arrange • compose • conduct
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 […]
The best voice lessons for elementary students go by a different name. Piano lessons. If your kid loves to sing, let them sing. Find a youth choir to join. They will eat it up. The best one-on-one musical education she or he can get is in musicianship. Learn to read […]
Michigan high school graduation requirements include several areas of coursework beyond the core curriculum of science, social studies, English, foreign language, and mathematics. I thought I’d take a look at two of these and how they are implemented. The two major requirements beyond those are: Physical Education – 1 credit […]
“That’s not failing, that’s just falling!” Yesterday I wrote about a generation of kids afraid to fall. Here’s Part II: The Good News. The arts teach kids to fall and to get back up. Piano lessons, choir and band, musicals, plays, dance troupes. Painting, drawing, sculpture. Being involved in the […]
In the era of high stakes testing, permanent academic records, and an ultra-competitive college admissions, high school students are ever-more afraid of failing. Unfortunately, that is appearing as students afraid to take risks, afraid to look beyond the rubric or the assignment, afraid to be creative. A slip on an […]
If you want to increase your fluency in music and get better as fast as you can you need to learn to recognize mistakes as fast as they happen. Every repetition of a mistake will cost you 3-5 repetitions of the corrected version down the road. Part of this is […]
My mom was always very proud of our Irish heritage – to the point of giving me and my siblings green freckles on St. Patrick’s Day. So perhaps it’s no surprise that I’ve long been inspired by the music of Michael McGlynn and Anúna. Perhaps, though, it’s his creative approach […]
Are you in a hurry to get fit? To build the skills you’ll need to succeed? I’m all for working on sprinting and taking the time for the long runs you’ll need to build skills and stamina. But it’s worthwhile to sometimes walk. Slow down, take in the world. Breathe […]