This session addresses effective techniques for the choral conductor who seeks to elicit cohesive musical and technical responses from string players. Strategies addressed include altering the tone color of a string ensemble to correspond to that of a chorus, modifying articulation in order to unify and clarify text, the administration of bowings to enhance and […]
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Dallas Street Choir: The Impact of Communal Singing on Those Experiencing Homelessness
The Dallas Street Choir was established in October 2014 by its current conductor, Jonathan Palant. The Dallas Street Choir has performed throughout North Texas, most notably at the Winspear Opera House, the Moody Performance Hall, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library. In June 2017, the choir debuted at Carnegie Hall and the Washington National […]
The Conductor: Artist, Teacher, Leader
The presenters of this session were born in the same year, prior to the first moon landing, when ACDA was in its infancy. Each was mentored by conductors who became formative in their lives, not only musically, but in a holistic sense. Upon reflection, the presenters identified three traits that characterized these mentors: artist, teacher, […]
The Brain that Came to Rehearsal
Those who do the work, do the learning! This session will utilize brain-behavior research to optimize the rehearsal process for all learning styles and interaction methods. Singers fully engaged in the process will work harder and learn more because they become more active participants in singer-focused rehearsals. By focusing on how singers of all ages […]
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Building Our Choral Communities in the Image of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
The gentle yet powerful, soft-spoken yet courageous voice of Mister Fred Rogers continues to inspire our world’s neighborhoods today. This session will explore how the simple yet profound lessons explored for more than three decades of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” can become a model for our choral classrooms, church music ministries, and choir communities
Singing with Big Ears: Using Vocal Jazz Exercises to Improve Ear Training Across the Entire Choral Program
Do you wish every singer in your choir was a monster sight-reader, had flawless intonation, and could learn advanced music quickly? Vocal jazz warmups develop high-level ear training for singing complex jazz harmony, and these same techniques can be used with any other kind of choir. This session will show conductors how to use simple […]
