THE
Voice of WCDA
Building a Community
March 2014
Convention and
All-State Highlights
Page 4 to Page 7
of Singers
Vol. XXXX, No. 3 Focus Issue
Click Here to
View the WCDA
Website
Table of Contents
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President ..............................................................................................................2
Letter from the Editor .....................................................................................................................3
January Convention Reflections..............................................................................................4-7
Upcoming Dates
March 15, 2014
Online Registration Opens for Refresh
April 1, 2014
Deadline for “The Voice” Articles in
the Spring/Summer edition.
April 15, 2014
Online Pre-registration Opens for
Next Direction
June 16-18, 2014
Refresh Music Teacher Retreat
September 5-7, 2014
Leading the Way..............................................................................................................................8
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES......................9-11
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz Community in our State..............................12-13
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in the World of Music Ed Teachnology..14-15
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction.................................................................................................................................16
Next Direction
WCDA C entral Office
1005 Quinn Drive, Suite #158
Waunakee, WI 53597
Phone: 608-850-1033
Email: [email protected]
Refresh.................................................................................................................................................17
High Fives
College / University............................................................................................................18-19
Boychoir..............................................................................................................................20-21
2 Year College.....................................................................................................................22-23
Show Choir.........................................................................................................................24-25
Potpourri.............................................................................................................................26-27
The Voice - A quarterly choral resource newsletter published
by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
Letter From the President
Matt Wanner
Dear Members,
I have many distinct memories from my first year of teaching, and most of them could be
characterized as a hard slap to the face on one of these recent frigid mornings. The learning
curve was high. I don’t even know how many weeks into the fall it took me to figure out that
several of the students in the “top” choir didn’t have the faintest idea of what they should be
looking at or where they would find their part on the page of printed music. Thank goodness that
somewhere between all of my bumbling and foolish programming there were some bright spots.
My favorite memory took place on a school bus one winter night as the choir and I travelled
home from a concert we attended far out of town. We had been driving for a while when suddenly
I heard something coming from the back of the bus. After the fear of mutiny subsided, I realized
that what I was hearing was...singing. More than just “singing,” several students were singing
our choir music - and they were doing so…freely? I remember the warm feeling that opened as
a smile on my face. It was at that moment that I knew I had them. More importantly, I knew they
had each other. We were finally a choir - a community.
A Community of Learners and Artists
It is important to remember that as the conductor, I am not only the leader and senior artistteacher, but I am part of the community. I am but one cylinder in the engine of our success.
When members of the ensemble feel ownership, special things start to happen, and ownership
thrives when people feel valued for what they bring to the table. Everybody has something to
offer. I have yet to be disappointed when I have sought the knowledge and ideas of the choir.
They always think of angles and approaches that never occurred to me!
Make Choir an Inclusive Place
When I came out of college, I thought I knew what the members of a successful choir would look
like. As I look back now, I think I wanted all of them to be just like me. Boy, was I stupid. It took
me some time to realize (and I’m still working on this) that every person could make a valuable
contribution, and I had better not make a negative assumption about that kid with the Metallica
shirt and long hair who just walked in, because he might wind up being a strong, positive,
committed leader in the choir. (That young man, by the way, is currently lighting the jazz world
on fire as a sophomore at NIU.) The reports you have heard about assumptions are true.
By Timothy Buchholz
No One is Alone
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
It is easy to feel like you are on an island when you may be the only choral director or professional
musician in your town. Fortunately, with WCDA events, the WCDA Facebook page, and good
old fashioned email (I can’t believe I called email old fashioned) you never have to feel alone.
Your colleagues are close by. For me, this is the most significant aspect of my membership.
My colleagues are there to encourage in tough times, they are there to celebrate in good times,
and they are there for me to steal their great ideas the rest of the time. Make it a point to reach
out sometime soon. Maybe you would like to seek the collective wisdom of our membership on
a matter of teaching or repertoire via Facebook? You’ll be amazed at the number of thoughtful
responses you will receive!
I am a firm believer that people need people in order to become the very best that they can be,
and when it is all said and done, we choral directors are in the people business. The community
we create in our rehearsal and among ourselves as professionals will have a profound impact
on the music we make. It all starts with you. As the senior artist-teacher, you have the power
to lead the way for your singers. Be vulnerable, show them you care, and they will begin to
care for each other. As a member of our fine professional association, consider the role you
play. Everybody has something to offer, and we need you. We’ll be singing our song from the
back of the bus in no time.
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Website
Page 2
Matt
Matthew Wanner
WCDA President
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Letter From the Editor
Bryson Mortensen
Click on the Links to Access
Dear Friends,
Letter from the President
As we began to brainstorm themes for the March edition of “The Voice,” it became
incredibly clear that there was one concept that had a strong presence in all of our
discussions about WCDA and choral music: community.
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
In so many ways, community is a defining concept of what we do as choral musicians.
We build communities (and sub-communities, in some cases) with the choirs that we
conduct, because fulfilling choral music requires great music and singers who care
about each other while they sing. We become involved in the community of our audience
members, whether that audience is made up of the parents of our choir, the city in which
we live, or the congregation of the church in which we sing. It comes as no surprise,
then, that we are often seeking a community of our colleagues, because we recognize
the value of a personal connection.
This issue celebrates a few different facets of community from the viewpoints of
several of the presenters at our most recent WCDA conference. While they are not
always speaking about the same topic, they are sharing about different ways that we
can build community, whether it be Joy Paffenroth sharing with us ways to develop
community within our choirs using TRIBES techniques, Jonathan Turba shares ways
to use technology to develop a digital community of colleagues, and Tim Buchholz will
be identifying some ways to lean on colleagues and conferences to help develop a new
choir or skill - in these case, developing a Jazz choir.
This issue also represents the continuing role that WCDA can play in your life as a choral
musician. There are articles from our district representatives sharing their perspective
on choral music and community. There are several of our “High Five’s” where your
colleagues share great pieces of literature that you can use in your concert. Our
community of WCDA is made up of individuals who are willing to share their experience
in the spirit of helping one another.
Take advantage of the great information shared by all of our colleagues that are part of
the WCDA community. Contact them individually if you want additional support. Take a
few steps to start to build your own personal community of choral conductors.
