by Charlotte Reese, R&S Chair for Vocal Jazz I grew up as a band kid and started singing jazz in college. I love the harmonies and singing those tight sax voicings. The trade off, however, is a load of time in the practice room pounding away at disjunct alto parts until they stick. When I … Continue reading Less Is More: Choosing Beginning Jazz Lit
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by Joel Karn, R&S Chair for Women's Choruses The day I post the list of my choirs for the next school year is a day mixed with both celebration and sadness among my students. Many shed tears of joy because they've made it into the group they've longed to be in, while a few others … Continue reading Auditioning Your Choirs
by Brian Mitchell, President-Elect, WA ACDA It has been my experience that most of my students do not completely engage in class naturally. It seems to take some kind of motivation to get them to commit to really rehearsing well, especially during the learning of new music. Over the last couple of years the students … Continue reading Five Levels of Rehearsal Engagement
by Darcy Morrissey, R&S Chair, Children and Community Youth Choirs Fifty-three choral directors attended this informative and fun workshop that centered on twenty-two unison/two part octavos by master classical composers. The workshop was held Saturday, January 19th, at the Meridian Park Elementary School in Shoreline. Presenters were Darcy Morrissey, Brad Wills, Leora Schwitters, Richard Nance, … Continue reading Informative and fun; the WA ACDA/NKE workshop of January, 2014
The Greater Seattle Choral Consortium will present its first signature event, the SEATTLE SINGS! Festival October 11-12, 2013 at St. Mark’s Cathedral on Capitol Hill. The FREE event will present 27 member choirs ranging from small and large community choirs to youth choirs from all around the Puget Sound region. The SEATTLE SINGS! festival has … Continue reading SEATTLE SINGS! October 11-12, 2013
Timothy Westerhaus, University and 4-year College R & S Chair, Washington State As choral conductors, we strive to create and strengthen bonds of community within our choirs as we pursue musical excellence. Our ensembles thrive when each member identifies with a common cause that resonates deeply with other members. These common causes include aesthetic elements, … Continue reading Bridging the Gap: Connecting Choral Communities
One Piece: A World of Learning Choral Applications for the NY Blueprint for Music Education by Brian Hoskins, R&S Chair for Multicultural and Ethnic Perspectives In a recent discussion with my fellow choral directors in the Renton School District, we discussed revising the current curriculum guide for the district music programs. I have often thought … Continue reading One Piece: A World of Learning
By Howard Meharg "Another amazing session filled with inspiration, plenty of learning opportunities, and the fun of seeing friends and colleagues again...that describes it for me," said a Summer Institute attendee regarding the 2013 conference. Attendance remained high with 220 people registered for this, the 18th year for Washington ACDA's main event, held again on … Continue reading To Sum It Up: The 2013 Summer Institute
By Joel Karn, R&S Chair for Women’s Choirs Summer is a great time to relax, refresh, and reflect. Most of us don’t need reminders about relaxing or refreshing after a busy school year, but the need for reflection is important as well, for our growth and for the growth of our students. Webster defines reflection … Continue reading The Three R’s of Summer
Congratulations to these choirs and directors; groups from Washington who will be singing at the NW ACDA regional conference March 13-16, 2014 Ballard High School Concert Choir - Courtney Rowley, Director - Seattle (Ballard High School) Celebration - Thomas Almli, Director - Bellevue (Bellevue College) Canonici: Consort of Voices - Anne Lyman, Director - Tacoma … Continue reading Washington Groups Selected for ACDA Regional Conference, March 13-16, 2014
Washington ACDA 