Choral Connectivity: A People-First Approach to Singing – Details, episodes & analysis

Sometimes, you have students who impact you deeply. 

And sometimes...you ask them to be on your podcast.

Why talk about students all the time, when you can just talk to them?

In today's joyful and laughter-filled episode, I chat with my recently-graduated student George Potenza about his experiences in choir from 6th-12th grade, what was impactful, and what he has learned. There is so much that I learned from this conversation, and I know you'll learn a lot too!

Be sure to check out the song that George proudced, FOOL by callista!

A "read and riff" episode, I read and riff on my latest Chorus Connection Blog Post, titled Valuing Learning Over Knowing.

People want to repeat intentionally impactful experiences.

Today, I felt inspired coming off the South Shore Children's Chorus Winter Concert last Sunday. I take some time to discuss "relevance", especially when it comes to how singers and audience members are engaging in choral music. 

Additionally, I read & riff from my latest article on the Chorus Connection Blog titled, The Hard Truth About Recruitment. 

Enjoy!

Here is a link to the article!

Arreon Harley-Emerson is the President and CEO of Equity Sings, serving organizations with consulting on matters of governance, fundraising, strategic planning, management, and creating cultures of diversity, equity and inclusion. He also serves as the ACDA Diversity Initiatives chair. 

Arreon's passion and joy is in every moment of this episode, as he gives some really helpful do's and don'ts, discusses the 6 Traits of Inclusive Musical Leadership and more. You won't want to miss this episode!

Be sure to join our community on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are inspired by the content, please support using Buy Me A Coffee! Check back every Thursday for a new inspiring episode. 

This week's conversation is with Ruthie Millgard, the Artistic Director of San Diego Children's Choir. With her high school level singers, Ruthie makes time for improvisation and "circle songs" in rehearsal (and even, often, in performance!). Through these improvisation exercises, students are allowed to explore musical phrases and are given lots of space to be "wrong". Community is built in this non-judgemental space, and connects the ensemble in a unique way. At the end of the episode, we talk about Ruthie's passion project, Music & Memory, and how her students are singing with, serving, and holding hands with people effected by dementia.

Interested in more information about the San Diego Children's Choir Youth Festival in 2024? Find more info at this link.

Be sure to join our community on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are inspired by the content, please support using Buy Me A Coffee! Check back every Thursday for a new inspiring episode. 

We continue with our conversation this week with Kayla Gautereaux who teaches voice lessons and vocal pedagogy at Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. Hear from an expert at what YOU can do in your choral rehearsal to help create easier, repeatable, and sustainable vocal pedagogy habits for your individual singers.

Be sure to join our community on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are inspired by the content, please support using Buy Me A Coffee! Check back every Thursday for a new inspiring episode. 

Happy new year! Enjoy hearing about 5 lessons I learned this year.

Be sure to join our community on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are inspired by the content, please support using Buy Me A Coffee! Check back every Thursday for a new inspiring episode. 

If you love this content, and you want to give back, please consider a donation of any size to the South Shore Children's Chorus!

Singing is a way to transmit love, and voice teacher and pedagog Kayla Gautereaux encourages her students at Berklee College of Music & Boston Conservatory to do that every lesson. In the first part of this two part episode, Kayla and I dive deep into private teaching philosophy that is student-centric and playful. Kayla offers incredible insight on student-driven lessons, teaching practically so the student can self-explore, intrinsic validation vs. extrinsic (teacher) validation, avoiding preference-based language... packed with thought-provoking conversations and questions, Kayla is bound to leave you deep in thought!

Be sure to join our community on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are inspired by the content, please support using Buy Me A Coffee! Check back every Thursday for a new inspiring episode. 

Liana Salinas shares with us her inspiring story of growing up as a chorister with the Miami Children's Chorus, determining at a young age that she would become the Artistic Director one day, and living out her dream! In this episode, Liana shares incredible stories and her take on a people-first approach philosophy through her work with the choir and also through the creation of her company, My Music Match. Liana's imaginative and entrepreneurial spirit is evident in every second of this episode - listen on your favorite podcast app today!

Additionally, in the episode, Liana mentions this amazing song. Check it out!

Be sure to join our community on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are inspired by the content, please support using Buy Me A Coffee! Check back every Thursday for a new inspiring episode. 

With over 800k followers on TikTok, Myles Finn has become a relevant face in the choral field. His social media presence began with a fun musical show announcement for his theatre students, and has grown to include fun warm-ups and teaching techniques to inspire us all. In this episode, Myles encourages us to hold interpersonal relationships as a high priority, and to embrace our own personalities when teaching. Myles' joy and passion for teaching, coupled with his innate positivity, makes this episode so fun to listen to!

Be sure to join our community on Facebook and Instagram, and if you are inspired by the content, please support using Buy Me A Coffee! Check back every Thursday for a new inspiring episode.