Refresh
Sincerely,
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Website
Page 3
Bryson Mortensen
Bryson Mortensen
THE
Voice of WCDA
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 4
January Convention Reflections
Highlights from the January 2014 WCDA Convention and All-State Performances
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
THE
Voice of WCDA
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 5
January Convention Reflections
Highlights from the January 2014 WCDA Convention and All-State Performances
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
THE
Voice of WCDA
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 6
January Convention Reflections
Highlights from the January 2014 WCDA Convention and All-State Performances
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
THE
Voice of WCDA
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 7
January Convention Reflections
Highlights from the January 2014 WCDA Convention and All-State Performances
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli (Southeast District Representantive)
The wonderful life of the choral conductor involves many things, as we all know. We
go, in no special order, from recruiting singers to selecting great music; from concert
planning to score study; from ordering music to dealing with schedule conflicts; from
rehearsal planning to strategizing the best possible community involvement; from
researching the story behind each work to finding the best possible way to teach it, to
learn it, and to communicate it; from commissioning a new work to treasure-hunting
around the great masters; from thinking the sound to actually molding the sound in
concert. And the list goes on and on...
We rarely, however, think ourselves as leaders.
But... I am just a “simple” Middle School Choral Director, teaching general music and
a lunch time 6th and 7th grade choir, one may say. Leader, oh no, that will be the
President of the United States, or maybe the CEO of a Fortune-500 company or, surely,
the conductor of the New York Philharmonic. But we, mortal choir directors, we are not
leaders. We just conduct great choral music.
Really?
I recently came across a book that opened my mind and my heart to recognizing how
important true servant leadership can be in our profession. Dr. Ramona M. Wis, Director
of Choral Activities at North Central College in Naperville, IL, is the author of The
Conductor as Leader: Principles of Leadership Applied to Life on the Podium, published
by GIA in 2007.
In the prologue of the book, Dr. Wis writes,
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
More than technique, more than knowledge, more than talent, more than personality-leadership is the key to great conductors and great ensembles.
Well... that IS a grand statement, I thought. You see... all that time thinking that MY talent
was enough to put me in the center of the world; that MY knowledge was so vast that
people would be just impressed; that MY incredible gestures would only inspire singers
to give their absolute best; that MY spectacular personality would just draw people in
flocks... Why do I need to lead? Who needs a leader in the first place?
Our profession is about PEOPLE and MUSIC, not about us, conductors (with permission
from Dr. William Dehning and his seminal book Chorus Confidential). Yes. True. But we
also must lead.
Good news and bad news, Ramona Wis points. The bad is that becoming a great leader
is a choice that only few will make. The good, however, is that leadership can be learned.
I am sure that all of us have been fortunate enough to witness the work of many
conductors who, through their amazing leadership, inspired musicians of all ages to
achieve far beyond what they ever thought possible. And that was great leadership. At
the same time, we have also seen examples of gifted ensembles who were suffering
from low morale, lack of motivation, and apparent disinterest, but, most likely, only
because of poor leadership.
The Conductor as Leader urges you to look inside and reflect on what type of leader you
are and the type of leader you may certainly become. It’s a really good read and, trust
me, it is for any level.
Happy reading!
Eduardo Garcia-Novelli, D.M.A.
Director of Choral Activities
Carthage College
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Page 8
WCDA Southeast Representative
Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
Building Community in the Choral Ensamble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Every time our ensembles meet to rehearse or perform, we ask each person in the group
to share their voice - one of the most intimate parts of themselves. That is a lot to ask of
a person – especially a young person who needs to trust everyone else in the room so
they feel comfortable enough to share their voice. I know as conductors and teachers,
we find ways to help each singer connect to the text of the pieces we choose, but it’s also
important to find ways for our singers to connect to each other. Retreats and trips are
great to jumpstart this process. They are intense, with a compact time frame and very
beneficial. But, what do you do the rest of the year to maintain the connection or revive
the connection when needed?
At Chilton Middle School, we are a TRIBES school. I had the pleasure of being
trained with several other staff members on TRIBES, what it is and how to use it in our
classrooms. Now, I’m sure some of you are thinking – “great, something else to add to
my plate!” But, let me assure you – it’s not something else to add. I like to think of it
more as a ready-made tool bag to work in to my daily rehearsals to ensure success for
the students.
Here’s what TRIBES is –
Creating a positive school or classroom environment is the most effective way to improve
behavior and learning. The Tribes TLC® process is the way to do it. Students achieve
because they:
By Joy Paffenroth
● Feel included and appreciated by peers and teachers.
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
● Are respected for their different abilities, cultures, gender, interests and dreams.
● Are actively involved in their own learning.
● Have positive expectations from others that they will succeed.
The clear purpose of the Tribes process is to assure the healthy development of every
child so that each one has the knowledge, skills and resiliency to be successful in a
rapidly changing world.
Tribes is a step-by-step process to achieve specific learning goals.
Four agreements are honored:
1. Attentive listening
2. Appreciation / No Put Downs
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Page 9
3. Mutual Respect, and
4. The Right to Pass
I use TRIBES in all levels of choir that I teach from 6th through 12th grade. The activities
are fun, engaging and in most cases, the students don’t realize how much they are
learning until the reflection time afterward when they have those great “a-ha” moments. I
think these strategies and activities have really brought my high school choirs together to
be more cohesive. In many cases, this is the only time during the day when they are not
with classes made up completely of their grade level. This gives them the opportunity
to have their own identity and not just be grouped in with their peers. The impact of this
really hit home for me last year when at the end of the year we were sharing reflections
on the choir experience and one student shared that choir was the only place where she
was known as a person and not just a freshman!
These days, our singers are more connected and yet more disconnected than any time
in our past. Technology and social media has left them feeling isolated in a bubble. It’s
more important now more than ever that we help them connect to each other as human
beings – truly in the moment. When that happens, connections to the music will be even
stronger and musical experiences will be even more powerful.
As a side note, when Melissa Ebert (my colleague at CMS, a 7th grade social studies
teacher and certified TRIBES trainer) and I presented at convention, it was fascinating
- Continues on Page 8 -
Joy Paffenroth
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Building Community in the Choral Ensamble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
- Continued from Page 7 to see how our organization benefited from the TRIBES activities we presented. I know all of us feel isolated in our
own little bubbles in our communities and in our buildings. When we come to conventions and events, we seem to
orbit around each other but not really interact WITH each other. It was so wonderful to watch people learn about
each other, reach out to each other, connect with each other and just have some fun! Thanks to all those who
attended the session and so willingly took part!
If you want information on TRIBES or have any questions about how or when you should be using the activities or
if you just need to reach out to someone, please feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected]. I
would love to connect with more of our membership!
Here are a couple of quick activities you can try with your own groups when you need a pick-me-up for your group –
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
1 Word Community Circle –
● You should stand or sit in a circle.
