Choralosophy

In this conversation, Soprano Deborah Stephens and I engage in an open and raw conversation about many aspects of identity and how it effects our concepts of self as well as how this effects our view of the music world. We hit the hot button topics of our own identities and how we see ourselves, … Continue reading "Episode 55: Music At the Intersection of Identities with Deborah Stephens"

Your TeacherGram can’t be your main focus. Make sure your kids remain at the center of everything you’re doing. Katherine Rosenfeld We are now in a time in which the line between our day to lives and our social media lives are becoming ever harder to keep separate. Almost like a living business card, we … Continue reading "Episode 54: Choir Teacher TikTok and Tips for Social Medi...

I was recently introduced to the Enneagram, so I cannot claim any expertise on it, so I called in a knowledgable friend! I invited Kailin Kane to come explain the Enneagram in a way that can enhance the context for those that know about it already, or as an introduction to noobs like me. As … Continue reading "Episode 53: The Enneagram As a Tool for Harmonious Rehearsals with Kailin Kane"

JUMP STRAIGHT TO VIDEO Resonance Unit With Voce Vista Define Resonance Define overtones Discuss (let kids chime in as much as possible) the examples of simple musical instruments. Why does a piano sound like a piano, or guitar like a guitar etc. (I recommend having your computer ready with some simple instrument sounds mp3s that … Continue reading "BONUS Virtual Unit on Resonance- VIDEO VERS...

Tune As I Reflect On The Year, and Look Forward to 2021! 2020 is coming to a close (thank God) and I wanted to thank the readers and listeners here on ChoralNet, the Podcast channels, YouTube, or wherever you engage with Choralosophy content! This year has been year of growth for the show, and it wouldn’t have … Continue reading "COVID and Social Justice: A Look Back at Audience Fa...

Don’t bring work home with you. Grading practices and making literacy the core of the curriculum can lead to better choirs, less stress for the teacher and more time in class for a rich and in depth learning experience. This episode takes on a unique format, in that it was birthed from listener response from … Continue reading "Episode 52: Better Choirs with Less Work After Hours with...

I am really struggling with teaching online. I know many of you are too. Since, I pick up a vibe that this is a touchy subject to discuss, I have no choice but to discuss it. Such is the lot of the podcaster, I suppose. I hope this helps somebody.

When you do music from a culture that is not your own, it is like you are holding someone else’s dreams and past in your hands. Janet Galván In this touching and vulnerable conversation, Dr. Galván and I discuss the very important issue of programming and preparing to perform music from an ever growing number … Continue reading "Episode 51: Diversifying Repertoire is a Personal Journey...

I am pleased to introduce you to the next EXPOSED composer from Graphite Publishing, David von Kampen. I am doing a piece of David’s this winter with my students, and was inspired to pass along how great it is! So, why not resurrect this segment on the show. Enjoy!

“To stimulate thinking you must ask questions. The instant you give YOUR philosophy, the thinking stops. What you want is for them to think for themselves.” Dr. Eph Ehly It’s difficult to describe the impact that Eph Ehly has had on the choral profession. In fact, it may be impossible to quantify. He has cultivated … Continue reading "Episode 50: An Eagle’s Eye View w...

Is school really driving community spread? Or is school safer than the general community? Dr. Høeg joins me to discuss a topic that is directly pertinent to many of my listeners as colleagues and friends who are concerned or at least interested in understanding how Covid is affecting school from a science and data perspective. … Continue reading "Episode 49: Cutting Through the Hype of Covid...

A choral musician with a “marathon mindset” would never listen to a choir and think, “well, we’re done. We’ve done all we can do.” The same is true of our lives as teachers/conductors. Welcome Dr. Emily Williams Burch BACK to the show, but this time IN my home studio. A personal and vulnerable conversation in … Continue reading "Episode 48: The Choral Mara...

