Events and Announcements: Fwd: Check out this choir!

Dear Choir:

In the absence of regularly getting together for rehearsal and singing at the worship services, check this out for a bit of filling-the-gap online learning!

Each week the American Choral Directors' Association sends out an online newsletter, which this week included a performance by the Mägi Choir, a women's professional choral ensemble located in Seattle. The group specializes in music from the Baltic area (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, for the geographically-challenged), which has an extremely active choral culture.

Please listen to/look at this video and notice how the singers open their mouths -- up-and-down, not crosswise -- except when occasionally singing special vowel sounds; how their tongues are relaxed and lying just behind the lower teeth; how they look up from their music regularly, even though singing extremely complicated music; how their faces are expressive as they sing ("lift the eyebrows" now and then); in other words, a complete performance.

We may or may not care for the piece being sung, but we can certainly learn a lot by paying attention to the physical aspects of singing and performing.

So ... How's that for an online rehearsal. We can get better even when we're not singing together!

Thanks to all for your spirit and your singing.

Allan

-------- Forwarded Message --------

Subject:	Allan, the time for advocacy is now!
Date:	Wed, 13 May 2020 10:18:41 -0400 (EDT)
From:	American Choral Directors Association - Sundra Flansburg <acda@acda.org>
Reply-To:	sflansburg@acda.org
To:	aandlkellar@comcast.net

May 13, 2020

The Mägi Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Heather McLaughlin-Garbes, performs PIeta, by Ester Mägi. This video was submitted to the ACDA Virtual Concert Hall for Professional Choirs.

INSPIRATION

There are many conversations out there about the challenges we are facing. It makes sense to mourn what is happening. I want to encourage us to remember that the arts are always under great scrutiny. You've heard the comments: "What shall we cut? Well they don't test musical skill on the SAT, so that can go."

Let's find solutions. We don't want to compromise safety; we need to raise up the parts of our art that we still can. It's hard enough to remind people of the importance of music in normal times, even though I don't know anyone who doesn't listen to music every day.

So please, let's work together to protect this art, and community music-making. Distill it down: What is singing together about? Making music reflects that which makes us human. No one can change that whether we're together or apart. We're still human, and we need connection.

Let's find solutions to keep the choral boat afloat until we can be together again and celebrate what we love. Otherwise, I'm afraid it will be too easy to trivialize something that for many people is a necessary part of what makes us feel alive.

Dr. Amanda Quist, Director of Choral Activities, Frost School of Music, University of Miami & ACDA National R&R Coordinator for Collegiate Choirs

ge.

STRATEGIES FOR MOVING FORWARD

CLASSROOM IDEAS

From member Renée Wilson-Wicker (Director of Choral Activities, Mountain View High School, Lawrenceville, GA):

I used an idea from a friend to have my students make a musical meme with only two requirements: (1) students must use a concept or vocabulary from their final exam review guide and (2) it must be funny! Some of the early submissions are a delight! Many have made me laugh with great gusto! In reality, it's the first real laughing bout I've had since this insanity began. I highly recommend this as an assignment for your students!

*From lexico.com: bae /bā/ noun informal • US.

a person's boyfriend or girlfriend (often as a form of address). "I'm going to see my bae."

What is the most uplifting thing you've come across during this quarantine? Please reply to this email with something to share with your fellow choral professionals who, like you, are temporarily stuck inside with no choirs to conduct.