CUEnotes
YouthCUE's blog on topics of youth choir ministry, leadership and professional well-being
More First Impressions. . . they are HUGE!
This is the second of two articles on introducing new music to your youth choir. The success of that “first time” will greatly aid the director in subsequent rehearsals. The goal of that very first day is for every kid—if possible—to look forward to getting back...
Survey says…
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” –Proverbs 27:17 (ESV) INTRODUCTION: Rarely do we run with open arms towards an “end-of-the-year review” or “performance evaluation.” Our human nature is that we simply don’t like our flaws or failures to be exposed,...
“Surround yourself with people who make you hungry for life, touch your heart, and nourish your soul.” – Unknown
The first activity is called Essence Circle. Everyone sits in a circle and puts their name into a box in the middle of the circle. The person that begins chooses a name to describe but does...
First Impressions are. . . well. . . EVERYTHING!
I know. . . I know you are thinking. . .”really—everything?” But hear me out. Over the years I have introduced at least a 1000 new anthems to various groups of all ages. You probably have too. I have introduced music to adult choirs, adult...
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
If you have officers or section leaders, allow them to meet with you to plan or if you want you can turn the planning completely over to the choir leadership. Just make sure you give those singers your criteria for the party. From experience, I have found...
Singing Music that Guys Like to Sing
WOW! That really sounds sexist doesn’t it? In a way, though, it is the opposite. Over the last 3 decades I have had the opportunity to have 3 sabbaticals to do post graduate study in various subjects: music, theater, and advertising. In virtually...
Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life! Albert Einstein
forward to spending time with family and friends this summer. If you take your choir on tour, have fun making music. Those of you that travel with your singers know and understand the camaraderie between singers that happens during tour. It’s an important...
What Color is the Grass on the Other Side of the Fence?
Everyone knows the answer to that right? It’s not JUST green, but it is greener. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. While I can argue that it is important to be aware of what is going on outside your circle. ...
“Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten” David Ogden Stiers
During our retreat, I break my choir into “families” and we use these families throughout the choir year. I explain to the singers that they will join a choir family and how much fun it will be having choir brothers and sisters. Before we break into...
Behind Every Great Director. . . .is someone who is doing a LOT of work!
One day my 4 year old neice asked her mom, "Is Uncle Randy married?" My sister-in-law told her daughter, “Uncle Randy has always been single, he doesn’t have a wife” My niece looked confused as she formed her thoughts and asked, “Then, who does all of his work?”...
