CUEnotes
YouthCUE's blog on topics of youth choir ministry, leadership and professional well-being
“Life isn’t always about surviving storms but sometimes learning to dance in the rain.” V. Mack
constructive and affirming energy to flow through your room once the activity is completed. I call this activity Affirmations. I end my fall retreat with this activity and then from time to time, I will end a rehearsal with this activity. On retreat,...
Staging the “Reveal”
Staging the “Reveal” For years, when it came time to tell the high school choir where the trip for the following summer would be I just. . . well. . . told them. Those days are gone. Recently, “reveal parties” have become popular and I have become a...
Finding Purpose: Effective Left-Hand Conducting Gesture
SCRIPTURE: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.” --Ecclesiastes 9:10 (ESV) “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your...
Creative Voice Placement. . . on the run!
We all learned in school that the BEST way to do choral vocal placement is for the same ears to listen to all the voices in the choir and place the singers accordingly. It is by far the best way! However. . . . In 33 years of leading junior...
“If there is no harmony in your life, try changing your tune.” BullyMovie
choir but in their daily lives as well. The Color Personality Assessment is used to assist singers in understanding how their perspective affects relationships, how it affects communication and working with others. There are many personality assessments out there...
Before Long, Kids Will Come Sit in These Seats-Get Ready. . .NOW!
It is not too early to begin planning to make that first rehearsal SENSATIONAL! Create “I can’t wait!” Start spreading around how fantastic that first rehearsal is going to be. In a way, you can make it a self-fulling prophesy. I have talked...
Preaching FROM the choir: hallmarks of effective programming
If someone were to ask me what is the most important and difficult job of any choral director, I would say that it is a really difficult question; but after some thought I would probably say that it is the process of selecting literature for my choirs to sing. ...
“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” – Jane Goodall
also consider planning a fall retreat with your singers. Whether you plan a one-day get together or a weekend getaway, this one accomplishment can set your singers on the path to a successful year. Now I don’t want you think that you can’t be successful...
Building a Tradition of Excellence (and FUN)–Part One
The summer can serve two distinct roles. First, bringing a great year to a close with (perhaps) a great choir tour. Secondly . . . Secondly, we get a chance to do some advance planning to get ready for the big kick off in the fall. Before...
“Creativity is putting your imagination to work, and it’s produced the most extraordinary results in human culture.” Ken Robinson
story especially after an grueling rehearsal when the singers express frustration at my request to “give more of themselves to make the music come alive.” This is a true story of a man with a disability who makes wonderful music all his life. But what...