● This is a time to pose questions/topics to help build community and trust within your group.
● The leader should begin by stating a question or statement for students to respond to.
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
● Everyone has the right to pass and the right to participate.
● If someone passes, go back to them to see if they want to participate later.
Instant Bulletin Board –
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
● Everyone gets a post-it note.
Community in our State
● Write down one thing that many people might not know about you – do not write your name.
By Timothy Buchholz
● Hand your note back to the facilitator.
● Facilitator will hand out post-its to members (do not get your own).
Creating Digital Connections in
● Walk around asking questions about the post-it, but you may not ask the actual words written on the paper.
the World of Music Ed Technology
● Once you find the owner of the post-it, write their name on the note.
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
● After everyone has been found, share the post-it and who it belongs to with the large group.
This is a Scarf –
● Stand in a circle
Refresh
High Fives
● The leader holds a scarf and says, “This is a scarf, but it’s not really a scarf, (pretending) it’s an apron,” and wraps it around the waist.
● The scarf is passed to the next person who says, “This is an apron, but it’s not really an apron, it’s a serving
tray,” and holds it out flat like a tray.
College / University
● This continues on until all students had the opportunity to make the scarf into something else.
Boychoir
● For an extra challenge, see if the students can go backwards in the circle and repeat what each person said the
2 Year College
scarf was.
Show Choir
Potpourri
Passport Paraphrase – (Share something you did over winter break or on the two cold days)
● Pair up students.
● Person A is going to have 30 seconds to talk about a given topic while person B listens – no questions may be
asked.
Return to Page 1
● After 30 seconds, person B is going to paraphrase what they just heard person A say.
● Partners will switch roles and repeat the listening\paraphrasing process.
● Once roles have been reversed, you will have 1 minute to ask any questions or discuss anything you heard
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Page 10
from your partner.
- Continues on Page 9 -
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Building Community in the Choral Ensamble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
- Continued from Page 8 -
1 to 10 ● Stand in a circle.
Letter from the Editor
● Taking turns, one person begins by saying one or two numbers (1 or 1-2).
● The next person may say either the next one or two numbers (3 or 3-4).
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
● Continue around the circle.
● When the number 10 comes up, that person must sit down and is out.
● Restart the game at one.
● The last person standing is the winner.
● If a person is not listening and repeats a number said by the person before them, they are out.
● Counting does not start over, it must continue from the last correct sequence (This ensures attentive listening).
● After a few rounds, try a speed round – there cannot be any hesitation when saying numbers or the person
is out.
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Snowball Fight –
● Each person is going to write their name on a piece of paper.
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
● They will then wad it up into a ball.
● Tell them to begin a snowball fight.
● When time is called, they find a ball and open it up.
● Write down one question you might have for the person on their paper.
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Page 11
● Repeat 2 more times.
● On the last round, find the person that is listed on the paper and ask them the questions on the paper.
● Share out one thing you learned new about the person you talked to.
For more ideas or information about TRIBES, please visit their website at www.tribes.com.
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz Community in Our State
By Timothy Buchholz , Vocal Jazz R&S Chair, UW-Marathon County
This past month I presented an interest session at the WCDA Convention titled, “So
You Want To Start a Vocal Jazz Ensemble…” The presentation was an overview
of vocal jazz pedagogy, looking at everything from vocal production, warm-ups, and
rehearsal techniques, to finding quality arrangements and using a sound system. I
realize that starting a vocal jazz ensemble can seem daunting for those who don’t have
any experience/training in this genre, and I want to make this idiom more accessible for
newcomers. At the conclusion of my presentation I spoke with many individuals about
their specific questions. Having these conversations makes me realize the importance of
connecting with others in our vocal jazz community.
For those who want to tackle this exciting and important genre of music with your choirs,
I want to encourage you to reach out to our Wisconsin vocal jazz community for any help
you need. In addition to my willingness to help you in any way I can, there are many
vocal jazz directors in our state with a collective wealth of knowledge that I know would
be happy to share repertoire ideas and advice from their many years of experience
teaching this music. I’ve yet to meet a vocal jazz director (choral director for that matter)
in Wisconsin who wouldn’t be willing to share with you everything they know if you ask
them to!
Next Direction
In addition to seeking advice from your colleagues, another great way to connect with
other vocal jazz ensembles in our state is through participation in festivals. Jazz on the
Rock Vocal Jazz Festival was a great success this past November, and UW-Marathon
County in Wausau will be hosting a vocal jazz festival on Saturday, April 12th. Both of
these festivals provide a multitude of learning experiences for students and directors
in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Your students will leave energized and
motivated to work on applying what they learned at your next rehearsal. And don’t feel
like you need an established vocal jazz ensemble to participate. Teach a couple vocal
jazz arrangements to your chamber singers or concert choir, and bring them to the
festival to have a great learning experience. For more information on these festivals, go
to their facebook pages at:
Refresh
Jazz on the Rock:
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
www.facebook.com/Jazzontherock
High Fives
College / University
UW-Marathon County Vocal Jazz Festival:
Boychoir
https://www.facebook.com/events/1380475235554194/?context=create
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Additionally, we have two fantastic vocal jazz resources available to educators in the
summer in Wisconsin:
First, the Vocal Jazz Institute, in its ninth year, features a series of hands-on
workshops dedicated to improving your skills and increasing your confidence in
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teaching vocal jazz.
Two separate tracks are offered to benefit those who already
have some experience in vocal jazz, and mentors are available for new vocal jazz
directors. The Institute takes place at the Wisconsin Center for Music Education in
Waunakee on a Monday and Tuesday in late July. http://center.wsmamusic.org/index.
php?module=cms&page=98
- Continues on Page 11 -
Page 12
Timothy Buchholz
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz Community in Our State
By Timothy Buchholz , Vocal Jazz R&S Chair, UW-Marathon County
- Continued from Page 10 -
Second, the UWMC Everest Academy for the Arts Vocal Jazz Camp is open to both educators, and students age
high school through adult. This six-day camp teaches participants the basics of jazz singing, jazz theory, jazz
improvisation, jazz style, and jazz history. Additionally, each participant will be coached on solo repertoire and will
sing with others from the camp in a vocal jazz ensemble. Educators will be assigned a piece to conduct and given
individual feedback on their rehearsal techniques. A public performance will be presented at the end of the week
featuring the camp’s vocal jazz ensemble(s) and solo singers from the camp. The camp runs Monday-Saturday,
July 14-19, 2014. For more information, go to: http://everestarts.org/2014/01/2014-vocal-jazz-camp/
I hope you take full advantage of all the vocal jazz resources that are available to you in our state. Our students
deserve a chance to experience this uniquely American music, and you have the tools to offer this to them. With
the continued growth of vocal jazz in Wisconsin, we may need to start revisiting the idea of a Vocal Jazz All-State
Choir… maybe even for next January!
