When Choir Members Leave By Jaime Babbitt T his common occurrence has baffled choir directors worldwide for (dare I say) centuries. And how about when an accompanist leaves? Whatever is a choral director to do? Ask why…and really be open to hearing the answers, from the members and from yourself.
Recruitment: It’s Never Too Early
Recruitment: It’s Never Too Early By Dr. Megan Wicks-Rudolph H ave you ever thought “It’s too early to recruit? Course cards don’t even come out for another month.”? Or thought, “I need more kids in choir, but I have already tried everything I know.” Or, you have a thriving choral program, but are always looking for more ways to attract those great kids to your program.
Quick pre-performance warm-ups for community choirs
Quick pre-performance warm-ups for community choirs – Total Choir Resources Picture the scene. The audience is filing in; anticipation is in the air. You have all your singers gathered, they look to you to prepare them for a fantastic performance. What do you do? In the early days of running my choir I might have said ‘run away’, but over time I’ve learnt to love this …
Singing Well With Others
Singing Well With Others By Jaime Babbitt F or choristers, blending with their sections (and the entire choir) is as important as a sense of balance is to a downhill skier. It brings to mind the phrase, “You have one job!”
Practice, Practice, Practice: Choral conductors and singers share their own practicing best practices
Practice, Practice, Practice Singers are frustrated too, of course. Practicing can easily take a back seat to work, family, school, and other life obligations. And choral conductors understand what their singers are up against. “Our world right now is overwhelming to people,” says Jennifer Tibben, music director of Bella Voce, a women’s chorus in Reno, Nevada, who herself leads seven choirs and has six children at home.
Community choirs take over the world!
Community choirs take over the world! – Total Choir Resources It’s never been more popular to sing in a choir. The choral landscape is unrecognisable to what it was only a few years ago. Choirs are springing up in communities all over the place and they look very different to the choirs of old! We stopped singing In bygone decades, choral singing was basically the …