Choralosophy

One of my go to TED animations to play for students at the beginning of every year is the one that explains compellingly, the story of music as the best FULL BRAIN workout. But, Choral/Vocal education is not included in that research! The researcher behind that video, is this week’s guest. Don’t miss it. Dr. … Continue reading "Episode 220: This is Your Brain on Music with Anita...

It is my strong belief that students have a RIGHT to receive individual instruction, feedback and assessment based on individual work in every class they take in school. Even music. This past weekend I had the chance to visit with the amazing students of Magnolia High School as well as the local chapter of the … Continue reading "Episode 219: Individual Literacy Assessment"

“Does the world say that you don’t look the right way? Does the world say a that you’re just not enough.” Text written by this week’s guest Kyle Pederson. One of the most powerful tools educators have is the connection of our content to the personal experiences of students. Composer Kyle Pederson is a big … Continue reading "Episode 218: The Heart of the Matter...

This episode pulls wisdom from Betsy Cooke Weber, on building a culture of leadership, ownership and professionalism in our classrooms and ensembles. This loaded “how to” session comes from her appearance back in episode 45 with updated thoughts from my on how these ideas are working in my classroom. “If I were to return to … Continue reading "Episode 217: Building Collabor...

I have published many peeks into my classroom before on the show. I have never shown you our opening class minutes before. This is where the real work happens. The “warm-up.” Or, as I would rather call it, “voice building time.” In this episode, you will have a front row seat (video version recommended on … Continue reading "Episode 216: What is a Choir “Warm-up...

When I work with emerging composers trying to get noticed, I ask them “What are you trying to be noticed FOR?”- Libby Larsen. Could the social media environment incentivize non-musical answers to this question? In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the remarkable composer Libby Larsen about her journey into the world … Continue reading "Episode 215: Thinking in th...

For those who sing Black Sacred music, “it is The Academy of the Black Church that taught us.”-Emorja Roberson. To see if you are a convincing performer of this art form, go to a Black Church and sing it. See how they receive you. In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with … Continue reading "Episode 214: Church to School- Gospel in Academia with Dr. Emorja Roberson...

It’s Labor Day weekend. We are almost all back to school. This is the time that makes or breaks your whole school year. This summer I got a booth at the Missouri Choral Directors conference and pulled colleagues in to share their thoughts. I sat down at the booth, and invited passersby to join me … Continue reading "Episode 213: A Back to School Focus From the Convention Floor"

The “Choral Music Canon” is one of the many concepts that I believe can only be grappled with if we are able to hold two conflicting truths in mind. It is crucial for us to hold great art in high esteem, while recognizing that we won’t all agree on what makes the list. Renowned American … Continue reading "Episode 212: Wrestling With Tradition with Craig Hella Johnson"

Having some very weird tech issues today. Shownotes from normal post Known online as Babatunde “Hip Hopera,” this week’s guest may look like he is just out there having fun on TikTok. But, a closer look shows an artist doing innovative, and incredibly important work bridging the gaps between musical worlds. From West Coast hip-hop fan to … Continue reading "Episod...

Known online as Babatunde “Hip Hopera,” this week’s guest may look like he is just out there having fun on TikTok. But, a closer look shows an artist doing innovative, and incredibly important work bridging the gaps between musical worlds. From West Coast hip-hop fan to opera singer, this week’s guest Babtunde Akinboboye‘s journey is … Continue reading "Episode...

Should vocal jazz join other forms of ensemble singing in the “mainstream” of music education? Or does best fit within a niche? In our second episode of the brand new “GIA/Walton” series, I am excited to bring you another fascinating and useful conversation. This time, with composer and vocal jazz advocate, David von Kampen. In … Continue reading "Episode 210: Jazz an...