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Please let me know if you have any questions or need more information about the resources listed above. I look
forward to hearing from you and your groups. It is through connecting and sharing resources with others that we
will raise the level of our groups and give our students the best possible experience in music.
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
Tim Buchholz
By Timothy Buchholz
715-261-6246
[email protected]
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Website
Page 13
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Creating Digital Connections in the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
While attending EdCamp MadWI in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, someone in the session I
was in mentioned Pecha Kucha. Within in the short couple of minutes that she explained
Pecha Kucha, I received a direct link to classroom examples tweeted from someone in the
room and a link to ten great online resources from another educator in Oklahoma City who
had seen the previous tweet. I didn’t even need to Google it!
Today’s technological advances allow us to be linked to people around the world
immediately. In-person contact will always be the most powerful way to share the human
experience, but current technology allows us to amplify those connections in new, exciting,
and immediate ways. Confused by some of the words used in the story above? Read on
and discover ways that you can start digitally connecting with educators both near and far!
Jonathan Turba
Blogs and Feedly
For many, the idea of a blog is nothing new. It is one of many ways that people choose
to publish their ideas and opinions online. Follow the right educator blogs and you will
have a lot of great information coming your way! Unfortunately it is easy to forget to check
all of the blogs you follow, and it is time-consuming to check on each one for new posts.
The good news is that there is a way to organize the blogs that you follow! Get a news
aggregator like Feedly (feedly.com), and all of the blogs that you follow will show up in one
location, almost like an email inbox. Open up Feedly and immediately see if any of the
blogs you follow have made a new post. You can mark posts as read, bookmark them, or
save them for future reference.
Pinterest (pinterest.com)
Looking for pictures of activities in action, great music images to put around your room, or
some great music articles to refresh your own teaching? Pinterest is another way for music
educators to share and connect. Like most social media, you are able to follow other users
on Pinterest. There are many educators on Pinterest, and a simple Google search for
“music education Pinterest” will get you started. Some people pin new items up daily, so
you will have no shortage of ideas to find on Pinterest.
Next Direction
The Power of Twitter (twitter.com)
Refresh
Don’t underestimate the power of Twitter! In fact, Twitter is invaluable for educators.
Twitter is not just a way for people to tweet how cute their dog is or a way to follow their
favorite celebrities. There is a whole separate wave of Twitter-users who use it to share
quality information with thousands of people around the world immediately. In a nutshell,
here is how Twitter can work for educators:
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
● As overused as hashtags (#) are, they are actually intended to be a brilliant organizing
tool. A hashtag tags a tweet to specific content to help users find relevant information.
● Follow particular hashtags like #Mused, #MusicEd, #MusEdChat to see a variety of
ideas and resources that are specific to music education.
● You do not have to actively tweet to be on Twitter. Follow the right people and
hashtags, and Twitter will become a personalized newspaper for you to peruse and find
quality ideas.
● Have a question or looking for inspiration? Put what you need in a tweet, put a few
hashtags on it like #Mused so others will see it, and people you have never even met
will happily reply with ideas or resources they have used.
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Page 14
It doesn’t stop here, though! As you get more comfortable with Twitter, you will quickly
see how much information you have access to, and how fast you can get to all of it in a
focused and efficient way.
- Continues on Page 13 -
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
Creating Digital Connections in the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
- Continued from Page 12 -
Google Drive Collaboration (drive.google.com)
Though Google Drive isn’t social media, using the documents to share and view ideas is a great way to connect
with other educators. Because the documents exist in the cloud, one link can be shared once but the document can
continue to be updated. You can share one folder with a whole group of music educators, and everyone can drop
in resources to share. No one has to ask for everything to be sent as attachments or for the latest version because
everything is updated in real time! Open the folder and anything added will already be there. It’s easy to share
Google Drive documents with large groups of people through Twitter. Make the document public, tweet the link, and
anyone who sees your tweet can get to the document.
EdCamp Events (edcamp.wikispaces.com/)
One of the best ways that I became comfortable in using these digitally-connecting programs was by attending
EdCamp events. EdCamp is a free “unconference.” Educators sign-up in advance to attend EdCamp, but the
sessions of the day are not planned until the morning of the event. Those in attendance create sessions that fit their
needs. You can simply attend different sessions, lead a session on something you do in your classroom, or ask to
have a session where others help you learn more! Whatever the case, your EdCamp experience is catered to what
you are interested in learning.
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
While EdCamp is not exclusively tech-based, you will see educators with all sorts of devices in action. Many
attendees are constantly sharing ideas on Twitter and Google Drive while connecting both in person and online. My
first EdCamp event I attended convinced me of the power of Twitter. EdCamp events are held all around the world,
including several right in Wisconsin! Go to edcamp.wikispaces.com to see a full listing of EdCamp events, sign-up,
and check it out!
Explore with Focus
While there are multiple apps and social media that I’m sure you are just itching to get started on, my strongest
advice is to start with just one and get comfortable with it. Focus on using that program or app a little more each day,
and start building some connections. Remember that there is an almost infinite amount of information online. Accept
that there simply is no way to read it all. Pick and choose a few points that get you excited, and let the rest go. The
fact that you have started on this journey is already bringing you information that you would not have encountered
otherwise!
Please feel free to email me with any questions you may have about getting connected with other music educators
online, or better yet, join Twitter and send out a tweet! You can find more details on the programs above and others
at http://goo.gl/Pijirv.
College / University
Johnathan Turba
Boychoir
[email protected]
2 Year College
@JohnathanTurba
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Website
Page 15
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
What was the moment or series of moments that propelled you into the world of choral music? What
inspired you to make teaching youth through music your life’s calling? What types of people did you
encounter or what types of experiences did you have that you hope that your students may have as
well?
NextDirection gives music teachers an opportunity to spark the passion of choral leadership in the
hearts of their students; It serves to bring together the brightest, most dynamic young people to consider
a career in choral music. Every year, students (both high school and college) leave the experience
inspired to be great leaders in their own programs and often in the profession.
What is NextDirection? NextDirection provides a unique 3-day venue for high school juniors and
seniors to think about the possibilities within the choral music profession. Students have the chance to
make connections with like-minded students, to work with collegiate music education students, and to
meet and work with outstanding conductors and teachers.
