Access your DIGITAL sheet music for our reading sessions
JW Pepper has created a digital reading session booklet. To access your sheet music via a tablet, please download the app prior to the conference. You can (1) download the app or (2) open readingsession.com through any browser. Enter your first name, last name, and email Enter the following app code: Event02630 The Event will remain in “Active Events” for 30 days and will then move to “Expired Events.” You will still be able to see the titles in the…
Download the Beer Choir Hymnal
Join us on Thursday evening for the Beer and Root Beer Choir Social, location TBA. Download the complete songbook with 40 drinking song classics, original works, and favorite melodies updated with irreverent lyrics!
Register for Professional Development credits through Boise State University
Professional development credit for Idaho American Choral Directors Association Fall Conference is now available! To register and pay for professional development credit through Boise State University, please follow the link below. The registration and payment process is quick and easy to complete, but if you encounter any problems, please feel free to contact Extended Studies Customer Service for assistance at (208) 426-1709. Credit Registration Deadline: October 3, 2024 Register for credit Transcript Date: Fall 2024 If you have any questions, please contact the Extended…
Francisco Nuñéz sends thank you video and invitation to Fall 2023 Conference attendees
I hope this email finds you all in good health and high spirits. I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the invitation from Serena and for the time I spent with you all last month. It was an absolute delight to not only meet each and every one of you but to also witness the incredible work you are doing in the field of choral music. Your dedication and passion are truly commendable.
Grant Farmer presents “The Hindrance of Warm-ups”
Many of us use warm-ups that we learned years, even decades, ago from various sources. At the time, they were silver bullets for our vocal issues. Our vocal warm-ups are so established and engrained in our process that we forget to ask about their benefit and purpose. In fact, some may actually be hindering our process toward healthy vocal production in a rehearsal. For example, does a vocal sigh from the top of one’s range really set a singer up…
Brenda Winkle presents “Breathwork: The Magic Bullet for Your Choir Program”
Transform your program with breathwork with advanced trauma-informed breathwork facilitator and former choral director, Brenda Winkle. Reduce unwanted behaviors, relieve stress and anxiety (yours and your students), improve focus, and so much more simply by harnessing the power of breathwork. You’ll notice improved choral sound due to group cohesion after breathwork and be able to more easily build community. If you want a magic bullet for your program, this is it. You’ll be guided into a transformative breathwork experience and…
Brenda Winkle presents “Stories from Northwest ACDA: Understanding DEI(B)”
DEI is more than policy, it’s about people. Join NW-ACDA DEI chair, Brenda Winkle, in this interactive session discussing the state of DEI initiatives in the Northwest Region. Hear stories about real people. Ask the questions you’ve been too afraid to ask. Leave with resources you can use immediately in your school, community, or church choir.
Access your Digital Sheet Music for the Fall 2023 Reading Sessions
JW Pepper has created a digital reading session booklet. To access your sheet music via a tablet, please download the app prior to the conference. You can (1) download the app or (2) open readingsession.com through any browser. Enter your first name, last name, and email Enter the following app code: Event02286 The Event will remain in “Active Events” for 30 days and will then move to “Expired Events.” You will still be able to see the titles in the…
Buy tickets! The Gala Concert is Friday, October 6, 2023
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Featuring the Changing Voices Choir, directed by headliner Francisco Núñez; the Cathedral of the Rockies Chamber Choir; Northwest Nazarene University Choir and Orchestra; and The Boise Philharmonic Master Chorale.
Francisco Núñez’s Young People’s Chorus wins 5 medals at World Choir Games
Young People’s Chorus of New York City wrapped up an incredible summer tour to Korea, Japan, and Santa Barbara! YPC competed in the 2023 World Choir Games in Korea and brought home 5 awards!
Tried and True Middle School Gems- Tenor Bass Voicing
Whether you have a dedicated middle school TB ensemble, or you do 1 song with those changing voices, there is so much great repertoire out there for these voice types. As with anything at this level, don’t be afraid to modify, simplify, or augment to make it work for your students.
Getting into Treble: Paul Laurence Dunbar
Happy New Year, treble choir enthusiasts! Have you ever programmed a concert around the texts of a single poet? Today’s post is centered around some treble choir settings of the poet Paul Laurence Dunbar.
National Conference 2023 R&R Sessions Repertoire Lists
Just in time for your Summer and Fall repertoire selection, the ACDA National R & R chairs have put together this offering of virtual reading sessions for the choral community.
Meet Francisco Núñez, headliner for Fall 2023 IDACDA conference
Francisco J. Núñez, a MacArthur Fellow and Musical America’s 2018 Educator of the Year, is a composer, conductor, visionary, leading figure in music education, and the artistic director/founder …
Download the Beer Choir Hymnal
dJoin us on Thursday evening for the Beer Choir Social at White Dog Brewing Boise, 705 W Fulton St, Boise, ID 83702. Download the complete songbook with 40 drinking song classics, original works, and favorite melodies updated with irreverent lyrics!
2023 IMEA Choral Reading Session
56 titles for treble voices, TB voices, and mixed ensembles compiled and presented by Sidney Hudson at the 2023 IMEA Choral Reading Session. Click through for demo recordings and links to publishers.
Christmas 2022 Repertoire Recommendations
A list of Christmas repertoire recommendations from our Fall 2022 R&R and R&S chairs.
