It’s Labor Day weekend. We are almost all back to school. This is the time that makes or breaks your whole school year. This summer I got a booth at the Missouri Choral Directors conference and pulled colleagues in to share their thoughts.
Why are adolescent boys so turned off by choir?
How important is music reading for All State choir?
Should majority white choirs sing Gospel and Spirituals?
Should sacred music be programmed in public schools?
What are the biggest problems in music education?
How should we be using technology tools to bring our teaching practice up to speed for the 21st century?
I sat down at the booth, and invited passersby to join me to weigh in on these questions. I ended up with a TREASURE trove of wisdom, ideas and helpful discussion to get teachers calibrated and focused! Special thanks to Carla Oliver, Stephen Rew, Chandler Cooper, Paige Wakefield, Rebecca Winn, Christine Jarquio, Brian Von Glahn, Courtney Williams, Lauren Tosh, Chris Boemler and Max Jackson.
I also asked them some questions about their earliest music class memories, but that’s for a future special project where I compare music teacher answers to “normal people” answers. Stay tuned!
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your own answers to the questions posed here on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
www.sightreadingfactory.com is the best literacy tool on the market today. Enter Choralosophy at checkout to get 10% off memberships for you AND your students!
Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
Great deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
The “Choral Music Canon” is one of the many concepts that I believe can only be grappled with if we are able to hold two conflicting truths in mind. It is crucial for us to hold great art in high esteem, while recognizing that we won’t all agree on what makes the list.
Renowned American choral director Craig Hella Johnson joins me this week to give a master class of sorts related to programming philosophies as well as a peak behind the curtain of his ensemble, Conspirare.
In a conversation that delves into the heart of choral music, Craig and I discuss the transformative vision behind Conspirare, a chamber choir known for its virtuosic sound and diverse programming. We explore how creating a culture of mutual respect and shared responsibility in choral groups fosters a deeper connection to the music. The discussion also touches on the challenges of navigating the traditional Western choral canon, with us both agreeing on the need for a more inclusive approach that honors underrepresented voices while continuing to have a historical conversation to preserve the “great works” of our art form. Craig emphasizes the importance of honesty and student agency in teaching, advocating for a re-examination of classical music’s origins and the inclusion of diverse composers in programming.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
www.sightreadingfactory.com is the best literacy tool on the market today. Enter Choralosophy at checkout to get 10% off memberships for you AND your students!
Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Known for his depth of knowledge, artistic sensitivity, and rich imagination, Craig Hella Johnson assembles some of the finest singers in the country to form a world-class, GRAMMY®-award-winning ensemble committed to creating relevant and dynamic choral art. Johnson is known for crafting musical journeys that create deep connections between performers and listeners.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
Johnson is beloved by audiences, revered by singers, and lauded by critics and composers. The Wall Street Journal praised his ability to “find the emotional essence other performers often miss,” and Fanfare wrote that “Craig Hella Johnson has assembled and molded a first-rate choir to be respected as highly as the best we have had.”
Great deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!
Distinguished composer John Corigliano wrote, “I believe that [Johnson] has understood my music in a way that I have never experienced before. He is a great musician who understands everything about the music he conducts.” Composer and collaborator Robert Kyr observed, “Craig’s attitude toward creating a community of artists who work together to interpret the score … goes beyond technical mastery into that emotional depth and spiritual life of the music.”
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Known online as Babatunde “Hip Hopera,” this week’s guest may look like he is just out there having fun on TikTok. But, a closer look shows an artist doing innovative, and incredibly important work bridging the gaps between musical worlds.
From West Coast hip-hop fan to opera singer, this week’s guest Babtunde Akinboboye‘s journey is a fusion of genres and cultures that’s shaking up the music world. Kind of like kimchi on tacos…
His unique blend of opera with hip-hop beats, highlighted in a viral performance of of an aria mashed with Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble,” has earned him a dedicated social media following and sparked conversations about the future of classical music. In this podcast, Tunde and I explore how his work challenges the elitist perceptions of classical music and addresses the cultural barriers that make it feel inaccessible to many. We discuss the balance between preserving tradition and embracing change, the role of education in making classical music more inclusive, and the need to break down labels that segregate music by race. Our discussion offers fresh insights into how classical music can evolve to connect with a broader, more diverse audience.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have you r thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
www.sightreadingfactory.com is the best literacy tool on the market today. Enter Choralosophy at checkout to get 10% off memberships for you AND your students!
Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
A singer of diverse talents, Nigerian American Baritone, Babatunde Akinboboye is known for his enthralling stage presence. He has performed with the Los Angeles Opera, Opera San Jose, Opera Santa Barbara, Long Beach Opera, and Utah Opera. Babatunde has also debuted the roles of Drew in the Opera Works’Arts for Social Awareness Project’s world premiere production of The Discord Opera, and Zanni in the world premiere of Gloria Coates’ Stolen Identity. His most recent performances include Daggoo in LA Opera’s Moby Dick, Escamillo in Pacific Opera Project’s production of Carmen, and Lucha’s Father in The Industry’s production of Hopscotch.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
As an advocate for the performance of art song and operatic works written by African, and African American composers, Mr. Akinboboye has headlined the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry awards in Lagos, Nigeria performing a fusion of opera and traditional African music and has been a featured performer at both the National Association of Negro Musicians Annual Conference, as well as the African American Art Song Alliance Conference.
Babatunde’s honors include Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition, and finalist in the International Eisteddfod Vocal Solo Competition in Llangollen, Wales.
Great deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!
In December of 2018, Babatunde combined his love of classical opera and hip hop and created the new genre Hip Hopera in a viral video that gained over 10 million views and was featured on Time.com, Classic FM, MSN.com and more. His debut EP “Della Citta” is now available.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Known online as Babatunde “Hip Hopera,” this week’s guest may look like he is just out there having fun on TikTok. But, a closer look shows an artist doing innovative, and incredibly important work bridging the gaps between musical worlds.
From West Coast hip-hop fan to opera singer, this week’s guest Babtunde Akinboboye‘s journey is a fusion of genres and cultures that’s shaking up the music world. Kind of like kimchi on tacos…
His unique blend of opera with hip-hop beats, highlighted in a viral performance of of an aria mashed with Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble,” has earned him a dedicated social media following and sparked conversations about the future of classical music. In this podcast, Tunde and I explore how his work challenges the elitist perceptions of classical music and addresses the cultural barriers that make it feel inaccessible to many. We discuss the balance between preserving tradition and embracing change, the role of education in making classical music more inclusive, and the need to break down labels that segregate music by race. Our discussion offers fresh insights into how classical music can evolve to connect with a broader, more diverse audience.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have you r thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
www.sightreadingfactory.com is the best literacy tool on the market today. Enter Choralosophy at checkout to get 10% off memberships for you AND your students!
Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
A singer of diverse talents, Nigerian American Baritone, Babatunde Akinboboye is known for his enthralling stage presence. He has performed with the Los Angeles Opera, Opera San Jose, Opera Santa Barbara, Long Beach Opera, and Utah Opera. Babatunde has also debuted the roles of Drew in the Opera Works’Arts for Social Awareness Project’s world premiere production of The Discord Opera, and Zanni in the world premiere of Gloria Coates’ Stolen Identity. His most recent performances include Daggoo in LA Opera’s Moby Dick, Escamillo in Pacific Opera Project’s production of Carmen, and Lucha’s Father in The Industry’s production of Hopscotch.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
As an advocate for the performance of art song and operatic works written by African, and African American composers, Mr. Akinboboye has headlined the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry awards in Lagos, Nigeria performing a fusion of opera and traditional African music and has been a featured performer at both the National Association of Negro Musicians Annual Conference, as well as the African American Art Song Alliance Conference.
Babatunde’s honors include Regional Finalist of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition, and finalist in the International Eisteddfod Vocal Solo Competition in Llangollen, Wales.
Great deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!
In December of 2018, Babatunde combined his love of classical opera and hip hop and created the new genre Hip Hopera in a viral video that gained over 10 million views and was featured on Time.com, Classic FM, MSN.com and more. His debut EP “Della Citta” is now available.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
Should vocal jazz join other forms of ensemble singing in the “mainstream” of music education? Or does best fit within a niche?
In our second episode of the brand new “GIA/Walton” series, I am excited to bring you another fascinating and useful conversation. This time, with composer and vocal jazz advocate, David von Kampen.
In this discussion, we tackle teaching approaches, and programming philosophies that seek to seamlessly weave concepts from jazz and music theory into our choral classrooms of all levels. It can be true for many teachers that we program less Jazz repertoire because we either don’t have a jazz ensemble, and/or we just didn’t receive much education in our teacher training programs that help us feel comfortable approaching the repertoire. This insecurity can often manifest itself as a programming gap. “When you sing jazz, nothing about the fundamentals of healthy singing changes.” David advocates for all schools having a dedicated vocal jazz ensemble in their program, but also offers practical ways to inject jazz into the curriculum in general choral environments.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
www.sightreadingfactory.com is the best literacy tool on the market today. Enter Choralosophy at checkout to get 10% off memberships for you AND your students!
Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
David von Kampen (b. 1986) is a composer from Lincoln, Nebraska. David’s creative work spans a wide variety of genres and styles, including jazz, choral music, hymnody and liturgy, solo voice, chamber music, and musical theater. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from the University of Nebraska. He has studied composition with James Barnes, Dan Gailey, Forrest Pierce, Eric Richards, and Randall Snyder.
David is a six-time Downbeat Award winner in graduate-level jazz writing categories, a three-time winner of the Vancouver Chamber Choir Young Composers Competition, and was named the MTNA Distinguished Composer of the Year for his song cycle “Under the Silver and Home Again.” He has been among ten winners of the ORTUS International New Music Competition, the recipient of an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer award, winner of the San Francisco Choral Artists New Voices Project, winner of the National Band Association’s Young Jazz Composers Competition, and received Honorable Mention in the New York Youth Symphony First Music Commissions. Puddin’ and the Grumble, David’s original musical with playwright Becky Boesen, was one of seven finalists for the Richard Rodgers award.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
David has over 80 choral and instrumental compositions and arrangements published with Walton Music, G. Schirmer, Hal Leonard, Concordia Publishing House, Pavane Publishing, UNC Jazz Press, Graphite, MusicSpoke, and others. His music has been performed by the Aeolians, KHORIKOS Vocal Ensemble, the L.A. Choral Lab, KC VITAs Chamber Choir, the Taiwan Youth Festival Chorus, San Francisco Choral Artists, the U.S. Army Blues Jazz Ensemble, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, and by collegiate, all-state, high school, and church ensembles throughout the United States and internationally.
Great deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!
David is a lecturer of music theory and literature at the University of Nebraska, where he teaches a variety of music courses and directs the award-winning UNL Jazz Singers. He also serves as Music Coordinator for Sanctuary Worship at Christ Lutheran Church in Lincoln. David is a member of ASCAP, the Jazz Education Network, and the American Choral Directors Association. He is active as a conductor and pianist, and as a clinician for vocal and instrumental ensembles. He lives in Lincoln with his wife Mollie and three daughters.
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
I find that too often, as practicing teachers we either ignore new research all together, or we read the boiler plate summary, take it as gospel and move on without examining it critically. Ellie Johnson tries to help us thread the needle.
Ellie is a PhD Music Education candidate and researcher, and the host of The Merfy Pod. She loves to dive in to the research and summarize it so we don’t have to. She is also now a monthly contributor in the Choralosophy Community blog space where she curates short summaries and links to important new research you should know about.
In this episode we talk through the contributions and gaps in a recent study called “Assessment Practices and Beliefs of Secondary Choir Teachers” by Ben Kambs which focuses on the questionable practice of music educators grading students on attendance, participation, and attitude, as well as “Serious musicking: choral pedagogy in ‘low-threshold’ choirs” by Jansson, Døving, and Haugland Balsnes that features the ideas found embedded in ideas of Critical Choral Pedagogy and other frameworks, which “alleviates the notion of the leader as more knowledgeable than the followers” and aims to disrupt the hierarchal structure of typical choir programs via reexamining auditions, self selection and even fundamental pedagogical practices like assigning at home practice, and addressing singers individually for instruction.
Choralosophy presented by Ludus. Visit Ludus.com/choralosophy for the cutting edge in fine arts ticketing and marketing solutions.
Tune in, and have your thinking stimulated and challenged. Then, weigh in yourself with your related ideas and experiences on Facebook in the Choralosophers group or over on choralosophy.substack.com
www.sightreadingfactory.com is the best literacy tool on the market today. Enter Choralosophy at checkout to get 10% off memberships for you AND your students!
Be Sure to Find Choralosophy on TikTok!
For future rehearsal clips, find me on TikTok, Insta and FB!
Sign up for an annual membership and save over $50 by entering Choralosophy at checkout! Save 15% on monthly or annual subscriptions.
Ellie Johnson has been a music educator in Nebraska since 2015. She is currently a PhD candidate and Hixson-Lied fellow at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where she helps train undergraduate pre-service teachers and conducts music education research.
Ellie has worked primarily with middle school students in both general music and choral settings. In addition to solo research on increasing student autonomy in aural skills coursework, Ellie recently presented collaborative research on music student mental health and inclusive choral teaching at the International Society for Music Education World Conference in Helsinki, Finland.
Enter Choralosophy at Checkout for a 5% discount when you shop for folders, robes and other gear for your choir program! www.mymusicfolders.com and www.mychoirrobes.com
She hosts the MERFY podcast where she summarizes music education research for you in short palatable episodes – available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. Conference.
More on Belonging in groups from Choralosophy
Great deals, speedy shipping, and back to school sales at SheetMusicPlus!
RyanMain.com is now expanding to a family of composers! Visit endeavormusicpublishing.com and of course, enter Choralosophy at checkout for a 10% discount!