I find that too often, as practicing teachers we either ignore new research all together, or we read the boiler plate summary, take it as gospel and move on without examining it critically. Ellie Johnson tries to help us thread the needle. Ellie is a PhD Music Education candidate and researcher, and the host of … Continue reading "Episode 209: Research vs. Reality with Ellie Johnson"

Often in choral instruction, we utilize the word “family” to describe the cohesiveness of our ensembles. But what about the students who don’t view choir as their family? Can we be ok with the idea that singers come to us for many different reasons? But what happens when students DON’T want to be in the … Continue reading "Episode 208: Choir is Not my Family, Do I Still Bel...

I frequently engage in and read discussions with young music educators about the ways in which the music education profession is or is not “adapting with the times.” As always, the answer to that is yes. And no… Mak Barton is a second year teacher in Maryland who I found on her wildly entertaining TikTok … Continue reading "Episode 207: Next Gen Music Education with Mak Bar...

As teachers, we often try to build culture and foster a sense of belonging by seeking out the “right checklist” of games, ice breakers, fun warm-ups, and even classroom wall art. However, these are just the frosting, not the cake. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Kari Adams from the University of Missouri … Continue reading "Episode 206: Building Enduring Classroom Culture wit...

“If you don’t learn what listening is, your choirs will never sing in tune.” James Jordan is one of the most prolific choral conductors in the modern era. Not just in terms of performance and recordings, but also in scholarship and pedagogy. Introducing, the NEW GIA/Walton Series on Choralosophy! I recently had the privilege of … Continue reading "Episode 205: Teaching Our Choirs to Listen w...

Recently, we offered a free virtual meetup to practice “Choir Nerdery.” If you missed it, I have carefully curated some of the most useful and interesting moments for this episode. Discussion topics were derived from survey responses from 120 educators. The full 2 hour and 15 minute work session is available unedited over at Patreon … Continue reading "Episode 204: Literacy Live...

“It is not my job to answer the questions. It’s my job to ask the questions.” Programming for our choirs carries with it a wide range of challenges, from the skill levels of our groups, and their needs to the considerations of speaking to an audience. There are many ways to wrestle with this balance. … Continue reading "Episode 203: Programming as Storytelling with Donald N...

“I cannot believe I’ve been muzzled by my own people.” All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA cancelled a concert that was set for June 2nd, 2024 citing the “pain and anguish felt by 18 Black members of the church.” The response was that Michal and the choir, and the music they were set to … Continue reading "Episode 202: Excluded in the Name of Inclusion w...

The scientific consensus is that our ability to understand human speech has evolved over hundreds of thousands of years. After all, there are whole portions of the brain devoted to human speech. We learn to understand speech before we can even walk, and can seamlessly absorb enormous amounts of information simply by hearing it. Surely … Continue reading "Episode 201: Music is Movement with M...

Standard music notation that is now used ubiquitously around the world does some things really well. But it also has limitation. Katerina Gimon is a composer who is actively working to dream up new ways to use notation to communicate sound ideas to musicians that expand our written music vocabulary. Katerina first exploded onto the … Continue reading "Episode 200: Expanding the Boundaries of...

Standard #1 from NAfME is the best one I think. “Singing alone AND in small groups a varied repertoire of music.” It is of course, crucial in vocal and general music. But it’s value is also present in instrumental focused courses as well. In this return of “Car Thoughts” I will take you through a … Continue reading "Episode 199: Singing Alone, “The Boogey Man in the C...

“Because of music, in this time and space, we can hold hands. And we can sing a common song.” From a story Steven tells in this episode to illustrate the ways that music CAN help us transcend the issues that divide us. Dr. Steven Hankle directs the choirs at University of Dayton in Ohio. Steven … Continue reading "Episode 198: Beating the Odds Through Choral Music with Steven Han...

The Choralosophy Podcast has been at the epicenter of the music education conversation since 2019. The first episode that really made a splash was #18. Ripping Off the Bandaid. It seemed to draw a two sided coin of responses. Colleagues were either offended or found their instruction revolutionized for the better. In this episode, I … Continue reading "Episode 197: Ripping off the Band-Aid V...