Headliner Session 1 | Embodied and Expressive: Core Balance
Dr. Heather Buchanan presents Headliner Session 1 “Embodied and Expressive: Core Balance” at virtual IDACDA Fall 2020 convention.
The vocal jazz lifeline
The shortest distance between the schooled choral director and teaching a jazz choir is the A Cappella Jazz Ballad. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina wrote some of my favorite choral music. My first “ah-ha” moment singing in a choir came while singing portions of his Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass) in my college choir.
Beg, borrow, or steal—a survival guide for the rural choral teacher
In my teaching career I’ve had the opportunity to teach in three very distinct, very different school districts in the northwest. Oddly enough, my first school district was urban, my current school district is suburban, and the third district, in which I have spent the majority of my time, is rural. Each position has had certain advantages and challenges depending upon socio-economic status of the students, administrative support, and the content I was required to teach.
Jazz Resources from your friends in “Essential Jazz”
Overheard from some teachers … “I would like to start a jazz choir, but I just don’t know where to start!” Or… “I have a jazz choir, but I don’t always know what resources to use or where to find them.” Here are a few resources. Maybe this will help.
Premise of recruiting for choral music groups based on the athletic model is inherently flawed!
As a former (and still recovering) girl’s volleyball coach, I used to base my recruitment of singers on the same principles as my recruitment of athletes. After all, choir is like sport; a team activity, full of high performance drive, a dedication to excellence.
Recognizing outstanding efforts and dedication of veteran and emerging choral directors
Two awards to be presented in 2017; designed to recognize outstanding efforts and dedication to both veteran and emerging choral directors in Idaho.
Awkward, difficult, strange and beautiful
Middle School. It’s the most awkward, difficult, strange and beautiful time in a young person’s life. I know I’m crazy for saying this but…I’m a middle school teacher for life. There are just under a million reasons why teaching middle school or junior high singers is a challenge.
Singing for your spiritual and physical health
Sunday morning is the time we all gather as a community to offer praise and thanksgiving to God for the “innumerable benefits procured unto us,” (Book of Common Prayer) and to bring our challenges, concerns, and heaviness to the altar of God beseeching to be heard and helped.
Extending a hand to your neighbor next door (or across the hall)
Forming a positive working relationship with choral colleagues is one of the great benefits of ACDA membership. But what about the colleagues in other music disciplines? Specifically, what about colleagues next door or across the hall?
Max Mendez to become president-elect as of July 1, 2017
Max Mendez, is currently a music instructor and Director of Choirs at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He has been an active part of the Inland Northwest music community for the last fifteen years. He divides his time between conducting, teaching and performing.