Why is it “Unique?” Unlike an All-State/Honor Choir experience, performance is not he main focus,
although the singing standard is very high. In addition to singing in a high achieving choir, students will
also attend mini-sessions regarding issues in the music education world.
Who should attend? NextDirection is not just for students already considering careers in choral music,
but also for the finest young choral musicians who may have never considered becoming choral
directors.
Now it is your turn to mentor and inspire your gifted young leaders. Give your students the opportunity
of a lifetime: NextDirection 2014.
NextDirection 2014
Location: Green Lake Conference Center
Date: Friday September 5 – Sunday September 7
Guest Conductor: Mary Hopper from Wheaton Conservatory of Music
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Page 16
To Collegiate Directors- Do you have a current student who you feel is ready to take the next step in
changing high school students’ lives? Is there a music student at your school who will represent your
college or university in a positive way? If so, serving as a chaperone for the NextDirection Conference
is meant for that student! Collegiate students will get a chance to talk with kids about YOUR program,
as well as collegiate life in general. They will also be able to work with great staff, sing in the conference
choir under Mary Hopper and meet other college students that may become their future colleagues!
Consider your best candidates for this incredible experience.
Show your interest!
Students, Directors, and/or parents- If you are interested in NextDirection 2014,
go to the following link or scan the QR code to the right. Fill in the form, and we will
contact you when registration goes live in April!
Next Direction Link: http://goo.gl/0Z0aa2
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
PLAN NOW to attend Refresh! 2014!
ONLY $45.00! Graduate credit available! Registration OPENS online – March 15
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Last year’s inaugural event was a big success and the attendees shared LOTS of great ideas
to make the workshop even better!!!
Refresh! 2014 will add…
MORE repertoire! Reading Sessions! MORE idea-sharing time!
MORE Instructional Technology ideas! MORE than one track of sessions!
MORE movement and interactive sessions! MORE breaks!
And coming back for 2014 …
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Speed-Learning Social session! Informal but exciting atmosphere!
Two WSMA Honors Directors to meet and learn from!
Paul Torkelson (Mixed); Eric Johnson (Treble) Directors’ Choir!
Great variety of sessions for ALL levels of choir directors including:
Show Choir
Potpourri
Sight-Reading and Literacy Sessions * Community-Building
Vocal and Choral Technique for All Ages * The Best Idea I Ever Had
Sharing of Favorite Teaching Strategies * Effective Classroom Management
Inspiring Myself – Inspiring My Singers * Dalcroze Within the Rehearsal
Return to Page 1
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Page 17
Wake Up Those Bodies, Voices, and Brains – Effective Warmups
& MORE
Bay Beach Picnic! Ride the Zippin Pippin!
Time to Release! Rekindle! Rejuvenate!
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
High Fives
Four Year College / University Choirs
Robert Gehrenbeck … WCDA Repertoire & Standards Chair
No. 1
Title: “Surgens Jesus” (Jesus, Rising from the Dead)
Composer: Orlando di Lasso
Publisher: Roger Dean; CPDL
Edition #: Roger Dean 10/1332R; CPDL 01941
Voicing: SSATB
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Accompaniment: a cappella
Comments: Beginning with an upward surging melody imitated by all five voice parts, this Easter motet is full of
ingenious text painting. Singers will need strong musical independence and good mastery of their individual vocal
registers to negotiate the often angular counterpoint, but this exciting music is well worth the effort. Lasso creates
contrast within the piece by alternating imitative counterpoint and homophony, including a sprightly triple meter
section toward the end. The concluding Alleluia is a rhythmic tour de force full of displaced accents between the
voice parts. CPDL # 01941 presents the piece in the original key of C-major, but conductors who are wary of so
many high Gs for sopranos and tenors may prefer the transposition to Bb-major in Larry Doebler’s edition for
Roger Dean, available as a digital download. But be forewarned: Doebler’s edition lacks bar lines in the choral
parts, although there are other helpful markings to facilitate learning the complicated rhythms. For conductors
with access to Finale software, the CPDL edition (with bar lines) can be transposed to any key.
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
No. 2
Title: “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love (from Invitations)
Composer: Jean Belmont Ford
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Publisher: Roger Dean
Community in our State
Edition #: 15/1277R
By Timothy Buchholz
Voicing: SSAATBB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
Comments: Kansas City composer Jean Belmont Ford (b. 1939) is known for her expressive, neo-Romantic
style featuring lush harmonies, unexpected modulations, and creative use of choral texture. This is music that
turns on a dime: a phrase dominated by expansive, seven-part chords suddenly cadences on single open fifth,
creating a faintly medieval effect. But Belmont’s harmonic and textural prowess always serves the text, frequently
in ingenious ways. Although most often performed alone, this setting of a poem by Christopher Marlowe is
drawn from a larger work, Invitations, available in “print on demand” format from Roger Dean. “The Passionate
Shepherd” is the only movement of Invitations that does not require flute and/or percussion. Alliance Music
Publications in Houston has a small selection of additional choral works by Belmont, with links to recordings and
perusal scores on their website. Highly recommended are “Sky Loom” (for choir and cello) and “Sand County” (a
longer, a cappella work on texts by Aldo Leopold).
No. 3
Title: “Zigeunerlieder“ (Gypsy Songs), op. 103
High Fives
Composer: Johannes Brahms
College / University
Publisher: Peters, Carus, Hinshaw, Dover, IMSLP
Boychoir
Edition #: various
2 Year College
Voicing: SATB
Show Choir
Potpourri
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Page 18
Accompaniment: Piano
Comments: Although Brahms’ solo-voice arrangements of these songs are better known, the choral (technically,
vocal quartet) versions came first, and they are some of Brahms’ most charming shorter choral works. The
eleven songs in Brahms’ opus 103 present a wide variety of moods, keys, and levels of difficulty, but they are
united by the “Gypsy” meter of 2/4. The numerous fast movements of Zigeunerlieder could be thought of as
“rough and tumble” Liebeslieder, but opus 103 contains many tender moments as well. Only one pianist is
required, but he or she had better be good. Vocal demands are also high in many of the numbers, especially
for tenors, because of the tessitura and the muscularity of the writing. Many of the songs begin with a short
tenor “call” that the full choir subsequently repeats. These solos can be sung either by one voice or by the entire
tenor section. Several songs from the whole can make a nice set, and the opus in its entirety is simply stunning.
Donald Neuen’s edition for Hinshaw includes a singing English translation, and it is much cheaper than Peters or
Carus. Alternatively, the old (but finely engraved) complete edition of Brahms’s works is in the public domain, so
you can do what Dover Publications did and make your own, fully legal copies from that edition, available in most
college and university libraries or via IMSLP.