As many listeners know, quality conversation is my passion. Building our resistance to vitriol and judgment in online conversation is a huge part of that. Angel Eduardo is a writer that I came across on Twitter when his article “Three Tips for Having Difficult Conversations” came across my feed. I instantly knew I had found … Continue reading "Navigating Post-Election Conversatio...

As we march through what has been the most challenging semester possibly to EVER face the field of education, we find ourselves twisting our minds in pretzels to discover what works and what doesn’t work on the fly. Every day is an experiment whether you are in person with masks, hybrid or all online, you … Continue reading "Episode 47: The Mental Gymnastics of COVID Rehearsals with Dr...

Reflections on posting opinions on the internet, as well as thoughts about “cancel culture” in choral music.

When we see and hear the Aeolians perform we impressed by the technical precision. We are in awe of the dynamic range, the tone, the diction and the phrasing. But we are INSPIRED by the emotional buy-in and engagement from the singers in the ensemble. This culture doesn’t happen naturally in choral ensembles. It is … Continue reading "Episode 46: Teaching With Heart with Dr. Jason Max...

Dr. Weber, in my mind, is one of the legends of the choral profession due to the contribution of her body of work over many years and at all levels of teaching. I find the combination of her high level of music making, along with her experience in classrooms with young kids and everything in … Continue reading "Episode 45: It’s Time to Transfer the Deed to Our Singers with Dr. Betsy Co...

How can we set up our music courses to truly meet students where they are and encourage students that singing is skill to be built, and not a talent one “has” or “doesn’t have?” Can we create a curriculum and grading structure that does not reward and punish students for their exposure to music, or … Continue reading "Choir Director Problems: The Psychology of G...

At the end of the year the students should be better singers. Not better CHORAL singers. Better SINGERS. Dr. Jami Rhodes This special episode is a tag team. Dr. Andrew Crane of Brigham Young University and Dr. Jami Rhodes of East Carolina University join me to discuss some common myths, misconceptions and vocal pedagogy practices … Continue reading "Episode 44: Prioritizing Technique. Not St...

At this point you have probably heard of Chor Amor. If you haven’t then get out from under that rock, and listen! 😉 They, under Troy Robertson’s leadership, have hosted brainstorming sessions, virtual choir performances, and teaching resource content on choramor.com and so much more. The value of a centralized location and effort of professionals … Continue reading "Episode 43:...

This Choralosophy Podcast special has been recut and reimagined by Michael himself to include the most salient portions of our free wheeling conversation on many choral topics including the role of the conductor, the reimagining of the performing arts during our hiatus, and the secrets of the Anuna brand of small ensemble singing, and much … Continue reading "A Conversation and Concert With...

In this short episode, I welcomed Lori Sonnenberg, speech pathologist and singing voice specialist, BACK on the Choralosophy Podcast to help us with a pressing issue. The school year is starting again, and many of us are know using our voices again in new and unique ways. Namely, teaching or singing in a mask, or … Continue reading "Episode 42: Tips And Tricks for Vocal Health. Masked or Onl...

A Choralosophy First attempt at a front porch conversation. I invited members of my recently graduated choral program to talk about what life has been life in lockdown. Featuring Eghosa Ogbevoen, Avery Beavers and Zaria Jackson. This episode is an experiment for sure! I began to feel like much of our conversation had been a … Continue reading "Episode 41: The Kids are Not Ok-Class of 2020 Ed...

When Science gets thrust to the center of our artistic world, how do we react, how do we gather info, and how do we decide? An enlightening conversation about our singing with Covid situation with Nick Sienkiewicz. Nick is a young colleague preparing to earn his Masters in Choral Conducting at IU Bloomington. But before … Continue reading "Episode 40: When Artists Have to Learn Science with...

How can we streamline the rehearsal process to make the most of student contact time? If you are like me, you have seen a TON of ideas for online activities to keep our choirs engaged. And that’s wonderful! We need as many tools in our belt as we can get. However, what about the times … Continue reading "Bonus Episode: Plans for a Hybrid Rehearsal Structure"