Song and the Stage

Aside from the standard choral department offerings, vocal music often manifests itself in productions that might fall under the umbrella of the Theatre Arts. These can range from show choir to musicals, from dinner theatre to variety-type school plays, and more. Some of these productions are lead by a drama teacher and housed in a […]

American Perspective Vocal Jazz (Part I: Easy-Medium)

Jazz is one of the only truly American art forms. It has given us some of our greatest cultural treasures, has inspired composers in other idioms, and has become one of our best-received cultural exports. For this issue, I explore some arrangements of jazz standards for vocal ensemble that can help singer-students learn about this […]

2009, January

Vol. 4 Folk Songs/Dances AnthologyWhirlwind Music has released Percy Grainger’s Folk Songs Dances in Lincolnshire Posy book and CD. The book includes folk music for singing, historical, and interpretive notes. The CD includes the Old Lincolnshire Folk Singers, along with Percy Grainger, speaking, singing, and playing modern renditions of folk music. Retail price is $24.95. […]

Eliminating Vocal Mistakes

Download PDF of article to view 4 examples! Identify whether the melody, the rhythm, your intonation, or the lyrics themselves are at the root of persistent errors. When I first began studying voice, I practiced by repeatedly singing a piece from beginning to end until I made a mistake. Then I would start again, vowing […]

Change for#149; Music Education?

“Everybody had access to Music, and everybody had access to Art. And the reason is because people understood, even though they hadn’t done the scientific research back then, that children who learn music do better in math. Kids’ whose imaginations are sparked by the Arts are more engaged in school… so these things aren’t extras, […]

2009, January

The City Choir of Washington Hosts World PremiereThe City Choir of Washington’s second season will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Grammy Award-winning conductor, Robert Shafer and his many contributions to the Washington, D.C. area’s musical vitality. Shafer, who was recently honored for his 25 years as Artist-in-Residence at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, […]

The Choral Commission: Writing and Preparing Student Texts for Submission

As the weather changes from warm to cold and we enter the winter season, the choirs at Learwood Middle School are working hard on music for our Winter Concert and getting ready for a long awaited vacation. But the students and, for that matter, their director are anxious to leave behind the Yuletide and begin […]

Dear Mr. President

The Honorable Barack ObamaPresident of the United States of America1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, D.C. Dear President Obama, How’s it going? Have you found all the light switches in your new digs? Is it hard to sneak into the kitchen for a midnight snack with all the Secret Service folks around? How about that dog for the […]

Fourth Annual Choral Directors of Note