Do you have a topic you'd like to share? Submit an article through your Area Representative for our publication Bella Voce!
BELLA VOCE is the official newsletter of the Michigan chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. The mission and purpose of the newsletter is to provide a vehicle of communication from the board of directors to the membership. In addition, the newsletter seeks to provide articles on professional topics of interest to Michigan choral directors. Repertoire and Standards committee chairs are required to contribute one article per year, due in September, as part of their responsibilities. District chairs are required to report on interesting news in their districts. The newsletter strives to be self-supporting through advertisement in the publication. Members are invited to submit articles, calendar information, news releases, literature suggestions, book and recording reviews, and editorial comments to the editor. All submissions for publication are to be typed and should include the name, address, phone number, photograph, and short autobiography of the author. Materials may also be submitted electronically as WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, or plain text files. E-mail should have BELLA VOCE in the subject line heading. ACDA-Michigan reserves the right to refuse any article, to edit any application for appearance, and to edit all materials proposed for distribution. Bella Voce – 2010
As a male choir director I often struggle with finding successful SSA literature that does not talk about beauty, flowers, and/or butterflies. Though there are many great composers out there writing exciting pieces for treble choirs such as Stephen Hatfield, Andrea Ramsey, and Joan Syzmko; I stumbled upon a great piece of literature: And Ain’t…
As music educators one of our goals is to help our students develop into independent musicians. A crucial component of independent musicianship is the ability to successfully read music. Developing music literacy is essential to the goal of equipping students with independent musicianship skills (Henry, 2004). Often students do not receive enough instruction on sight-reading….
Jared Anderson is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Michigan Tech where he conducts the Michigan Tech Concert Choir, teaches courses in music theory, group voice, and basic musicianship, and coaches singers in Tech theater productions. Originally from Orem, Utah, Dr. Anderson has conducted ensembles in Utah, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan….
Betsy Marsh, Bella Voce editor, enjoys working with singers of all ages. After 36 years in public education, she recently retired from Van Hoosen Middle School in Rochester Hills, MI. Ensembles under her direction consistently earned superior ratings, performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, at the Michigan Music Conference, and at the Michigan Summer Choral…
Dr. Gabriela Hristova is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Michigan-Flint Department of Music where she conducts both the University Chorale and Chamber Singers, and teaches courses in choral and instrumental conducting and music performance. Dr. Hristova is conductor of the Department of Music’s Summer Academy of Music…
Special thanks to Jared Anderson for serving the organization as Interim Marketing and Advertising Chair after being elected President-Elect. Please see Jared’s contact information on the CONTACTS page of this website.
Do you shy away from teaching vocal improvisation to your singers? Does the mere idea of scat give you heart palpitations? Do you write out notation for those places in the music that call for scatting? Improvisation can be a very scary idea for many – I know – I was one of them! When…
When attending professional conferences, you will commonly find lectures or panels that focus on the beginning choral teacher. Those “I Wish I Had Known About…” features are very useful, but the inclusion of a stepping-stone session for the future student teacher could help prepare for the music internship. Although student teachers acquire knowledge from their…
The National ACDA is working to make sure every MS.JH choral music teacher in the country is aware of the very first National Convention for Middle School/Junior High Choral Music, planned for February 29, 2012, Dallas, Texas. The deadline for choir submissions is June 1, 2011. Our National R & S Chair, Gretchen Harrison, and…
Deborah Fristad is recently retired from Lake Orion High School in Lake Orion, MI, where she had been teaching since 1997. She conducted three choirs, five select ensembles, two show choirs, and co-directed the spring musical. She also served as department chair for the Visual and Performing Arts Department. In May, 2013 her Women’s Ensemble…
