Do you have a topic you'd like to share? Submit an article through your Area Representative for our publication Bella Voce!
To submit an article for this section, contact the ACDA-MI Editor.
Why Healthy Gesture Matters Conductors spend most of their time doing one of two things: getting ready to conduct, and conducting. Preparation is important, of course. It’s where we come to understand the score, the text, and the composer; where we analyze harmonic language, musical texture, and melodic line; where we identify likely trouble spots;…
Summer is the perfect time for choral directors to savor an entertaining and informative read by none other than our own Robert C. Oster, otherwise known as “Dr. Bob.” What a fun title! – Singers, Zingers, and Humdingers: Choral Conductor Do’s and Don’ts! You will chuckle and occasionally shake your head as you recognize yourself, your…
In 2016, the Cambiata Institute, located at the University of North Texas, Denton, will host the third MS/JH National Conference for Choral Music. Similar to the 2012 and 2014 Conferences, this Conference will advocate for the pedagogical interests of middle school choral music educators. “With outstanding facilities to host the Conference, University of North Texas,…
I am so excited to share news of a rare US performance by The Real Group, Sweden’s amazing vocal group. We’re so excited to be bringing them to Jenison, where WMU Gold Company will open for them. The Real Group has been performing for nearly thirty years, during which time they have racked up a…
It’s time for some fresh ideas to get us through the rest of the year, and several of your area reps are up to the task! Just click on this link for a list of titles in random order: january_2014_acda-mi_repertoire_list1.pdf
Part 1 of 3 What is it that makes a choir’s singing irresistible? Beyond insisting on the obvious basics of clean intonation, resonant vowels, and sparkling diction, is there anything else a conductor can do to increase the excitement level produced by a choir’s performance? And if so, how can the skills needed to create…
Why attend Conferences, Conventions and Workshops? Well, for me, it was 1973. I’d been teaching seven years, and resisted going anywhere for anything extra, due to the amount of time my jobs consumed that would take me away from my family. I was teaching high school and also a church choir, plus having some private…
The ACDA Central Division Conference February 26 – March 1, 2014 Hilton Netherland Plaza Hotel Cincinnati, Ohio The first ACDA Central Division conference I attended was in Cincinnati in 2000. Pat Wiehe and Kitty O’Donnell of North Central High School in Indianapolis told me about this event and that if I wanted to go,…
Our choral art is unlike any other because of one aspect above all: the inescapable presence of text. The real impact of choral music comes from the power of text, because text is where story dwells. As a result, we must convincingly tell the story of each song we offer. What makes this possible is…
ACDA Michigan is proud to showcase the talents of some of our own composers at our conferences! Here are websites for the Michigan Choral Composers who are participating in the 2013 Fall Conference or who participated last year. (Not all of the composers have websites.) This year: Marjan Helms: www.marjanhelms.com Sean Ivory: www.caldwellandivory.com Greg Jasperse:…
