arrange • compose • conduct
I’ve enjoyed lots of high school and collegiate choral performances over the course of my career: at festivals, concerts, conferences, etc. It’s almost a cliche to end a choral performance with a spiritual or gospel piece. By my count, at least seven groups ended in just that way at the most recent National […]
Focus during performance is the sine qua non of great music-making. Making music at a high level is simply too hard to achieve without laser focus. Without constant vigilance, extraneous thoughts creep in and with them, memory slips or other little errors. Tuning, vowels, expression all suffer if you aren’t […]
Every Michigan conductor I know has to spend time combatting the Michigan accent – wide vowels, lowered soft palette, nasal. Generally the conductor will do an exaggerated imitation, but I’ve found a better solution. Ladies and gentlemen, our Governor, Rick Snyder, sports the Michiganniest Michigan accent I’ve ever heard. Next time you hear the Michigan […]
‘Tis the season when 2 hours a week together just isn’t close to enough. The Rockford Aces rehearse for an hour on their own, too, which is a huge help. But not enough. The music is more challenging, and the expectations are much higher. Enter personal practice. As of last […]
Some people take the microphone because they have something to sell; some take it because they have something to give. Some people take the microphone because they love the sound of their voice. Some take it because they have something worth hearing. It’s easy to look at someone who always takes the mic and […]
You’re only as good as your last performance. Whether in singing, conducting, writing, teaching, composing, parenting, running, or any other action you complete regularly, it’s your consistency that matters more than a shining moment. The way to get to consistency is practice and focus. A great performance can happen once […]
Do you follow Postmodern Jukebox? They specialize in arrangements of current pop tunes in vintage styles (’40s jazz, Motown, Edith Piaf, etc.). This is my favorite cover, featuring Puddles The Sad Clown singing Royals. Recently they performed a ’20s version of Iggy Azalea’s Fancy. Recently on the BBC version of […]
In my attempt to evoke more expressive singing from my choirs, I’ve tried urging, I’ve had students try dramatic readings of the text, I’ve showed pictures to evoke the message, I’ve made the “ultra expressive” face while conducting. Last week, I tried a new activity: children’s books. I propose that […]
My sons practice piano almost every day, and they really enjoy it. It’s also virtually assured that one of them will weep when staring down a new piece each week. And almost without fail, two minutes of reminders to slow down, take it apart, figure it out results in a […]
Last week I talked about the doctoral-level arrange puzzle Anders Edenroth gave himself in his new piece, “Water.” Here’s a list of corners you can try painting yourself into. It’s a great way to refresh your writing on your next arrangement or if you’re just stuck on the next A […]