This session will focus on quality repertoire for sopranos and altos still with complex subjects and intricate texts our singers crave—but accessible musically for less-experienced groups or for advanced ensembles with smaller numbers. Repertoire will take into account the challenges we often face when programming,including divisi, independence of voice lines, ranges, and harmonic/rhythmic complexity that […]
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Musician and Clergy: Collaboration as Models for Leadership
There is an increasing concern in the church today about the lack of collaboration and respect between clergy and church musicians. Each group often talks about the other with frustration and sometimes disdain. The question becomes: how can we engage in good practices that will move our music ministries forward? What strategies can we use […]
Individual Assessment in the Choral Classroom: The Dirty Work!
Assessment in the choral classroom presents numerous curricular and logistical challenges. Teachers at all levels are expected to evaluate students almost immediately upon entering the classroom. This session aims to give teachers a variety of assessment tools at each instructional level. Examples of rubrics for a variety of classroom settings will be displayed, along with […]
The Evolving Singing Voice: Adolescence
NATS President Karen Brunssen and Chadley Ballantyne present the latest techniques, vocal acoustics, and more for adolescent singing from Karen Brunssen’s new book, The Evolving Singing Voice: Changes Across the Lifespan. Learn Chadley’s cutting-edge “WEIRD” exercise that uses adolescents’ own resonance and articulation to optimize vocal function, affects on resonance because of non-uniform vocal fold […]
The Engaged Singer: Ways to Create Expressive Performances
Many choirs struggle with communicating expressively. However, studies show that a visually expressive ensemble will come across as more engaging for their audience. Having a “full bodied” performance can bring a choir’s singing to the next level and create an engaging performance for an audience member. Through storytelling, movement, games, and imitation, this session discusses […]
Young People-Old Music: Connecting to Our Choral Legacy
In a recent survey of music performed at ACDA National Conferences from 1960 to 2017, less than 20% of compositions were from the Romantic period or earlier. With so many new choral titles available to-day, it can be easy to neglect music from earlier historical periods. Selling “old” music to young people can be a […]
