More than 11,000 people have now read our first article, “Virtual Choir Made Easy.” For that, we are truly grateful.  In case you missed it, you can read Part I by clicking here.  And, we know many of our readers tackled the task of creating their first virtual presentation in 2020.  Congratulations!  We’ve heard from many of you and applaud you for venturing into the deep, dark unknown.  I know it was scary for many of you, but YOU DID IT!  And, if you have a story about your adventure you’d like to share with us, we would love to hear from you at EasyChoirMusic ..read more

  When school is in session, the pressure is on, and the schedule is non-stop! Sometimes it’s hard to tell where one day ends and the next one begins. Your days are super demanding and there is an endless line of people requiring your constant attention. The mad dash toward the spring concert is a giant whirlwind of endless details. Then...in a moment…it’s all over. Whew! Finally!! School is out. Now…what to do this summer? There are many ways to fill your time this summer, but consider these five R’s as a formula for maximizing your time: 1. REST  You’ve been busy, and your mind ..read more

Only 128 days left until Christmas, 115 to Hanukkah, and 130 to Kwanzaa. Normally this would be an exciting statement and we’d all be planning our repertoire, costumes, dress rehearsals, reserving space for performances, and a thousand other details that make a concert come together. But this is 2020…and the first half of the year has given us not only Covid-19, but a great deal of a lot of hindsight as well.  The 2019-2020 concert year was rolling along with plans ramping up for Easter and spring concerts when without warning the world was hit with the Covid-19 pandemic. Suddenly thing ..read more

Summer is upon us and restrictions are lifting following the wake of the international Covid-19 pandemic.  Businesses are beginning to re-open and people everywhere are anxious to get about their business, enjoy the outdoors and contemplate future plans. Choristers and directors everywhere are also contemplating their next moves.  When do we resume rehearsals?  Is group-singing safe?  Is congregational singing safe?  Should we carry on throughout this summer and fall using Virtual Choir Projects? Virtual Choirs are not just for pandemics; they can be highly effecti ..read more

  Well, here we are, choir directors without choirs; musicians without rehearsals; choral technicians without clinics.  What strange and unprecedented times. How are you coping? Your singers? As is often famously spoken, “the show must go on!”  But how? How can we go on making music together while in isolation? I’m sure you have seen virtual choirs before, but have you ever assembled one?  Don’t know how? I directed my first virtual choir last week and 26 of my singers opted to accept the challenge to participate. You can hear/view the final result here: https://youtu.be/2 ..read more

  Directing a volunteer choir can be challenging and quite rewarding at the same time.  The potential to immediately and radically change the sound of your ensemble is always present.  Consider these six strategies that can help you improve the sound of your volunteer choir right away: TAKE TIME TO HEAR EVERY VOICE:  Take time to hold one-on-one singer/director “mini voice lessons.”  These will give you valuable information about your singers such as range and tone quality as well as any weaknesses the singers may have.  Be sure to avoid the word “audition” when ..read more

  Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and everyone is focused on showing that special someone just how much you care for them.  It is also a great time for choir directors everywhere to show our choirs how much we care about them. May these “BE’s” be helpful to you as you think of ways to show your singers just how much they mean to you this Valentine’s Day and many days beyond. BE PREPARED – Nothing says “I care about you” more to your choir than for you, the director, to always be prepared.  Know your music inside and out. Prepare for rehearsals. Have long-term rehe ..read more

  For those of you teaching singers in schools across the world, congratulations, most of you are just beyond the halfway point of your annual teaching cycle.  For you choral directors leading in churches, the current church year is only a couple of months old, but you’re well on your way toward Easter Sunday. Regardless of where you are in your choral music leadership this year, it’s always a good time to stop and have a quick mid-year posture check.  I hope these simple reminders are helpful to you as you shape singers of all kinds. FEET:  Choristers need to be reminded ..read more

It’s a new year and everyone is back in action.  Rest and relaxation is over; back to the daily grind.  And what’s it all for? A few moments of music making each week, a concert or two, contests?  In exchange for the massive amount of energy it takes to plan lessons, choose music, deal with parents, discipline students, say the same thing to the same people one million times per week?  I ask again, what’s it all for? When the dust settles, what have I really accomplished? Does my investment mean anything, or am I just yelling into the wind? I’ve felt like this, and you pro ..read more

  WATCH YOURSELF ON VIDEO – The best way to make immediate progress in your ensemble conducting is by setting up a video camera in your rehearsal space, recording several rehearsals and then viewing the videos.  I recommend using two different camera angles; one from the back and center of the ensemble, and the other from your right or left profile. The first angle (back-center) shows precisely what the ensemble sees.  When you view the video, you will immediately find examples where your gestures and words need to be economized and improved. The second camera angle (from the s ..read more