a hand in the creation or premiere of new music. Right now I am working with two composers on commissions for my group, the Rockford Aces. Emailing about texts, style, duration and so on is exciting – together we are shaping what a […]
Are you as frustrated with the lack of quality arts coverage as I am? Over the 20 years I’ve been reading the Sunday New York Times, coverage of classical and jazz music has slowly been replaced with stories of pop/entertainment. The quality remains high of what they do cover, but the space is reduced, as […]
Recently Seth Godin wrote compellingly about humanity’s ability to look away when the problem seems unsolvable. He challenges those who want to effect change to look deeper rather than look away. One of the best ways I know to look is through art. Today the Rockford Aces will present Kurt Bestor’s Prayer […]
We are hardwired to equate time and value. The more something is worth to us, the more time we are willing to spend on it. I think our brains assume the converse is true, too: the more time we spend, the more worth that experience has. By that measure, the […]
Dear Choir Directors, Statewide education cuts got you down? Feeling undervalued by society? You already have the skills you need for a new career! An experienced choir director is ready to leap into any of these positions without blinking an eye: Executive Director of a non-profit Camp Director Private Voice Teacher […]
There is simply no way to overstate how important Gene Puerling’s influence has been on 20th and 21st century vocal music. I believe he is the among the most important choral writers of the last 100 years, and someday his writing will be recognized by the choral world as on […]
“Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win.” -Bobby Knight Success comes to those who show up, day after day, in the practice room, in class, on the field, in the studio. It isn’t an accident. If you really want it, then you […]
What are you going to do for you this spring? Music teachers are among the most selfless, giving, group I know. I know one teacher who complained that they needed their own school alarm code because 5am was too late to come in and start working. You’re giving 200%, double […]