This book from one of the nation's most sought-after motivators and speakers on education and leadership is the book that you've been looking for! Includes sections on the art of teaching, attitude development, student leadership, thoughts about competition, and one special section for band directors only. (Don't let this keep you away, however, because you're a choral director!) This book will enlighten you, lift your spirits, educate you, inspire you and allow you to release your unlimited potential.

World-class bassist and best-selling author Barry Green has spent his life learning and showing others how to bring music to life. In this innovative, imaginative text, he shares what he has discovered since his groundbreaking book The Inner Game of Music inspired musicians the world over to reach their potential in performance and learning. Three distinct sections delve deeply into the methodology, techniques, and inspiration required to energize and enliven music making for amateurs and professionals alike. Green reaches inside to recount life-changing experiences, and outside to friends and fellow musicians who have discovered how to create joy and excitement in performance. A stimulating series of activities and reflections using YouTube video clips helps the reader/teacher to sing, conduct, play, move and shake with violinist Joshua Bell, conductor Leonard Bernstein and even with Martin Luther King Jr. during his "I Have A Dream" speech.

The Choral Challenge is a handbook of solutions for common and not-so-common problems facing choral conductors at all experience levels. From "A" for agility to "Y" for yawning, Michael Kemp pours a lifetime of experience living and working in the choral world into this truly remarkable and practical book. He starts with a myriad of quick-fix solutions to common "choral challenges" and then provides in-depth explanations for choir directors who need more. He follows with sections on planning and preparation (including 62 warm-up exercises) as well as an enlightening discussion on motivating and recruiting choir members. The result is a comprehensive, incredibly useful and well-organized resource!

Faced with persistent intonation problems in their own choirs, authors James Jordan and Matthew Mehaffey developed an innovative new method of choral ensemble solfege that offers dramatic improvement in tuning any choral ensemble. Not just a temporary fix, this method encourages the building of intonation skills within the choral rehearsal setting, using solfege syllables in creative ways to develop aural capabilities in each individual singer. The related video shows these techniques in action with surprising results. Topics such as good vocal production, physical movement and modal analysis are also discussed to aid in the teaching and learning process. Practical and effective, this is a helpful tool for choir directors at every level.

This unique self-study guide distills the essentials of good vocal technique into eleven concise, accessible lessons. Prepared by acclaimed conductor and pedagogue James Jordan, it is a perfect guide for amateur and novice choir members who wish to improve their own singing technique and better understand the singing process. Topics include: good intonation and tuning; breathing; support; resonance; vowel colors; range and diction. A must read for singers, studio teachers and choral conductors alike.

This is a pioneering yet practical book and DVD devoted to all aspects of the women's choir - a groundbreaking contribution and a true collaborative effort from top professionals in the field. For the first time in a book, choral leaders bring together historical, philosophical, psychological, sociological, pedagogical, and real-world considerations to the women's choir - information missing from most choral methods and conducting texts. Areas of focus include: working with beginning, high school, collegiate, and community women's choirs; improving the sound of women's choirs; suggested repertoire for women's choirs; composing for women's choirs; building community within the ensemble; warm-ups and rehearsal strategies; building excellence in women's choirs. Sections also focus on mentoring, auditions, seating arrangements, historical women's repertoire, healthy vocal development, gender issues, history, status of the women's choir, and much more. This book features research, practical insights, and round-table discussions. The included DVD demonstrates choral techniques and teaching ideas with two women's choirs: Aurora, from Luther College, conducted by Sandra Peter; and The University of Kentucky Women's Choir, conducted by Lori Hetzel. Conducting Women's Choirs is, quite simply, essential for anyone who is involved in the women's choir movement and interested in the culmination of decades of experience and wisdom by leaders in the profession.

The role of conductor goes far beyond the notes on the score; a successful conductor also has to be an effective leader. The information in this text will help you develop skills needed to work together with musicians and inspire them to higher levels of excellence. Vision, trust, persuasion and character are just a few of the concepts examined and explored throughout this effective volume. Go beyond notes and rhythms, learn to connect with musicians on a personal level for more effective rehearsals and more musically satisfying performances.

Creating the Special World is a collection of lectures that epitomize the teachings of Weston Noble, one of the most influential leaders in the field of choral music of the past 55 years. The ten insightful lectures are divided into four sections: The Special World of Choral Music; Choral Pedagogy; Stylistic Awareness and Choral Music: A Retrospective. The author discusses the musical inspiration he and his students have experienced, as well as the technical aspects of diction, rhythm, and historical stylistic practices. Choral musicians at all levels will benefit greatly from this book!

Robert Lawson Shaw was born in Red Bluff, California on April 30, 1916 - another century, another America. By the time he died, 82 years later, he had become one of America's classical music icons - a key figure who helped create a culture of classical music in the United States. Shaw was the principle re-inventor of the choral art in America. He made choral music important, artistic, and popular. Deep River is a rich, in-depth, 631-page biography of this complex man and his relentless drive to transform American choral singing. The enclosed DVD features Robert Shaw in rehearsal at Boston University.

What are the secret ingredients of master teachers? If you were a student in your class, what would you be learning? Would it be both exciting and valuable? How do you create a disciplined classroom environment without becoming a dictator? How can failure become a pathway to success? What are the qualities of true leaders? Tim Lautzenheiser explores the real-world questions, fears, and doubts all outstanding educators have. In the process, he discovers a gold mine of opportunities for teachers to assess their own effectiveness and reach the highest levels possible. In four parts (The Art of Teaching; Developing an Attitude for Success; Teacher Leadership Skills; and Selection and Encouragement of Student Leaders), Tim calls teachers and administrators to action. He writes, "It is easy to 'dream the dream' and even exciting to sit down and 'draw up the plan,' but doing it, actually taking action, seems to be where many halt... Don't react: act!" Hardcover.