What we’re hearing from your Seniors
Over the past few years, we have observed several consistent habits in the voices of incoming college freshmen. With the backdrop of vocology, Annie Powell and Grant Farmer have been developing methods to employ in group voice settings to help build strong, healthy voice habits.
Mapping Breath, Movement, and Musical Intention
Providing accurate physiological maps to understanding how our body moves to enhance performance, prevent injury and rehabilitate injured musicians. Presented by Max Mendez at the Fall 2022 IDACDA Conference at the Cathedral of The Rockies.
Latin American Choral Music based on popular and folk songs
A survey on different rhythmic patterns, choral arrangements and choral versions and interpretative issues. Presented by Maria Guinand at the Fall 2022 IDACDA Conference at Cathedral of The Rockies.
Watch a live stream of Friday night’s Gala Concert
With performances by Idaho State University, directed by Dr. Scott Anderson; Boise State University, directed by Dr. C. Michael Porter; and the IDACDA Invitational Conference Choir, directed by headliner Maria Guinand.
Download the Beer Choir Hymnal
Join us at the White Dog Brewery (705 W. Fulton Street, Boise, ID 83702) on Thursday night for our annual Beer Choir. This is a fun social event where you purchase the beverage of your choice (they have beer, wine, cider and a variety of non-alcoholic options!) and we sing fun songs from the Beer Choir Hymnal.
Access the digital reading session book
Introducing the digital reading session book! All 45 titles for this conference’s reading sessions are included. Please follow the instructions to get access. You can download the app, or access the titles from any device web browser.
R&S Repertoire Selections for Fall 2022 Conference
A database of all the songs (plus more) from our Fall 2022 IDACDA reading session. With contributions from Corrina Steinbach, Emmanuella Mazile, Grant Farmer, Janet Turely, Kerry Calverley, Philip Miller, Quinn Van Paepaghem, Ryan Olsen, Sean Kane, Seth McMullen, and Steve Kuykendall.
Register for professional development credit through Boise State University
Register and pay for professional development credit through Boise State University. Credit registration deadline is 10/10/2022. If you have any questions, please contact the Extended Studies Customer Service at (208) 426-1709 or email ExtendedStudies@boisestate.edu.
IMEA choral reading session for February 2022 conference
A list of literature ideas for Children and Youth, College/University, High School, Middle Level, SATB/SAB, Tenor Bass, and Treble ensembles presented by Sidney Hudson at the February 2022 IMEA conference.
Approaching Diversity in the Choral Space, by Dr. Sarah J. Graham
Dr. Sarah J. Graham presentes “Approaching Diversity in the Choral Space” at the Fall 2021 IDACDA convention at Northwest Nazarene University.
Meaningful Individual Assessment Strategies for Performance Ensembles
Sean Kane presents “Meaningful Individual Assessment Strategies for Performance Ensembles” at the Fall 2021 IDACDA convention at Northwest Nazarene University.
Embracing the crack and navigating the change
Daniel Gutierrez, Dr. Erin Plisco, Dr. Lynne Gackle present “Embracing the crack and navigating the change” at the Fall 2021 IDACDA conference at NNU.
Infusing Jazz into your choral program, by Quinn VanPaepeghem
Quinn VanPaepeghem presents a session on infusing jazz into your choral program at the Fall 2021 IDACDA conference at Northwest Nazarene Universtiy.
Ensemble, by Dr. Eph Ehly
Dr. Eph Ehly presents his third headliner session, “Ensemble” at the IDACDA Fall 2021 convention at Northwest Nazarene University.
Developing Mini Philosophies on Seeking the Original Source of Inspiration
Dr. Eph Ehly presents his 2nd Headliner Session, “Developing Mini Philosophies on Seeking the Original Source of Inspiration” at the IDACDA Fall 2021 convention at NNU.
Developing Mini Philosophies on Becoming a Happy and Productive Teacher
Dr. Eph Ehly presents Developing Mini Philosophies on Becoming a Happy and productive teacher at the Fall 2021 IDACDA convention at Northwest Nazarene University.
I Sing Because … presented by Dr. Heather Buchanan at Fall 2020 convention
Dr. Heather Buchanan presents, “I Sing Because …” at Fall 2020 virtual IDACDA convention.
Headliner Session 3 | Embodied and Expressive: Breathe with Ease
Dr. Heather Buchanan presents Headliner Session 3 “Embodied and Expressive: Breathe with Ease” at virtual IDACDA Fall 2020 convention
Headliner Session 2 | Embodied and Expressive: Mapping the Gesture
Dr. Heather Buchanan presents Headliner Session 2 “Embodied and Expressive: Mapping the Gesture” at virtual IDACDA Fall 2020 convention.
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.
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?
ACDA Reflections: Michael Porter, BSU, and his student Leanne Oien, talk of their impressions of the national conference in Dallas
As I look out my office window, I see tiny sprouts of green on the trees throughout Boise. There’s a lot of outdoor activity on the Boise State campus and you can sense a renewed energy as students return from Spring Break.
Why?
I have six children (not including the 200+ at school, of course) who regularly and incessantly ask me that very question. They find it to be such a useful word that it is invoked in virtually every imaginable situation. When they were very small I recall finding those questions elicited emotions ranging from amusement to delight in me.