Well, we’ve done all 7 rehearsals and tonight is the performance of “Requiem” by John Rutter. (See the Facebook Event.)

It’s been a really fun project. I’m the conductor — project manager by day. Craig is the pianist — attorney by day. The cellist teaches cello to students, but it’s not her profession. The [...]

Wow! The Easter Music Fireside is really coming together! It’s confirmed: we’ll be performing Rutter’s Requiem. It’s a real leap of faith, but I’m encouraged by the early response from the Stake musicians. I have 15 singers confirmed already. As expected, still a little short on mens voices. But I have a lead on [...]

Last fall, I figured I’d try to build on the success of our Christmas Music Fireside and start an Easter Music Fireside. I got it on the Stake Calendar. Then was a bit ill through the fall and began dreading the necessary rehearsals for my plan, so I took it off the table. But [...]

Well, I promised you a report on the Stake Christmas Music Fireside. I think it went well enough. Feedback has been positive. I’m not completely satisfied, but I’ll take it.

For my part, I was distracted somewhat for the Fireside. Upon arriving at the church, I took a minor fall on the ice as [...]

Check out http://WardChoirHelp.googlepages.com for great ideas for ward choirs! [...]

I finalized the Stake Christmas Music Fireside Plan last night. As I sat down to work on it, I realized I had a little less music than in previous years. That’s OK; the program could be long enough at 50 minutes. But it also left me some room to get creative, and I’m happy [...]

Each year for several years now, my Stake has done a Stake Christmas Music Fireside. I’ve driven its format since it’s beginning. I’ve formatted it as a “Collage Concert,” where music flows from one piece to the next with little to no interruption. Logistics in the room — and my disinterest in choreographing it [...]

Daniel Carter (http://www.dancarterrealmusic.com) shared some insights in a comment on the blog recently. Others may find this helpful, too. Says Dan:

I don’t know if this will help, but here is a link for an article I wrote called “Learn to Read Music in 10 Minutes” and is a technique I’ve used in all [...]

I’m often surprised at how limited our North American view of a choir can be. In North America, we have a very narrowly defined view of choir: SATB with many voices on each part, always with a choir director standing up front. OK, that works, but it’s not the only way to do a ward choir. You’ll find the “Guidelines from the Church Handbook of Instructions” written on that assumption, but you’ll find no such constraints. Read it. You’ll see.

From the Guidelines:

Ward choirs and other special choirs can teach and inspire Church members.

Here are some examples of ways this can be met:

Continue reading Redefining the “Ward Choir”