Archive for June, 2009
Choral Singing Is Good For You
A new study commissioned by Chorus America has concluded that choral singing is good for children, adults and communities. The study says:
… singing in one of the 270,000 choruses in the U.S., such as a community chorus or a school or church choir, is strongly correlated with qualities that are associated with success throughout life, the study finds. Greater civic involvement, discipline, and teamwork are just a few of the attributes fostered by singing with a choral ensemble.
The study goes on to say that “Children who participate in a chorus get significantly better grades than children who have never sung in a choir.” It is unclear from my reading of the summary whether the students get better grades because they participate in a chorus, or only better students choose to participate in chorus.
What is clear is that choral singing is a great way to introduce children to the arts. They don’t have to buy an instrument and they don’t need any special training to start, so their is usually no monetary investment required. This means that choral singing can be available to almost everyone, so encourage a child to participate in a chorus or choir.
Amandla Arts Trio in LaGrange, Georgia
The Amandla Arts Trio is appearing in LaGrange, GA during the “Summer Festival of Music” event sponsored by The West Georgia Chapter of Morris Brown College National Alumni Association. I hope that I can get down to LaGrange for this event. I have heard Amandla Arts Trio before and it is definitely worth the $10.00 admission to hear them.
“Porgy and Bess” in San Francisco
Some friends of mine are singing in the current production of “Porgy and Bess” playing in San Francisco at The War Memorial Opera House this month. I just read a glowing review in The San Francisco Chronical. Looks like the ticket holders are in for a real treat.
I heard that the production is sold out. “Porgy and Bess” seems always to sell well. I hope that the singers are treated well.
More about repeats – D.C. and D.S.
In an earlier lesson we learned about simple repeats. In this lesson you will learn about the following repeat instructions:
- Da Capo or D.C.: Repeat from the beginning
- Da Capo al Fine or D.C. al Fine: Go back to beginning and sing to Fine
- Dal Segno or D.S.: Repeat from the sign
- Dal Segno al Fine or D.S. al Fine: Go back to the sign and sing to Fine
- Samuel Barber At 100, ReconsideredHe was once dismissed as a composer for "high middlebrow taste." But Barber, who wrote the famous Adagio for Strings, would not be criticized if he were an emerging composer today, 100 years after his birth. […]
- Barber's 'Adagio': Naked Expression Of EmotionThere's a simple logic behind Samuel Barber's emotional Adagio. It progresses from a single note to high emotional wailing to release to final acceptance. On today's centennial of Barber's birth, take a guided tour of the music with commentator Rob Kapilow. […]
- Suds And Sensibility: Barber's Violin ConcertoBarber's beautiful concerto came about at the request of a soap magnate named Samuel Fels. Although the business end of the commission was sullied, the concerto came out sparkling. Hear violinist James Ehnes play the piece in concert. […]
- The Life And Music Of Samuel BarberIn the middle of the 20th century, when composers were writing with angularity and dissonance, Barber forged his own lyrical, romantic style. By the time he was 26, he'd composed the iconic Adagio for Strings. […]
- Live Tonight: Nicholas Payton At The Village VanguardHe found his footing in jazz through its hard-swinging main stem. But after he'd proved his hard-bop mettle, he took a fork in the road toward electric experimentalism. Now, trumpeter Nicholas Payton seems comfortable pursuing a middle ground. Listen live Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET. […]
- Five Songs, Ten Classic Tenor TitansThe tenor sax is a powerful instrument. This is especially apparent in music created by mighty jazz masters whose skills shaped sounds still reflected in present-day compositions. Hear five great pairings, battles and studio jam sessions. […]
- The Jazz Community As A Road MapMost people who pass through the jazz community only travel down certain main thoroughfares. But in order for there to be a vibrant community, you need all those side streets, some of which are trafficked heavily by people in the know, others which remain mostly quiet. […]