Music Education, Choral Music, and writings inspired from discussions on social media platforms.
What I Learned from “Bossypants”
I know what you are thinking: 1. “Where have you been?” 2. “I hate seeing that your recent posts are all Weekly Tweet archives.” 3. “What does Bossypants have to do with anything music related? Isn’t that the point of your site?’ My answers: 1. Grad schooling! But have no fear, I’m only taking 2 Maymester courses at night so I will have more time to do more creative things and write about music! Unfortunately, I’ve been a ghost at #MusEdChat, and will unfortunately have to remain as one as...
read moreVirtual Choir 2.0
Eric Whitacre has done it again. Creating musical experiences for how music should be intended: to be shared, to leave an impression, to express the seeming-meaningless to some, to create meaning for others, and most importantly to create connections. Connections between music and text, poet and composer, composer and music, composer and choir, choir with music, choir with text, choir within choir (though in most cases without face-to-face or any conversing…strictly through music), and now, music/text/choir/ with the world. It’s...
read moreExperimenting with Shrook and Syndicated Press
Shrook I was wandering around the Mac App World store to see if there were any good free productivity apps, because who doesn’t love free apps that may enhance the products of your life? I stumbled upon Shrook, a fairly new RSS feed reader that sits right in your dock if you so choose to let it reside there. You can separate your feeds into groups to keep your reading organized. For me, I have the categories: Music Education – websites and blogs by educators and music students Music News – general music news, such as NPR or...
read moreInaugural Issue of Leading Notes
Two members of the MPLN, Justine Dolorfino and Nick Jaworski have started an online magazine focusing on current philosophies and practices in music education. Their first issue will focus on, “The State of the Profession,” collecting views from current music educators and students. I’m really excited to see this project develop and serve the music education community as a valuable resource of knowledge and discussion. Please visit LeadingNotes.org tomorrow for their first issue, and look for my article! ...
read moreSCMEA 2011 Reflection
SCMEA was awesome! Though I only got to attend two sessions due to exhibit booth obligations, I gained a lot of new knowledge and purchased some great materials! (My debit card cried a little bit these last two days!…Whoops!) In the past, I have posted some favorite quotes from some of James Jordan’s books on my site. The randomly bought The Musician’s Soul on Amazon because I was looking for something musically geeky to read, and after reading the summary I decided it was just what I was looking for. Then I read the book and...
read moreSCMEA 2011 Conference
At the very last minute, I changed my weekend plans and decided to attend a few sessions at the SCMEA Conference in Charleston! I’m really excited about attending because James Jordan from Westminster Choir College is presenting two choral clinic sessions. I am a HUGE fan of his books! I read the first two in the series, The Musician’s Soul and The Musician’s Spirit and I just got The Musician’s Walk for Christmas, but haven’t been able to continue reading due to school work. He is such a brilliant writer, and I...
read moreLord Nelson Mass – Haydn
Here is another Listening Journal entry for my Conducting Style and Analysis class! This was another piece I was previously unaware of, and now after listening to it and reading about it’s background, I absolutely love the music and the way it was written. Haydn wrote this during a time of war, giving the standard Mass text a “prayerful sense of urgency” (AmericanBach.org). The piece is primarily written in d minor, giving the mass an overall feeling of darkness. The last movement, however, concludes in D Major, with the text...
read moreTime Management
Oh, the adventures of Grad School! I have only been in school for two weeks and I am already busy with work! I’ve been trying to stay on top of things and keep myself organized so that I don’t forget anything! I figured I would share some tips on how I’m *attempting* to stay on track in case any other students are in the same boat this semester! Keep a calendar…or two! This is something new that I am trying. I’ve always kept a planner, but I realize that sometimes I don’t always have it with me, which can...
read moreMissa Solemnis – Beethoven
As part of my Conducting Style and Analysis class this semester, we are required to keep a listening journal for a required listening list of about 35 choral pieces. I thought these would be perfect to share as Noteworthy Pieces, as well as give me another medium in which I can develop my writing about music. The piece on the list is Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis.” I found a great recording of Leonard Bernstein conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra performance of this piece. I love the dynamics in this piece, because I feel...
read more100 Music Education Majors Tweeting
Time to start Tweeting, Music Education Majors! Here is everything you need to know: Check out the official landing page on MusicEdMajor.Net for how to participate here. My official landing page for the project is here. You can also find related posts to the project on the “Projects and Music” page. Apply to be on our list here! Once you are on the follow list, post this badge on your blog/website with a link back to Andy’s landing page to spread the word about the project! Right click on it and save it to your computer....
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