- Continues on Page 17 -
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
High Fives
Four Year College / University Choirs
Robert Gehrenbeck … WCDA Repertoire & Standards Chair
- Continued from Page 16 -
No.4
Title: “Pater noster” (Our Father)
Letter from the Editor
Composer: Vytautas Miškinis
Publisher: Laurendale Associates, distributed by Emerson Music
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
Edition #: CH-1238
Voicing: SATB with divisi
Accompaniment: a cappella
Comments: Miškinis (b. 1954) is one of Lithuania’s leading composers and choral conductors. His compositions
frequently employ diatonic tone clusters (reminiscent of many American composers these days) enlivened by
quirky rhythms (reminiscent of Stravinsky). Many of his works use indeterminacy to create atmospheric effects,
as in this Pater noster from 1994. Much of this piece is built around short ostinatos performed by small groups
of singers, slightly out of synch with the surrounding layers of the texture. The divisi expands as far as sixteen
separate strands, and confident, independent singers are required, though the overall tonality is not that difficult
to master. Several excellent recordings of this piece can be heard on YouTube, including one conducted by
Miškinis himself. He has written over 100 choral works, available from various publishers. For an easier work, try
Cantate Domino; for a truly virtuoso piece, try his Gloria, both published by Carus.
By Joy Paffenroth
No.5
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Title: “Indianas” (six movements sold separately):
1. Gala del Día (Finery of the Day)
2. Quién Fuera Como El Jazmín? (Who Could Be Like the Jasmine?)
3. Chañarcito, Chañarcito! (A Thorny Bush)
Creating Digital Connections in
4.Viento Norte (Northern Wind)
the World of Music Ed Technology
5. Al Tribunal de Tu Pecho (For the Court of Your Heart)
By Jonathan Turba
6. Una de Dos (One Or the Other)
Composer: Carlos Guastavino
Next Direction
Publisher: Kjos
Edition #: 8911 through 8916
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
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Website
Page 19
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: Piano
Comments: Guastavino (1912-2000) was a leading Argentine composer whose music is gorgeously Romantic
in style with strong folk music affinities—the “Copland of South America,” as an Argentine colleague once
described him. These six choral songs are quite accessible to any choir that is comfortable singing in Spanish
(the numerous instances of elision between words take some getting used to for English speakers). Guastavino’s
part writing is excellent, his harmony is expressive, and his melodies are classically balanced while being
unmistakably Latin in flavor—the overall impression is like Schubert with a Latin twist. Several of the movements
feature short solos that can be performed by the entire section; the choral texture never strays beyond four parts.
The piano accompaniment is another matter: often virtuosic, it requires a strong player. The texts are drawn from
major Argentine poets. We should all be grateful to Kjos Music Company for making these pieces available in the
US, but there are occasional errors in their edition that can be corrected by consulting the original Ricordi edition,
if you can find it (if not, email me!).
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
High Fives
Boy Choir
Margaret Jenks … WCDA Repertoire & Standards Chair
No. 1
Title: “Ich Will Den Herren Loben”
Composer: Telemann
Publisher: found on cpdl.org FREE!
Link:http://www1.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Ich_will_den_Herren_loben_%28no._1%29_%28Georg_Philipp_
Telemann%29
Voicing: variable--SA, ST, SAB, SSA
Accompaniment: a cappella, or add strings/winds doubling voice part.
Comments: This canon is a step up in difficulty and sophistication from your typical beginning choir canon. It
could conceivably work for advanced elementary kids through young HS ensembles. It is ideal for boys in the
way the energetic, lively melismas lie in the voice. I have performed this piece by beginning with the melody in
unison, then having a violin, flute, and cello (older students or adults) play the canon once. Then the boys sang
the piece through in a 3-part canon. I have part 1 and 2 repeat the last line until part 3 is done. This edition on
cpdl will give you the tune. If you would like to see our edition, send me an email!
Building Community in the
No. 2
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
Title: “Exultate Justi in Domino”
By Joy Paffenroth
Composer: Viadana
Publisher: Edition Musicus
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
Edition #: Publisher ID: 2-55
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: a cappella (or keyboard/organ)
Comments: Though almost everyone knows this choral standard, you might not have tried doing it with your high
school or middle school boys on all four parts! Of course, it is an awesome piece for a mixed choir, but once
again, the fast moving, rhythmic melismas work well in a changing or falsetto voice. Professional male sopranos
are on the rise! This piece is a great chance for more advanced boys to use the treble voice that they forgot they
had.
No. 3
Title: “Wind On the Hill”
Composer: Victoria Ebel-Sabo
Publisher: Boosey and Hawkes
Edition #: Publisher ID: 48004289
Voicing: Unison
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
Accompaniment: piano
Comments: Though extremely simple, this piece has a gorgeous, haunting melody that really helps young
singers to sustain a long line and develop a natural sense of phrase shaping. It is short and wonderful to listen
to, so I have had the boys sing it twice (just add a repeat!). There are many essential questions in the text, and it
is interesting to see how the composer presents these wonderings in the melodies.
2 Year College
Show Choir
No. 4
Potpourri
Title: “Viva, Viva”
Composer / Editor / Arranger: Salieri
Publisher: found on cpdl.org FREE!
Link: http://www1.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Viva,_viva_%28Antonio_Salieri%29
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Voicing: variable--TTB, SSA, SAB
Accompaniment: a cappella
Comments: This is a fun, energetic 3-part Classical period canon that is equally fun for treble or newly changed
voices. I will admit that we changed “la bottiglia” to “l’amicizia” so that we sang “hail to friendships” rather than
“hail to the bottle”. It is all very appropriate after that. It is a change that I am guessing Salieri would have no
problem with, were he to know that his little tune was still being sung over 250 years later!
- Continues on Page 19 -
Page 20
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
High Fives
Boy Choir
Margaret Jenks … WCDA Repertoire & Standards
- Continued from Page 18 -
No. 5
Title: “Orpheus With His Lute”
Letter from the Editor
Composer / Editor / Arranger: Vaughn Williams
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 21
Edition #/Publisher ID: 9780193870352
Voicing: Unison
Accompaniment: piano
Comments: This is a fairly well known art song, but maybe not one that most people would think to try as a “boy
friendly” piece. I have found that boys are very drawn to the whole Greek Myth aspect of the text, as well as the
puzzle of finding all of the ways that Vaughn Williams incorporates his signature “third-second” combination--also
known as the “chess knight motif”. The whole piece has various uses of this pattern that resemble the way the
knight piece moves in chess. My boys have loved imagining how intervals and chess moves can connect and
the process of analyzing the whole piece--in the way that they might look at a favorite game or puzzle.
