In case you were waiting for part II of “Creating a Masterplan,” I decided to scrap that idea and skip to something else: the topic of ERROR DETECTION in rehearsal. The main question to be asked in relation to this topic is, “Am I listening to my choir?” Now, when I...

As the new ministry season is upon us (or here for some of you), we have a stack of music to learn and a calendar with not enough rehearsal time. Let’s discuss ways to create a Master Plan for our rehearsals that can maximize our time both weekly and over the course...

In several weeks, students will flood the choir room (because you have followed Randy Kilpatrick’s advice on recruiting). They will be eager and ready to join this ministry called Youth Choir. Examining their energetic faces you realize, “this is wonderful, but how am...

Now for some exercises to get us thinking   Independence of hands: 1.     Take your right arm/hand by itself and slowly make a broad brushing motion from SIDE to SIDE. In this case, you can position your hand like you’re about to shake...

I hope your summer is going well. In some cases, your summer might be finished or nearly coming to a close. God bless you if that is your situation. As you are looking toward a new season of student choir ministry, I’m sure you are considering a litany of items that...

For the first time in ten years I did not lead a student choir on tour. Surprisingly, this realization did not hit me until I started receiving updates from my previous church regarding their preparations for their upcoming summer tour. For most of this year, my...

"Body, mind, spirit, voice--it takes the whole person to sing and rejoice."...

Time…the great equalizer. We have all been given 24 hours in a day. The difference between all of us is how we use those precious hours. The position of music minister and/or choral director requires a keen sense of time. We are bound by the clock, whether it is...

I Hear :: I Forget   //   I See :: I Remember   //   I Do :: I Understand -Chinese Proverb     This pedagogical tool is commonly known in educational circles as one of the most basic and foundational principles linked to student...