arrange • compose • conduct
I relished the opportunity to spend time in rehearsal tonight letting the ensemble pick their new piece for State S&E. They had two options, and we spent about 20 minutes reading through each piece, with the urging to stay as focused as possible so they could debate with as much […]
I like to start each new semester with a handful of personal resolutions – things I want to do better this semester, things I want to try, things I want to achieve. Things like: No repertoire I’ve conducted before Keep my talking to under 30 seconds during active rehearsal segments. […]
Yesterday, I wrote about how much music benefits from percolation, especially in the form of multiple performances. Why not, then, program less music? I tend to program between 15 and 20 pieces of music for my ensembles each year. Why not cut that to 10 or even 8, and repeated […]
I want my students to graduate with the same constellation of skills, regardless of the year they graduate. There needs to be some consistency to the experience, year after year. I want to have novelty – I am teaching between 15 and 20 pieces per year to each of my […]
There are three kind of repertoire: Standards. These are the pieces you’ve conducted enough times that you can correct the mistakes before they’re made. Pieces You Know Well. Maybe you’ve conducted it before, maybe you studied it in depth in a choral lit class or by listening to that one […]
Playing games is the most important way to get great at chess, but they are more effective paired with different other practice strategies. The same is true for performance repertoire in the choral rehearsal. Part of the tradition of learning chess is to play puzzles that require you to force […]
It comes down to this: “A category is not a purpose.” (p.2) So here’s the question of the day: a choir is a category – what is it purpose? Parker writes, “If I were to ask you the purpose behind [your] gatherings, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear what I […]
What is your new normal going to be? My students are primed for a return to normalcy in the fall. Concerts are on the calendar, retreats are being scheduled, and we’re anticipating a full menu of the statewide events we usually enjoy being a part of. But with over a […]
I like to program only repertoire I love – I love the text, or I love the arrangement, or I love the melody, or I love the concepts it teaches – but it’s never attainable for all singers in a choir love all the pieces in their folders. As a […]
I’ve been attending a great series of physical and vocal warmups on Wednesdays, presented by Katarina Henryson and The Real Group Academy. She leads a group on Zoom for a 40-minute warmup that leaves me feeling recharged, ready to sing, and inspired. She pointed out today that her warmup has […]