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
High Fives
2-Year College
Bryson Mortensen ~ WCDA Repertoire and Standards Chair
Something New…
As I sit here, writing this column one day after New Year’s Day 2014, I can’t help but think about all of my New
Year’s resolutions which all seem to be about something new. If I were to write one specifically about choral
music – and I suppose I still can – it would be to find ways to program music by living composers. There is always
a different spark when students have the opportunity to perform music that was written recently – to perform
music that responds to our cultural and musical surroundings. It is even better when these students have the
opportunity to meet and work with the composer on their own piece. In that spirit, I have chosen songs by living
composers that live in Wisconsin or close to its borders for this “High Five,” many of whom will be represented
at our January WCDA Convention! I have also included the composer’s website as a way to find more of their
music (which is often published independently), and to contact the composer for possible clinic sessions. Some of
these names you know, hopefully some you do not!
No. 1
Title: “the Blade of Grass,” from Four Mystical Poems
Composer: Eric William Barnum
Publisher: http://ewbmusic.com
Voicing: SATB with divisi
Building Community in the
Accompaniment: a cappella
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
Comments: As a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, Four Mystical Poems is a set of Eric’s more
folk-like settings of poetry. The poem itself evokes a pastoral quality, but is filled with some delightful melodic and
harmonic surprises. It is a pleasure to sing and has enough twists and turns to keep the choir, and you as the
conductor, engaged.
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
No. 2
Title: “Arise, My Love”
Composer: Blake R. Henson
Publisher: GIA Publications, #G-7038
Edition #: G-7038 http://blakerhenson.com
Voicing: SATB with divisi
Accompaniment: a cappella
Comments: Composer Blake Henson, teaching at St. Norbert’s College in DePere, has composed a wide variety
of great choral music that is worth performing. Published primarily through GIA, Blake’s website is a useful
resource to hear recordings of his works and to contact for questions or possible opportunities to work with him.
This particular setting is full of Blake’s characteristic harmonies and straightforward voice leading that make
the piece accessible and rewarding. In addition, this piece is published through the “Evoking Sound” series, so
solfeggio syllables for each part are included in the score.
No. 3
Title: “I Am Not Yours”
College / University
Composer: Andrew Steffen
Boychoir
Publisher: http://andrewsteffen.squarespace.com/
2 Year College
Voicing: SATB with divisi
Show Choir
Accompaniment: Piano
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Comments: As a graduate student, Andrew Steffen is certainly the youngest composer on this list. However,
his small collection of works, published through “Colla Voce.” if not self-published, are great contributions to any
choral program. This particular work, commissioned for “The Master Singers” of Eau Claire, is a lovely and simple
piece that expresses the text in an introspective way. The piano part is a beautiful support to the choral voices,
making the piece more accessible for a choir, and provides some powerful interludes between sections. The sung
parts are primarily homophonic with straightforward voice-leading that creates lovely sonorities, particularly at
the climax of the piece. The recording by “The Master Singers” on Andrew’s website is a particularly enjoyable
listening experience.
- Continues on Page 21 -
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 22
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
High Fives
2-Year College
Bryson Mortensen ~ WCDA Repertoire and Standards Chair
- Continued from Page 20 -
No. 4
Title: “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”
Letter from the Editor
Composer: Jake Runestad
Publisher: http://jakerunestad.com
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: Piano
Comments: Jake Runestad is a composer who doesn’t quite live in Wisconsin. However, with a home in the Twin
Cities and family in Rockford, Illinois, he travels through Wisconsin quite often! This piece was commissioned by
the American Composers Forum and is a touching arrangement of a familiar hymn. Jake does a phenomenal job
at making a very simple setting sound rich and full of beautiful harmonies while also finding a way to make each
verse sound a little bit different. The piano accompaniment is touching and an effective contribution to the overall
work. The final climax is exciting and energizing. This is a piece worth investigating and a great contribution to a
varied concert program.
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
No. 5
Title: “For the Beauty of the Earth”
Composer: Paul Carey
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Publisher: http://paulcarey.net
Community in our State
Voicing: SATB with divisi
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 23
Accompaniment: Piano
Comments: Paul Carey hails from Chicago, but also finds his way into Southern Wisconsin quite often. All of
Paul Carey’s works are marked by particular attention to artful melodies, rhythmic activity, and accessible but
exciting counterpoint. This particular setting of a familiar text greets us with a new tune, variety of texture, and
some lovely vertical sonorities. With themes of gratitude and natural beauty, this particular arrangement makes a
great contribution to a varied spring or fall program. In addition, this particular piece is still in need of a premiere!
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
High Fives
Show Choir
Nancy L Allen ~ WCDA Repertoire and Standards Chair
Here are some great new charts and arrangements, hot off the press!
No. 1
Title: “Black or White”
Letter from the Editor
Composer: words & music by Michael Jackson / arranged by Kirby Shaw
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Edition #: 00115258
Voicing: SATB / SAB / SSA / TTB
Accompaniment: ShowTrax CD available / Combo parts available
Comments: A number one hit for Michael Jackson in 1991. The chart has rhythmic drive and a positive message
to share. Diction will be important and students will enjoy the added rap section. The arrangement places each
voice in its most comfortable range to sing powerfully.
No. 2
Building Community in the
Title: “Call Your Girlfriend”
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
Composer: words and music b Klas Ahlun, Robin Carlsson, and Alexander Kronlund / arranged by Mark Brymer
By Joy Paffenroth
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Edition #: 00117152
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Voicing: SSA
Community in our State
Accompaniment: ShowTrax CD / Rhythmic parts
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Comments: Many refer to this as the cup song! This song became a YouTube sensation when the Swedish
group Erato performed an acapella version accompanied by plastic cups. It was originally recorded by Swedish
pop star Robyn. The cup patterns are written in the score and the harmonies are simple and effective! This is a
must for your girls!
No. 3
Title: “It Had Better Be Tonight”
Composer: music Henry Mancini / English lyrics by Johnny Mercer / Italian lyrics by Franco Migliacci / arranged
by Kirby Shaw
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Edition #: 00118818
Voicing: SATB / SAB / SSA
Accompaniment: ShowTrax CD / Combo parts
Comments: Ready to change up your style? Try this up-tempo Latin Samba! This arrangement has comfortable
singing ranges and manageable jazz harmonies. Measures 65-80 is a great place to feature a dance break - a
chance for your dancing stars to shine!
