The Choral Public Domain Library represents a wealth of free music: the site currently hosts free scores of over 17,000 choral and vocal works by over 2,000 composers, and its stores continue to grow daily. As schools of all levels battle reduced budgets, a free resource such as CPDL represents a treasure trove of easily […]
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Mentoring the New Choral Conductor: Essential Tips for the First Five Years
The number of college students who will soon be new conductors as well as conductors with less than five years experience is on the rise. The first few years in any position can be simply overwhelming, and one can often feel unprepared. Even with strong undergraduate programs preparing students through ensemble and studio work as […]
Interpreting and Understanding Romantic German Choral Repertoire: Phrasing, Pronunciation, Agogic, and Beyond
Mendelssohn, Brahms, Bruckner… German and choral music composed in German language truly holds countless treasures. Pronunciation, the handling of text, word-music relationship, and characteristics of agogic and phrasing will be the focus of this interest session. The Webern Chamber Choir serves as a studio choir, who will, with the help of Alois Glassner, introduce attendees […]
Fun + Fabulous Sight-Singing for the Classroom
This session will present ten strategies to increase student engagement in sight-singing instruction in the choral classroom. Attendees will be given practical solutions for maintaining student interest and engagement for teaching music literacy in rehearsal. These lessons will help students develop skill in music reading by incorporating creative, student-centered input opportunities. Basics of curriculum, pitch […]
From Victoria to Verdi: Victory over Issues of Vibrato/Non-Vibrato, Choral Blend, and Additional Ensemble Challenges with the “Operatic” Student Voice
Coming from the unique perspective of a choral conductor/educator, opera chorus master and vocal coach, Walter Huff will bring twenty voice majors from the Jacobs School of Music and present these singers as soloists and choral singers. The audience will hear each singer offer thirty seconds of a solo/area selection in order to hear the […]
Choral Intonation: Can You Tune a Soprano Like You Tune a Piano?
Drawing on the presenter’s professional experience as a piano technician and choral conductor, the session will address initial factors relating to intonation in any field. Members will discuss what it means to sing “in tune.” The presenter aims to encourage frustrated conductors and confused singers. Most of the session will assess causes of poor intonation […]
