Say hi to us in Milwaukee at the Michigan ACDA Social Hour on Thursday, February 25 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Cocktail Lounge!
“Where do you find all that interesting music?” I get this question a lot. In fact, as your Repertoire and Standards Chair for Ethnic and Multicultural Music I’m delighted to get this question. For a long time I’ve placed a priority on programming diverse, exciting literature from as many periods, cultures, and performance practices as…
The writer C. S. Lewis, a devout agnostic in his youth, became convinced of the claims of faith only after a protracted struggle, the outcome of which left him “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England.” The ultimate cause of Lewis’ change of heart became the title of his autobiography as well: against…
October 18 – 7:30 p.m. Calvin College Music Festival Covenant Fine Arts Auditorium Tickets required. Contact the Calvin Box Office for information October 19 – 7:30 P.M. “I Can See the Light” a collaboration of the Holland Chorale and the West Ottawa Middle School Honors Choir “Chanteurs” performing a concert of light, visions and discoveries. …
So you have decided to start a children’s choir – now what? There are loads of resources for you out there! Here are a few tips and suggestions to get you started. Where to Begin? First you will need to get some choir members. Are you going to take any interested children or do you…
Perhaps in a perfect world it’s possible to conduct a rehearsal without a single mistake. But experience and human nature suggest that this goal is a fantasy, no matter how devoutly we might wish otherwise. In the real world, mistakes are a part of life. Despite our best efforts to prevent them, mistakes will still…
When I was an undergrad at Western Michigan University, Dr. Joe Miller gave a lecture on the importance of owning quality choral CD’s (I guess now it would be MP3s). His lecture had two main points: 1) Recordings are always going to be expensive, so you should start collecting right away. 2) Quality recordings help…
We welcome Jared Anderson to the position of A.C.D.A.-MI President Elect! Many thanks, also, Jared for the sweeping pro-active initiative you have already demonstrated as our Advertising and Marketing Chair for two A.C.D.A.-MI state conferences. We are most encouraged in anticipation of your leadership and close attention to detail in the coming years. Our best wishes…
Donald Scott attributes the influence of his high school choral director, the late Dale Grotenhuis (d. 2012), in his decision to pursue a career in music education. He received his BA from Calvin College and his MA from Western Michigan University. He also took post-graduate courses from various other universities. Don has taught in junior and senior high…
Screwtape Maleficus, DMA (as told to Gerald Custer) 2013 is the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Clive Staples Lewis, author of the Screwtape Letters, a collection of infernal advice from a senior devil to his nephew Wormwood, an apprentice tempter. In Lewis’ honor, Screwtape has agreed to release the previously unpublished correspondence that follows. …
I retired after 34 years of teaching secondary choral music. It was a bit unexpected, but at the last moment, in a financial and familial sense, it became clear it was the right decision. It was painful to accept leaving the students, the program, the classroom, the profession. What does one do after 34 years…