Boychoir
2 Year College
No. 4
Show Choir
Title: “God Bless’ the Child”
Potpourri
Composer: words and music by Arthur Herzog JR, and Billie Holiday / arranged by Steve Zegree
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Edition #: 00116857
Voicing: SATB / SAB / SSA
Return to Page 1
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Page 24
Accompaniment: ShowTrax CD / Combo parts
Comments: Steve Zegree based this arrangement on the recorded version by Blood Sweat and Tears! This
American Standard has a meaningful text that will emotionally impact your students and audience members. This
arrangement has clever rhythmic treatments that add variety and interest and a dance break that can feature
choreography and/or some vocal improvisations. The combo will love playing this chart! This one should be high
on your list!
- Continues on Page 23 -
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
High Fives
Show Choir
Nancy L Allen ~ WCDA Repertoire and Standards Chair
- Continued from Page 22 -
No. 5
Title: “Don’t Stop the Music”
Letter from the Editor
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 25
Composer: words and music by Tor Erik Hermansen, Franckie Storm, Mikkel Ericksen, and Michael Jackson /
arranged by Alan Billingsley
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Edition #: 00115055
Voicing: SATB / SAB / SSA
Accompaniment: ShowTrax CD
Comments: This song was a 2008 chart hit recorded by Rihanna and was featured in the film Pitch Perfect.
This arrangement features a male solo with great vocal back-ups featuring the rest of the choir. This song has a
driving rhythm and a great message for all!
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
Click on the Links to Access
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
High Fives
Potpourri
Emily Crocker, R & S Chair for the Music Industry
No. 1
Title: “The Singers” (from “Three Children’s Songs”)
Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams
Publisher / edition #: Oxford 9780193406599
Voicing: Unison
Accompaniment: Piano, or string orchestra
Convention Reflection
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Comments: This is the middle movement of a set of three songs written in 1929 to texts by Frances M. Farrer for
the Leith Hill Music Competition, Children’s Division. The text describes work that children might grow up to do:
be a carpenter, go to sea, keep a shop, drive a bus. “But WE must sing high and we must sing low! ‘Tis singing
alone will content us.” With a whimsical opening for the workaday chores, the voices soar when the topic turns to
music. This is a piece that children love to sing and it shows as they develop diction, expression, and lovely head
voices.
The other movements complement this movement: “Invitation” (Oxford 9780193406612), and “Spring” (Oxford
9780193406575); currently listed as out of print, but might be obtained by contacting the publisher).
No. 2
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Title: “I Dream a World” (from “Trilogy of Dreams”)
Arranger: Rollo Dilworth, text by Langston Hughes
Publisher / Edition #: Hal Leonard 08749866
Voicing: SATB
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
Accompaniment: Piano, with optional alto sax, 2 trumpets, bass, drums, string quartet
Comments: The text for this work is by Langston Hughes, one of the most prolific and powerful African-American
writers of the 20th century, addressing topics of politics, religion, ethics and racism. This is the concluding
movement in a set of three, and is a joyous reflection of what our world might be when all of society lives free.
The voices enter one at a time, symbolically passing the dream along, finally joining together in a unified voice.
Rhythmic vitality and gospel-infused harmonies give this work immediate appeal. Ideal for middle school through
high school developing mixed choirs; ranges are moderate. Also available in a treble voicing (Hal Leonard
08745612).
The other movements from this set include “The Dream Keeper” and “Dreams” (both Hal Leonard). (See www.
halleonard.com or other retail sites). Ideal for MLK and many other concert occasions.
No. 3
Title: “In Praise of Music”
Composer: Laura Farnell
Publisher / Edition #: Hal Leonard 08703412
Voicing: TTB
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Accompaniment: Piano
Comments: Whether you have 8 male singers or 80, you will create a wonderful sound with this vibrant original
work. Opening with a majestic fanfare, it moves into an energetic and joyful main theme, “I will lift my voice
in praise of music, a hymn of praise to music, most wonderful art.” Primarily homophonic, it then moves to
a contrasting B section with more rhythmic variation before returning to the main theme in a triumphant and
sonorous conclusion. This is an excellent concert, contest, and festival work for middle school and high school
men’s choruses.
Show Choir
Potpourri
No. 4
Title: “Bonse Aba”
Composer: Traditional Zambian Song, arranged by Andrew Fischer
Publisher / Edition #: Alliance Music Publications, AMP 0626
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Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: a cappella, opt. percussion
Comments: Translated from the Bemba language as “All that sing have the right to be called the children of God,”
this traditional song of celebration is sung throughout Zambia. Featuring a solo/chorus texture, the piece lends
itself well to dignified movement, such as unified swaying from side to side, and the addition of African percussion
can be very effective. An excellent and flexible work for mixed choruses in schools and churches, it would work
well as an opening number or processional.
- Continues on Page 25 -
Page 26
THE
Voice of WCDA
A quarterly choral resource newsletter published by
the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association, Inc.
Convention Headquarters
In This Issue...
High Fives
Potpourri
Emily Crocker, R & S Chair for the Music Industry
Click on the Links to Access
- Continued from Page 24 -
Letter from the President
Letter from the Editor
No. 5
Title: “Life Has Loveliness To Sell”
Composer: James Quitman Mulholland, text by Sara Teasdale
Publisher / Edition #: Colla Voce 11-20200
Convention Reflection
Voicing: 3-Part Treble
Accompaniment: piano, French horn
Featured Articles
Leading the Way
By Eduardo Garcia-Novelli
Building Community in the
Choral Ensemble Using TRIBES
By Joy Paffenroth
Connecting with the Vocal Jazz
Community in our State
By Timothy Buchholz
Creating Digital Connections in
the World of Music Ed Technology
By Jonathan Turba
Next Direction
Refresh
High Fives
College / University
Boychoir
2 Year College
Show Choir
Potpourri
Return to Page 1
Visit WCDA
Website
Page 27
Comments: This lovely setting of the popular poem by Sara Teasdale is written so it may be performed without
the French horn, but it is much more impressive with the horn. The text enumerates the many beautiful things in
life – nature, relationships, music – all worth the cost, especially when you consider the original title of the poem
“Barter,” which implies the trade-offs required in such a transaction. The beauty and optimism of the poetry is
musically expressed by an ascending melodic motive, quietly heard in the opening and dramatically stated at the
conclusion. The voice parts are rich, full-voiced, and supported by a sonorous accompaniment in the piano and
horn. For high school women’s choirs and up, also available in a mixed voice setting.